weather:

Storms dump heavy rain in Clark County

Dave Toplikar

Dark clouds were moving from the southeast toward Las Vegas about 6:15 p.m. Friday. This photo looks southeast from a shopping center at Horizon Ridge and Eastern Avenue in Henderson.

By Tim Richardson (contact)

Published Friday, July 3, 2009 | 5:31 p.m.

Updated Friday, July 3, 2009 | 9:49 p.m.

Sun weather

Current conditions, today's forecast, neighborhood weather conditions, historical climatological information

Thunderstorms were popping up in the region this evening, bringing locally heavy rain and severe storms to the region.

The National Weather Service said a strong thunderstorm would affect Interstate 15, between Moapa and Mesquite, between 8 and 10 p.m. Drivers are advised to be alert for heavy rain, lightening and gusty crosswinds.

A flood advisory also was issued for the north-central part of Clark County until 11:15 p.m. The weather service said water could rapidly rise in dry washes.

The weather service said minor flooding is possible in urban areas of central Clark County after a storm dumped heavy rain in the Railroad Pass area near the interchange of U.S. 95 and U.S. 93. The heavy rain prompted forecasters to issue a flood advisory in the area.

Storms this evening dotted much of central and southern Clark County in the areas of Boulder City and Searchlight. McCarran International Airport, the valley's official weather reporting station, was dry though 6 p.m.

Stronger storms stayed to the south and east of Clark County, prompting flash flood warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings in Mohave County, Ariz. Storms in Kingman, Ariz., were capable of producing quarter-size hail and winds greater than 60 mph, the weather service said.

Just across the state line in the Mountain Pass area in San Bernardino County, Calif., forecasters said 1.19 inches of rain fell between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The weather service received a report that several people were stranded in vehicles in the Castle Mountain area of the Mojave National Preserve after floodwaters rose to 2 feet.

A flash flood warning was issued along Lake Mohave in Arizona and Nevada because of a potential for flooding between Nelson, Nev., and Willow Beach, Ariz. About 2 inches of rain fell in 30 minutes northeast of Wikieup in Mohave County.

Forecasters said the Las Vegas Valley has a 20 percent chance of rain this evening, particularly in southern areas of the valley.

The low tonight should drop to about 85 degrees, then the mercury will top out near 105 degrees on Saturday.