Approximately 1,750 households in the Las Vegas Valley were left without power on Friday morning after strong winds and rains swept southern Nevada, adding to a number of vehicle accidents that made morning commuting a challenge.
NV Energy said 1,752 customers were without power at 8 a.m., up from 2,062 earlier in the morning.
The power outages were reported when a weather front moved into Las Vegas around 4 a.m. and brought strong gusts of wind with it. Nellis Air Force Base reported gusts of up to 56 miles per hour around 4 a.m., said John Adair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. At McCarran International Airport the gusts were up to 46 miles per hour.
“This was the tip of the rain that came up from Southern California this morning,” Adair said. “There were no thunderstorms, but it rains at high altitudes with strong winds.”
The light continuous rain caused several fenders to bend and fell in the Las Vegas Valley and could have contributed to a fatal accident on US Highway 95 near Indian Springs.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada announced that there were accidents on Beltway 215 on Decatur Boulevard. The Nevada Highway Patrol later announced that a Clark County fire truck had overturned on the Beltway, causing significant traffic delays. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The Highway Patrol also reported a fatal accident on US 95 near Indian Springs. Delays were reported on the motorway, also as a result of the accident.
Motorists have been asked to be careful due to wet roads and prepare for slow journeys. McCarran International Airport reported that the traffic lights in the area of the airport had failed.
“We are experiencing a power outage that affects some street lights around the airport as well as various areas in Terminal 1 and in parking lots,” said the airport. “If you are going to the airport, please allow more travel time.”
Adair said the rain was expected to break out in the morning. The maximum temperature on Friday was expected in the area of 76 degrees.
Adair said a colder weather system will hit the Las Vegas Valley starting Monday. Later that week, the National Weather Service said the Red Rock Canyon area had a 24 percent chance of freezing next week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Glenn Puit by email at gpuit@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter.
