Weather
Las Vegas, NV Weather Oct. 10-11: Tropical Storm Rachel Brings Flash Flood Threat
Las Vegas, NV – Heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds could affect Las Vegas and surrounding portions of southern Nevada Saturday evening, Oct. 10, through Sunday afternoon as moisture from Tropic
By Caleb Mercer · 2026-10-10T00:22:30.702Z
Las Vegas, NV – Heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds could affect Las Vegas and surrounding portions of southern Nevada Saturday evening, Oct. 10, through Sunday afternoon as moisture from Tropical Storm Rachel moves northward into the Mojave Desert.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas warned Friday that an unusually wet weather pattern is developing, with multiple rounds of rainfall and embedded thunderstorms expected across much of the region.
Some locations could receive more than 1 to 2 inches of rain, although rainfall totals will vary depending on where the heaviest thunderstorms develop.
The Weather Prediction Center's excessive rainfall outlook indicates a heightened flash flood risk across portions of southern Nevada and neighboring desert areas this weekend.
The threat increases Sunday, when a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall, Level 3 of 4, covers portions of the region, including the Las Vegas area.
A Moderate Risk indicates at least a 40% chance of rainfall exceeding local flash flood guidance within 25 miles of a location.
According to the National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. PDT Friday advisory, Rachel was located near 23.3 degrees north latitude and 124.0 degrees west longitude, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was moving northeast at 7 mph.
Forecasters expect Rachel to approach Southern California Saturday night before its remnants carry tropical moisture farther inland.
The National Weather Service also warned that damaging wind gusts could affect portions of the Southwest, particularly higher terrain, Saturday night and Sunday. Specific wind speeds for Las Vegas were not provided in the briefing.
The primary concern for southern Nevada remains locally heavy rainfall capable of producing flash flooding, particularly where repeated thunderstorms move across the same locations.
Residents and travelers should monitor updated forecasts and avoid driving through flooded roadways.
The greatest impacts are currently expected Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon, with the precise locations of the heaviest rainfall remaining uncertain.