Five-year-old Kathlene Meyers catches flakes during a rare winter snow in Las Vegas in 1930. The last big snowfall came on Jan. 31, 1979 when 7.4 inches accumulated. Normally standing snow only occurs near the valley's neighboring mountains. View photo »

Near the Strip, a skier enjoys one of the valley's few snows. A winter storm dumped 7.4 inches of snow on the valley floor on January 31, 1979. The next day, during his show at the Aladdin Hotel, comedian Gabe Kaplan quipped "Las Vegas has always been my favorite ski resort." View photo »

Snow falls around a statue of Julius Caesar in front of Caesars Palace early Tuesday morning, December 30, 2003. Las Vegas receives snowfall of an inch or more once every 5 years. View photo »

Snow covers a palm tree on Sahara Avenue near Fort Apache Road during the early morning of December 30, 2003. View photo »

It is somewhat rare for flooding to occur in newer residential areas thanks to required flood planning and design. At the time of this August 13, 1979 photograph, with a population just over a half-million, few considered flooding a major economic threat. View photo »

Swamped motorists on Western Avenue attempt to push their stalled vehicle. Before the 400-mile flood control system was installed, the majority of storm drainage was carried along on major roads toward a natural wash. Arterials are still a major component of the system, collecting and moving flood water downstream. View photo »

The rain began to come down harder Aug. 18, 1989, causing the streets to flood on Martin Luther King Boulevard. The water started to rise to the point that the sidewalks were unable to be seen. View photo »

July 17, 1990. Search and Rescue officers prod into flood waters to determine whether or not a vehicle is trapped against the bridge at Swenson Stteet. A 25-year old woman had drowned the previous day when flood waters swept her car into the the Flamingo Wash. Storms throughout July of 1990 caused $8.7 million in damage to infrastructure. View photo »

The floodwater began raging July 8, 1999. The storm left a car stuck at Spencer Street and the Flamigo Wash and forced a man to wade through the rising waters. View photo »

Sediments from flood waters flowed into Lake Las Vegas after a severe thunderstorm dumped more than 3 inches of rain on the Las Vegas Valley on July 8, 1999. Annual rainfall in the valley typically reaches 4 inches. (Aerial photo from KLAS-TV helicopter) View photo »

Tony Glenn from Quality Towing comes up for air after attaching a towing cable to a car that was caught in floodwaters at the Charleston underpass on October 27, 2000. While Las Vegas doesn't get much rain, when the skies open up flash floods are always a possibility. View photo »

Lightning bolts strike over casinos on the south end of the Strip on July 17, 2006. Thunderstorms are fairly common during the summer months in Las Vegas. View photo »

A lightning bolt strikes behind Black Mountain and the District at Green Valley Ranch during a July 17, 2006 thunderstorm. View photo »

Scott Cadger of Southwest Gas takes a drink while working out in the heat in Southwest Las Vegas on Aug. 2, 2004. Cadger, who was installing a gas meter at a new home, keeps himself hydrated while working the majority of his shift outside in the heat. View photo »

Adrianna Sanchez, 9, left, uses an umbrella to shield herself and her brother Julian Sanchez, 8, from the afternoon sun as they walk along Bonanza Road near 20th Street Sunday, September 28, 2003. Their mother Marissela Martinez does the same as she walks behind them. View photo »

HENDERSON -- Aug. 29, 2006 -- Pipes for a geothermal heat exchanger stick out of the ground at Burkholder Middle School in Henderson. Water from the heating and air conditioning system at the school will be circulated through pipes in 300 individual holes drilled to a depth of 285 feet to cool the water in the system. When the school building is completed it should realize significant energy savings over a comparably designed building. View photo »