Las Vegas, Southwest region face renewed threats of flash floods due to monsoon thunderstorms Saturday

It’s been a soggy start to September in the Desert Southwest as the monsoon season gets in some final licks before autumn begins and the monsoon patterns fade.

Flood Watches extend across a large swath of the Southwest on Saturday, extending from Nevada into southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona and northeastern California.

Rounds of scattered strong thunderstorms are likely again Saturday that can drop a quick inch of rain or more, triggering flash flooding and excessive runoff.

Las Vegas has seen rounds of strong thunderstorms push through the region, dropping torrential rains and triggering multiple areas of flash flooding.

Stranded cars were strewn across multiple areas of town as roads became shallow rivers amid rainfall rates that dropped nearly an inch in minutes.

The National Weather Service office in Las Vegas recorded 0.88 inches Friday, which is nearly three times their entire September monthly average and was their wettest September day in 11 years.

Farther outside the city, several vehicles became stuck along State Route 127 as heavy rains flooded the road around Baker and Tecopa.

“Emergency management reported ongoing, extensive flash flooding across the Las Vegas Valley from rain that fell earlier in the evening,” NWS Las Vegas wrote on X.

In addition, NWS reported ongoing water rescues across the valley and pleaded for drivers to stay off the roads — and not to put other drivers at risk either.

“Throw that frozen pizza in the oven for dinner,” NWS Las Vegas said.

“Please do not put food delivery drivers (& local first responders by extension) at risk.”

Flash Flood Warnings peppered the valley into early Saturday morning.

The Las Vegas area should dry out after Saturday night but showers and thunderstorms will shift farther north into Northern Utah, including Salt Lake City, and southeastern Idaho on Sunday.