Flash Flood — Clark, Nevada

2014-09-08 · near Moapa, Clark, Nevada

Event narrative

Major flash flooding affected the Moapa, Logandale, and Mesquite areas. Several local roads were washed out and some were covered with five feet of silt. At least 20 homes were damaged and many people were evacuated. Parts of the Union Pacific railroad track were washed out. The parking lot of a power generating plant was filled with six feet of flood water. Interstate 15 suffered major damage and was closed for days. Cars floated down the highway, and one person was injured when he jumped in to help the occupants of a minivan which was swept over a 10-15 foot drop. Four earthen dams were breached in the area.

Wider weather episode

A major surge of monsoon moisture aided by Hurricane Norbert just west of Baja California fueled an outbreak of thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Widespread flash flooding occurred.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.6982, -114.7028)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 542843. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.