Las Vegas is rolling into monsoon season, and local officials want everyone to know this is not the time to treat storm warnings like background noise. The Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the National Weather Service will hold their annual news conference Tuesday as the valley heads into the summer monsoon months. Short, intense desert storms can unleash sudden torrents through washes and city streets, and officials say early outreach can cut down on avoidable injuries and fatalities. With millions of visitors cycling through the city every year, the message is squarely aimed at both locals and tourists.
As reported by FOX5, the news conference is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the National Weather Service Las Vegas office. Flash flood season in Clark County runs from July through September, and officials are expected to review how the flood control network will respond and whether the valley is looking at a strong monsoon or another so-called "non-soon."
District highlights decades of infrastructure
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District points to hundreds of miles of channels and dozens of basins built over decades to move stormwater safely through developed areas. According to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, the program now includes roughly 722 miles of channels and storm drains and 113 detention basins that the agency says protect nearly 2.4 million residents and more than 45 million annual visitors. Officials stress that engineering can dramatically reduce risk but does not erase the danger of flash flooding during intense storms.
Turn Around, Don't Drown remains the core warning
Forecasters and emergency managers keep hammering the National Weather Service mantra: "Turn Around, Don't Drown" when drivers encounter flooded roads. The NWS Las Vegas office regularly issues flash flood watches and warnings during monsoon activity, and its local pages explain how alerts go out and why conditions can flip quickly in the valley's washes and channels. Officials plan to walk through how the warning system, real-time gauges and partner agencies coordinate when fast-moving storms race across the region.
How to prepare and where to get alerts
Clark County encourages residents and visitors to sign up for CodeRED and to use the Southern Nevada Community Preparedness App for real-time alerts and safety guidance, per the county's emergency pages (Clark County). The Flood Control District also promotes public tools such as the FloodSpot app and classroom outreach to teach drivers and students to avoid channel areas during storms, according to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District. During monsoon months, officials remind motorists to plan alternate routes and never drive through standing or flowing water.
