Breezes continue in Las Vegas after gusts knocked out power
April 15, 2015 - 4:55 pm
The worst of the wind is over, but the Las Vegas Valley will continue to see breezy conditions through the weekend.
Gusts on Tuesday blew up to 50 mph, prompting a wind advisory from the National Weather Service, ripping branches from trees and causing several power outages across the valley. Traffic lights went out or blinked red throughout the valley.
High winds stirred up dust, reducing visibility for drivers, and forced an outdoor concert cancellation at the Cosmopolitan.
The winds also helped spread fire to two buildings at the Resort Villa Condos in Henderson, 2050 W. Warm Springs Road, near the Wildhorse Golf Club, Henderson spokeswoman Michelle French said.
The fire started in the garage of a two-story multi-family unit on the first floor, but quickly spread to other units and a second building because of the wind, she said. Henderson and Clark County firefighters were able to extinguish the fire about 2:15 p.m.
One person was taken to a local hospital for unknown injuries and another was checked out on scene by firefighter paramedics, French said. No firefighters were injured.
Six families from six units are being assisted by the American Red Cross. The fire was deemed accidental with a damage estimate of $440,000.
At one point Tuesday night, 2,600 NV Energy customers were without power, according to company spokeswoman Jennifer Schuricht. By 6 a.m. Wednesday, power had been restored to all but 20 customers because a power pole had to be replaced.
Wednesday’s breezy conditions, with gusts between 20 and 25 mph, came with a cool down. Highs will only reach the upper 60s, National Weather Service Mike Paddock said. Las Vegas had seen highs in the 80s before the wind came.
Nighttime lows will dip to the upper 40 degrees.
Breezes will continue Thursday, Paddock said, but they will be weaker. Gusts are expected to blow up to 20 mph. Highs will climb to the low 70s, and lows will drop to the mid 50s.
Expect similar conditions into the weekend with a slight warming trend starting Saturday.
Review-Journal writer Cassandra Taloma contributed to this story.
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.