Rain makes little dent in dry conditions

Monday, March 25, 2002 | 9:38 a.m.

The Las Vegas Valley Sunday received its first measurable rainfall since Dec. 14.

Even with the 0.10 of an inch recorded at McCarran International Airport, the area remains parched, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Downs said Sunday night.

In December only 0.11 of an inch fell, Downs said.

Normally at this time of year, Southern Nevada has had 1.78 inches from rain or snow.

"We are 1.68 of an inch below normal," Downs said.

For the next week there isn't a drop of rain in sight, he said.

The rainfall did scrub dust and pollen out of the air, giving allergy sufferers at least a day of relief.

Rain-slicked roads also caused six separate accidents on Interstate 15 near Spring Mountain Road. There were no major injuries, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

The showers falling early Sunday morning rode a weather system pushing east from the Pacific Ocean.

As storm clouds disappeared about sunset at 5:56 p.m. Sunday, Downs said the low was expected to reach about 40 degrees in the valley.

Daytime temperatures this week are expected to gradually warm up again, perhaps reaching the 80s by Wednesday.

Today's forecast called for a high of 68 degrees with high clouds lingering in the valley.

Sunday's high of 62 degrees was nine degrees cooler than normal. The record was set at 89 degrees on March 24, 1940.

While Mount Charleston received about an inch of snow overnight Sunday, snowflakes refused to stick during the day.

Southern Nevada's weather indicated spring was arriving, but winter stayed in the Sierra Nevada and in Northern Nevada, as a storm dumped 1 1/2 inches of snow in the Lake Tahoe area.

Up to another foot of snow was possible at the lake, the National Weather Service said.