Another threat of thunderstorms is forecast for today

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 | 11:18 a.m.

Rochelle Rogner kept a wary eye on black clouds passing in the sky Wednesday afternoon as she moved a carpet from her northwest Las Vegas home. Her house was drenched in a downpour and flooding late Tuesday.

"I hear we could get more rain," she said, looking at the ominous clouds.

The National Weather Service is forecasting another threat of thunderstorms today similar to the downpour that has already caused $1.2 million to $1.5 million in public property damage in Las Vegas, meteorologist Andy Gorelow said.

"Any storm that forms today will have the chance of delivering heavy rains," Gorelow said, adding that the ingredients for more flooding are in place.

Those ingredients include sunlight warming the air during the day, plenty of moisture in the air and atmospheric turbulence.

The National Weather Service canceled a flash flood watch at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after thunderstorms moved south of Las Vegas, soaking Needles, Calif., and Southern California, meteorologist Larry Jensen said. Up to an inch of rain fell in Needles within minutes, he said.

The runoff eroded a bridge's supports on Interstate 15 outside Baker, Calif., about 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles, forcing the California Highway Patrol to shut down northbound lanes carrying traffic to Las Vegas.

Those lanes were reopened at 7:30 a.m. today after the California Department of Transportation repaired the bridge. The bridge had visible cracks on a routine inspection.

I-15 traffic was being rerouted to Interstate 40 and then to U.S. 95 at Needles, adding roughly 68 miles to the drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

"Anyone going to Vegas is not going to get past Barstow," CHP officer Adam Cortinas said.

Desert Research Institute scientist David Mitchell said that warmer than usual temperatures in the Gulf of California may have caused Tuesday's severe storm and flood in Las Vegas.

Winds were blowing south to north from the gulf, almost directly at Las Vegas, another contributing factor to the flood.

The weather service forecasts 95 degrees for a high today with a 30 percent to 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Friday's temperature should reach 98 degrees, and drier air is in store.

Over the weekend temperatures could reach into the low 100s with some clouds, but no storms, expected.

Despite Tuesday's flash flood, the drought has not ended in Southern Nevada.

The Colorado River that feeds Lake Mead needs heavy snowpacks for several years before the drought ends.

The Associated Press

contributed to this story.