Intense windstorm sweeps through Las Vegas, creating dust storm and knocking out power

Video: Las Vegas particulate storm

The archetypal important surge of monsoonal moisture crossed confederate Nevada connected Tuesday led to what amounted to beryllium chaos crossed the vale arsenic near-hurricane-force upwind gusts toppled trees, damaged powerlines and was linked to astatine slightest 1 occurrence that killed respective animals.

LAS VEGAS – The archetypal large surge of monsoonal moisture crossed confederate Nevada connected Tuesday brought wide disruptions to the Las Vegas Valley, unleashing near-hurricane-force upwind gusts that toppled trees, downed powerlines and contributed to a ample occurrence that killed respective animals.

The National Weather Service bureau successful Las Vegas issued the archetypal Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Clark County astatine astir 3:30 p.m. section time, alerting residents that processing tempest cells had the imaginable to origin harm to roofs, trees and different structures owed to beardown winds.

Although radar information showed constricted rainfall, the harm reported crossed the portion was linked to what meteorologists aboriginal confirmed were "virga bombs" oregon "dry microbursts." 

These are abrupt and almighty downdrafts that hap erstwhile rainfall evaporates earlier reaching the ground, but the cooled aerial continues to plunge downward and dispersed retired violently, generating aggravated upwind gusts.

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Las Vegas radar from 7/1/2025.

(Iowa Mesonet / NOAA)

At Harry Reid International Airport, upwind gusts were recorded astatine 60 mph, portion reflection stations astir Henderson reported speeds of astatine slightest 70 mph. 

NV Energy, the state’s largest energy provider, reported much than 30,000 customers mislaid powerfulness during Tuesday's event.

Multiple powerfulness poles were snapped crossed the city, peculiarly successful the occidental and bluish suburbs.

"High winds person caused a fig of outages successful the Las Vegas Valley. NV Energy crews are moving to reconstruct powerfulness arsenic rapidly and safely arsenic possible. We admit your patience," the inferior institution posted connected societal media soon aft the strategy moved done the area.

The upwind besides generated a particulate tempest that swept done overmuch of the valley, dramatically reducing visibility and impacting air quality readings.

Residents and tourists on the Las Vegas Strip witnessed the event, wherever videos were taken from showing heavy plumes of particulate blanketing the skyline.

"Dust storms pb to unsafe driving conditions with visibility reduced to adjacent zero. If driving, debar particulate storms if possible. If caught successful one, propulsion disconnected the road, crook disconnected your lights and support your ft disconnected the brake," NWS meteorologists warned residents.

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In summation to the powerfulness outages and reduced visibilities, officials said the windy conditions apt contributed to the dispersed of a occurrence connected the northeast broadside of town.

According to the Clark County Fire Department, a fig of workplace animals were killed successful the blaze, though nary quality fatalities were reported arsenic of Tuesday evening.

As the portion continues to modulation deeper into the monsoon season, the NWS expects aboriginal cells volition bring much localized impacts but volition apt impact greater rainfall amounts and flooding.

Shown connected the representation is the emblematic upwind signifier that dominates during overmuch of the North American monsoon season.

(FOX Weather)