Valley has chance of thunderstorm today

Thursday, July 25, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

There's a chance the Las Vegas Valley could get a thunderstorm this afternoon, after storm clouds faded away Wednesday to the southeast and the northwest on Wednesday, National Weather Service forecasters said.

No major flooding is expected today, even if a thunderstorm arrives later this afternoon.

The air has enough humidity, coming from the south on the Southwest monsoon normal for this time of year, to trigger a storm.

However, all the towering thunderheads missed Las Vegas on Wednesday.

A flash flood watch in effect all day Wednesday was canceled at 6 p.m. after no measurable rain fell in the Las Vegas Valley, weather service meteorologist Charlie Schlott said.

As temperatures warm to about 103 degrees today, an isolated thunderhead may form, Schlott said.

The high temperature on Wednesday reached 99 degrees, four degrees lower than average for the date.

Friday will bring a warmer, drier period for Southern Nevada, with temperatures ranging from 103 to 105 degrees, which is normal for July, Schlott said.

A dry southwest flow of air will continue over Southern Nevada for the next few days. The only cloud on the horizon after today could come from hurricane Elida, which is moving northwest over the Pacific Ocean from southern Mexico. If moisture was drawn into the United States, it would arrive near Las Vegas early next week.