Guard troops to stage in Southern Nevada as Hilary churns toward California

Aug. 19—National Guard troops will be staging throughout Southern Nevada on Saturday as the area braces for what could be major to historic flooding from Hurricane Hilary.

The forecast continues to project the heaviest rainfalls late Sunday and early Monday for Clark County, according to Morgan Stessman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.

The region could see 50 to 100 percent of annual rainfall within a 24-hour period Sunday, the weather service said. It says the area could see 1 to 2 inches of rain. According to the weather service's website, the most rain to fall in a 24-hour period in Las Vegas is 2.59 inches on Aug. 20-21, 1957.

"A big thing, the concrete washes around the valley," Stessman said Saturday. "Those can become deadly very quickly once we start seeing heavy rain."

She said the city is designed to direct water into the washes.

Several roads in the region will see flowing water and require closure and heavy rains could cause rapid onset of flash flooding or exacerbate ongoing flooding, the weather service said, noting that Spring Mountains and Sheep Range will likely see flooding of roadways and could see rockslides or mudslides.

A brief rainstorm rolled through the area Friday night, causing damage at Lake Vegas Boat Harbor, some flooding of roads and thousands of power outages. Rain is expected to continue Saturday and could stretch into mid-week.

"We are not expecting this to be a constant rainfall but rather several rounds of moderate (to) heavy rainfall," Stessman said Saturday.

At the storm's peak — expected Sunday night and early Monday — there will be limited time between rounds of the storms. Stessman said there won't be much time for the ground to dry out, which will compound flash flooding dangers.

A flash food watch is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Saturday and remain until Monday afternoon for Clark County.

The area has a very low risk of seeing other storm-related dangers. This includes a 5% to 14% chance of seeing tropical-force winds up to 75 mph and 2% to 4% chance of tornadoes.

Hilary's path

After rapidly gaining power Friday, Hilary slowed by Saturday but remained a major Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, down from 145 mph at its peak.

By midday Saturday, the storm was centered about 350 miles south-southeast of Punta Eugenia, one of the westernmost spurs on Mexico's southern Baja peninsula. The hurricane was expected to brush past Punta Eugenia before making landfall along a sparsely populated area of the Baja peninsula at a point about 200 miles south of the Pacific port city of Ensenada.

It was still 710 miles south-southeast of San Diego, Calif. It was moving north-northwest at 16 mph and was expected to turn more toward the north and pick up speed.

It is then expected to continue northward up the peninsula, raising fears that its heavy rains could cause dangerous flooding in the border city of Tijuana, where many homes in the city of 1.9 million cling precariously to steep hillsides.

No tropical storm has hit Southern California since 1939.

Radar down

The radar used by the weather service in Las Vegas went down about 7:30 p.m. Friday, Stessman said Saturday. She said lightning is the suspected cause.

"We are currently using neighboring radar," Stessman said "Without that one we don't have as good of coverage for Southern Nevada. We can't see more of the lower levels."

The neighboring radars are located in Cedar City, Utah and Edwards Air Force Base in California's Kern County.

Stessman said technicians are on their way to examine the radar located in the Eldorado Mountains and see if it is fixable before storms roll in Saturday afternoon.

"In the past we have had radars go down and we have been able to make do without them," Stessman said.

She said ground gauges, storm spotters and reports from the public can be uses to assess the storm.

Damage at Lake Mead

Much of the Las Vegas Boat Harbor sustained damage from a severe weather event on the lake Friday night, according to John Hayes, Lake Mead National Recreations Spokesperson.

Docks and the concessions at the harbor had damage, he said.

"Crews are out today assessing the damage and focusing on the safety of personnel on scene," Hayes said. "As mentioned (Friday), Lake Mead officials urge people to avoid going to the park this weekend as we brace for the impacts of Hurricane Hilary."

No one was inured, he added.

National Guard activated

Gov. Joe Lombardo activated 100 National Guard troops to Southern Nevada on Friday night.

"These Guardsmen will be put in place to provide support to southern counties, which may be significantly impacted by flooding," he said in a news release. "As the state takes the necessary steps to prepare for flooding and severe weather, I strongly urge all Nevadans to do the same. By making a plan ahead of time, Nevadans can ensure that their families and loved ones remain safe amidst Hurricane Hilary."

The governor's office strongly encourages all Nevadans to follow the guidance issued by the Division of Emergency Management and their local emergency officials. The agency has issued the following guidance:

* Now is the time to prepare yourself and your household. As you prepare, tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities.

* Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs such as operating medical equipment.

* Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your plan.

* Identify any additional help needed in an emergency, if you or anybody in your home is senior or has a disability, access, or functional requirement.

* Have several ways to receive alerts. Sign up to receive emergency notifications. Download the FEMA App on your smartphone and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Check the settings on your mobile devices to ensure you can receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, which require no sign-up.

* Have an emergency charging option for your phone and other devices.

* Protect your home against storms. Declutter drains and gutters and bring in outside furniture.

* Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household, pets, and identify where you will stay. Follow the instructions from local agencies who will provide the latest recommendations based on the threat to your community and appropriate safety measures.

* Make copies important personal, medical, financial, and insurance documents. If possible, keep them in a secure password protected digital space. Have enough supplies for your household, include medication, disinfectant supplies, masks, pet supplies in your go bag or car trunk.

* Replenish supplies in your emergency kit and replace expired items as needed.

* Visit dem.nv.gov and click on Flood Information 2023 on the home page for more information on how to prepare for, stay safe during and returning home after a flooding incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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