Friday, Aug. 1, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.
After sweltering through the hottest July on record, Las Vegas got a needed shower Thursday.
This year's July broke the heat record set last year, National Weather Service officials said. A wave of cooling thunderstorms on the last day of the month brought some relief -- and some welcome rain.
"In a nutshell, this month has been quite interesting with thunderstorm potential and some of the highest minium temperatures we have ever seen in North America," Kelly Redmond of the Western Regional Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute in Reno said late Thursday.
The Las Vegas Valley was doused Thursday, and flood-control canals filled up with runoff from the short, heavy showers. Minor street flooding was reported throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
McCarran International Airport received 0.32 of an inch of rain, pushing total rainfall to 3.94 inches so far this year. The average annual rainfall for an entire year in the valley is 4.49 inches.
The forecast called for highs in the 90s and chances of thundershowers throughout the weekend. A flood watch was still in effect this morning until 9 p.m.
Climate experts said that despite the increasing moisture in the air the daytime temperatures in the Western states felt hotter this July. And nighttime lows were warmer than ever.
Last year's July average temperature was 94.5 degrees in Las Vegas, Redmond said. With rainstorms bringing cooler daytime temps on Thursday, this year the month averaged out to 94.6 degrees.
Las Vegas' average low for July 2002 was 82.6 degrees, Redmond said. This year it was 83.3 degrees for the month. The only exception was Thursday.
A climate study of weather data from 1961 to 1990 showed Las Vegas' average high in July at 91.1 and the low at 76.2
The rain cooled the valley off, though.
The soaking was typical of the monsoon flow from Mexico sweeping northward through the Southwest, National Weather Service meteorologist Charlie Schlott said.
The weather pattern, which usually last until mid-September, brings a shift in winds that deliver enough moisture to fire up afternoon and evening thunderstorms in Phoenix, Albuquerque and Las Vegas.
When it started storming Thursday, Clark County Regional Flood Control Director Gale Fraser toured the area to see how well the 62 detention basins and 340 miles of channels and storm drains were working.
"We've made leaps and bounds," Fraser said, noting dry streets on Charleston Boulevard east of the University Medical Center and on Oakey Boulevard east of Rancho Drive.
At the Las Vegas Beltway and Town Center Drive, rainfall measured 0.75 of an inch, the heaviest downpour recorded on Thursday, Fraser said. It will take another 20 years to complete flood-proofing of the valley, he said.
Jennifer Tuttle had three words to describe Thursday's wild weather.
"It was strange," she said.
At her Ensemble Real Estate office in Summerlin, she said it was a sunny afternoon and five minutes later it was pouring rain.
"It all of a sudden started coming down," she said.
While driving to lunch, she said standing water in the street splashed over her car, a Honda Del Sol, as she turned a corner.
"Cleaned my windshield," she joked.
But it didn't cause the havoc that came with extensive flooding on July 8, 1999, when major east-west roads flooded and $22 million worth of public property was destroyed. Former President Bill Clinton declared the Las Vegas Valley a disaster area.
Thursday's storm did give most neighborhoods a drenching, though. The eastern side of the valley had muddy waters covering intersections after the storms.
The intersection of Silverado Ranch and Gilespie Street was covered, but motorists kept driving through anyway.
Roofer Jeff Crisp lives in Summerlin, but was driving toward the airport on Paradise Road about 1 p.m.
"There was a foot of water on Paradise between Tropicana Avenue and the airport," Crisp said.
Crisp lives not far from Town Center Drive and Summerlin Parkway, where he operates a roof repair business. Eight of his workers spent the day all over town, he said.
"I'll be hearing horror stories later tonight, and tomorrow the calls will start coming in once homeowners find damages," Crisp said.
McCarran had some ground delays, but unlike July 24, no flights were diverted Thursday, airport spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said.
"People could expect some minor delays during the evening, because there is a ripple effect with weather," Grey said.
Downtown Las Vegas was hammered by the noontime thunderstorm. For about 10 minutes the rain lashed, causing streets to flood and downtown workers to scramble for cover.
Local attorney Walt Cannon spent about 10 minutes in the foyer of the George Federal Building Thursday waiting for the downpour to slacken.
"That's serious rain out there," Cannon said. "It's coming down sideways."
Cannon, who had a deposition to get to, finally lifted his briefcase over his head and made a run for it.
A parade of soaked attorneys and federal workers made their way through security at the front of the building.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karyn Kenny was soaked after running about 100 yards from the courthouse parking lot.
Although the storm passed quickly, downtown streets disappeared as fast-moving water made rivers along both sides of thoroughfares and gathered in intersections.
Welcome as the rain was, it won't substantially affect the drought situation, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Fuis said.
"It takes years to really overcome a drought," Fuis said. "Remember we are in the desert."
Sun reporters
Jace Radke and Malia Spencer contributed to this story.
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