Climate & Environment
Las Vegas Records Second‑Highest October Rainfall, 1.31 Inches
Halloween weekend showers capped what was one of the wettest Octobers on record in Las Vegas. According to the National Weather Service, the city recorded a total of 1.31 inches of rain in October, tying it for second place behind the record of 1.45 inches set in 2005. The average October rainfall is 0.32 inches. NWS meteorologist Chris Outler said the wet October was largely due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, which dumped about 1.08 inches of rain on parts of the valley on Oct. 11.
Friday’s storms brought rain and hail to parts of the Las Vegas Valley, causing flash flooding and water rescues. County rain gauge data show that parts of eastern Henderson received more than 1.5 inches of rain on Friday, while downtown Las Vegas saw over an inch by Friday afternoon. The weather service reported ping‑pong ball‑sized hail east of downtown; hail was seen outside the Las Vegas Review‑Journal’s campus on Bonanza Road east of Martin Luther King Boulevard and in Henderson.
The valley avoided major infrastructure damage from the weekend’s heavy rains, a result that one official attributed to the community’s long‑term investments in flood control. Saturday night’s weather was described as a “cruel trick, no treat,” as the skies opened up and dumped buckets of rain on parts of the area just in time for Halloween night. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory in the southeast Las Vegas Valley after rainfall reached 0.50 inches in a 30‑minute span just after noon.
Southern Nevada could see its first measurable rain on Halloween since 1987, when the Las Vegas Valley received a quarter of an inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service Las Vegas office. The valley experienced a few scattered thunderstorms Thursday, less than two weeks after the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel produced record‑setting rainfall.
Frequently asked questions
How much rain did Las Vegas record in October?
Las Vegas recorded 1.31 inches of rain in October, tying for second‑highest on record.
What caused the heavy October rainfall?
The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel dumped about 1.08 inches of rain on parts of the valley on Oct. 11, contributing to the wet October.
Did the heavy rainfall cause major infrastructure damage?
The valley avoided major infrastructure damage from the weekend’s heavy rains, attributed to long‑term investments in flood control.