Hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and nearby were drenched in flooding when a “monsoon” storm swept the region Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Videos shared on social media showed rainwater pouring down the casino floors. In a videospectators can watch rain fall through a huge hole on the roof of the Planet Hollywood Casino.
Photos and videos surfaced on social media just hours after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the valley.
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has responded to 330 incidents since the storm began around 9 p.m. — including rescuing seven people from fast water.
There were no injuries on Friday afternoon and casinos remained open to customers.
“Although Planet Hollywood suffered minor damage from last night’s storm, it is operating normally today,” Caesars Entertainment told Metro.co.uk. “Repairs are already underway and we don’t expect them to affect our guest experience.”
The NWS warned of thunderstorms, 60 mph winds and pea-sized hail across a wide area including Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Lone Mountain and Centennial Hills.
At around midnight, the NWS registered a 48 mph gust at North Las Vegas Airport.
At one point, 13th Street was closed due to a fallen tree in the roadway, the fire brigade tweeted.
According to the NWS, the rain stopped around 3 a.m., but excessive runoff and standing water remained in the city.
By morning, all westbound lanes on Interstate 15 were still flooded. KTNV reported.
The monsoon season usually occurs from late June to mid-September, according to the city council. As moist air from the Pacific moves inland, it produces “quick and powerful” thunderstorms that can lead to wildfires and flash flooding.
Monsoons can also cause downbursts – “concentrated downdrafts of rain and wind” that can cause damage comparable to that of a tornado.
Circa did not immediately return a request for comment.
Just hours before the storms began, the city declared a water emergency, indicating that less than 50 days of water had been stored in the reservoirs. KOAT reported.
The city of Las Vegas confirmed to Metro.co.uk that all of southern Nevada is still in drought.
The storms have ended in Vegas, but much of the Southwest remains under flood control, including nearly all of nearby Arizona.
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