Tropical Storm Rachel floods Las Vegas: record rain turns streets into rivers
By Rive News / Research desk | Rive News / Published October 13, 2026 at 7:30 AM PKT
Key takeaways
- Rachel's remnants dropped 1.08 inches of rain on Las Vegas by Sunday morning, tying the all-time October daily record set in 1947.
- Las Vegas Fire and Rescue carried out numerous swift-water rescues as flooding closed roads across Clark County and nearby Arizona and California counties.
- Showers and thunderstorms could linger through Tuesday, but forecasters say a separate system is responsible and the rain should end by Wednesday.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel turned Las Vegas streets into rivers. It happened on Sunday, October 11. Water rushed through the city and flooded a parking garage near the famous Strip.
Roads closed across the valley as the city recorded a record-breaking rain.
A tropical storm is a strong ocean storm with heavy rain and high winds. The word "remnants" means what is left of a storm after it breaks apart. Rachel lost its main strength before it reached Nevada.
What happened
Rachel grew into a Category 3 hurricane off Mexico's Pacific coast on October 1. It then weakened into a tropical storm and faded to remnants as it moved north. The moisture pushed into Southern Nevada over the weekend.
The heaviest rain fell from Saturday night through Sunday morning. Las Vegas measured 1.08 inches of rain by Sunday morning. That tied the all-time daily record for October.
The last time that much rain fell on one October day was 1947. The numbers come from the National Weather Service.
Some spots got even more rain. A few locations recorded 2 to 3 inches in less than 12 hours. In a desert city, that is a huge amount of water in a short time.
Videos on social media showed a torrent of water rushing near the Las Vegas Strip. The footage showed casinos and a Ferris wheel behind the rushing water.
Water poured into the LINQ Promenade parking garage just off the Strip. Flooding was also reported near the Sphere.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue carried out numerous swift-water rescues on Sunday morning. The weather service confirmed the rescue operations.
Footage aired by ABC7 showed a woman stranded on top of her car. Crews brought her to safety as the water rose, the station reported.
Flooding and debris closed roads in parts of Clark County. Closures also hit Mohave County in Arizona and Inyo and San Bernardino counties in California. Roads closed in northern Kingman, and floodwater affected roads in Death Valley National Park.
Standing water appeared at Cottonwood Canyon Park and Flamingo Wash on the Strip. Floodwater also gathered on Interstate 215 near Charleston.
Why it matters
A flash flood is a sudden flood that rises in minutes. Desert cities like Las Vegas face a special danger. Hard, dry ground cannot soak up water fast.
Rain rushes across streets and desert washes instead.
Steady tropical rain is different from a quick desert storm. It lasts longer and drops more water in one place. That is why streets that handle normal storms turned into rivers on Sunday.
The storm broke a record that stood for decades. Records matter because they show how rare an event is. Rare events catch people and cities off guard.
The rescues show how fast floodwater can trap drivers. Fast water can push cars off the road. Trapped drivers had to wait for rescue crews.
What happens next
The rain is not over yet. Showers and isolated thunderstorms could linger through Tuesday. Monday is expected to bring the heaviest of the leftover rain.
Flood watches stayed in place through Monday afternoon for a wide area. They covered parts of Utah, southeast Idaho, and northern and central Arizona. The Grand Canyon area was included in the watch zone.
Forecasters say the new rain comes from a different weather system. It is not connected to Rachel, the weather service said. The rain should end by Wednesday.
Temperatures will stay cool for now. Las Vegas was forecast to reach 70 degrees Monday and 66 on Tuesday. That is 10 to 20 degrees below normal for October.
Warmer weather should return later in the week, with highs near 80 by Sunday.
Crews now face cleanup work across the valley. They must clear debris and reopen flooded roads.
Homes that took on water face another threat: mold. Standing water can breed mold within days, so quick drying matters. See our guide on preventing mold in a bathroom without an exhaust fan.
According to local broadcaster KSNV, the deluge barely lifted Lake Mead water levels. It soaked roads but added little to the lake.
Storms like Rachel are a reminder to prepare before winter weather arrives. Outdoor pipes and faucets are easy to protect ahead of time. See our step-by-step guide to winterizing outdoor faucets before the cold sets in.
Las Vegas will dry out as the week goes on. Drier, warmer days are expected after Wednesday. The record books have a new entry for October 11.
The valley will remember what tropical moisture can do in a desert.
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