Tropical Storm Rachel has sights set on Colorado River Valley, possibly Las Vegas

Tropical Storm Rachel is swirling off the Pacific coast of Mexico and moving north toward the Colorado River Valley, with potential impacts on Southern Nevada. Residents are being reminded of the damage caused by Hurricane Hilary's remnants in late August 2023, which led to widespread flooding, road closures, and trail destruction in areas like Death Valley National Park, Mt. Charleston, and Kyle Canyon.

In the aftermath of that storm, Death Valley closed for eight weeks due to about 400 miles of roads being buried or washed away, including an 856-foot section in Kyle Canyon. The Las Vegas Valley braced for flash flooding, though most rain fell west in Kyle Canyon. Schools in Nye County closed when the storm arrived on August 21, 2023, and rebuilding efforts on trails like Mary Jane Falls Trail are ongoing this summer.

Communities in northwest Arizona are already preparing, with Mohave County advising residents of widespread rain expected from Saturday night through Tuesday morning. Two weeks prior, a storm that dropped 1.5 inches of rain north of Bullhead City caused swift-water rescues, stranded vehicles—including an RV with two adults and two children—and carried a 75-year-old man’s car half-buried in mud and rocks, with no injuries reported.

Now, the area is expecting up to an inch of rain per hour when Rachel arrives. Free sandbags will be available at the Optimum Community Center parking lot in Bullhead City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temperatures in Las Vegas are expected to drop, with highs of 78 on Sunday, 73 on Monday, and 70 on Tuesday before warming again.

Sources: 8 News Now