Flash flooding in Las Vegas Valley leaves man missing as storm breaks rainfall records

Heavy rain in Southern Nevada on May 6 prompted a swift-water rescue in Henderson after a man was seen in a wash near Aloha Drive and Pueblo Avenue. Responders briefly spotted the adult male in the fast-moving water before he disappeared from view. Search efforts are ongoing, but the individual remains missing.

Parts of the valley were placed under a flash flood warning for several hours as thunderstorms moved through. Regions like Henderson and Boulder City remained under a flash flood warning or advisory throughout much of Tuesday afternoon, May 6.

The storm’s most intense segment moved into Henderson later in the day. The hardest-hit area was in southeast Henderson near the College of Southern Nevada’s Henderson campus.

According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, the system developed in northeastern Nevada on May 4, then moved across the Spring Mountains into Summerlin and Spring Valley before reaching Harry Reid International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration reported average delays of 53 minutes at the airport during the early hours of May 6.

A Clark County Flood Control District station in southeast Henderson recorded 22.1 mm (0.87 inches) of rain, the highest total observed in the Las Vegas Valley on May 6.

Most other parts of the Las Vegas Valley saw smaller amounts, with daily totals generally between 1 and 4.1 mm (0.04 to 0.16 inches). Readings from gauges in the areas around Sunset Park and Green Valley ranged between 6.1 and 11.9 mm (0.24 to 0.47 inches). In the southwest valley, two gauges picked up 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) and 11.9 mm (0.47 inches).

Brief hail was reported in parts of Henderson and the southwest valley.

Just a week into the month, May 2025 has already set a new rainfall benchmark for the Las Vegas Valley. Early figures show that Harry Reid International Airport has recorded 36.6 mm (1.44 inches) of rain so far, topping the previous record of 24.4 mm (0.96 inches) set back in 1969.

Multiple daily records were also broken over the span of three consecutive days. On Tuesday, 15.5 mm (0.61 inches) of rain fell at the airport, breaking the previous May 6 record of 15.0 mm (0.59 inches) set in 1969. Monday’s total reached 14.5 mm (0.57 inches), breaking a long-standing May 5 record of just 1 mm (0.04 inches), also from 1969. The stretch began Sunday morning, when 1.3 mm (0.05 inches) was recorded shortly after 05:00 local time, breaking the earlier May 4 record of 0.8 mm (0.03 inches) from 1982.

In response to the wet start to May, the Southern Nevada Water Authority urged residents and businesses to suspend landscape irrigation through May 12 to conserve water and take advantage of recent rainfall.

Harsh Vardhan

My passions include trying my best to save a dying planet, be it through carpooling or by spreading awareness about it. Research comes naturally to me, complemented by a keen interest in writing and journalism. Guided by a curious mind and a drive to look beyond the surface, I strive to bring thoughtful attention and clarity to subjects across Earth, sciences, environment, and everything in between.

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