DELUGE: Record Breaking Rainfall Causes Flash Floods In Las Vegas - Over A Hundred Road Crashes!

Flooding in Las Vegas.

April 13, 2016 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - Record-breaking rain drenched Las Vegas throughout the weekend, causing flooding and more than a hundred crashes on the roads.

Flash flood warnings were issued Saturday, when 0.81 inch of rain was recorded at the National Weather Service's official measuring site at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. That handily beat Sin City's previous record for the day, which was set at 0.17 inch in 1943, said Andrew Gorelow, a meteorologist.

It now also ranks as the third-highest total amount of rain ever for a single day for the month of April.

"April is one of our driest months of the year," Gorelow said. "We only average 0.15 (inch) for the average month (total)."

Sunday also broke the day's record with 0.14 inch of rain, washing out the previous record of 0.13 inch set in 1943.

Gorelow said the rain was caused by a low pressure system that had picked up a lot of moisture on the way in from Southern California.


WATCH: Flooding in Las Vegas.

There's a 40 percent chance of more showers Monday after 11 a.m. before it clears out by Tuesday and temperatures return to the upper 70s.

That will be a welcome reprieve for emergency crews who slogged through the weekend.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to 127 crashes, including seven hit-and-run incidents Saturday.

Most were caused by a single vehicle hydroplaning.

A total of 43 injuries and 77 cases of property damage were noted.

The Clark County Fire Department also rescued seven people caught in the flooding Saturday.

Four adults believed to be homeless were rescued near the washes along Dean Martin Drive, including one man south of Tropicana Avenue and three others found north of Flamingo Road.

One was hospitalized for a minor leg injury.

Two adults and an infant child were also rescued from their vehicles stuck in standing water just east of the Strip.

The Vegas-based fire department also responded to flooding in Warm Springs, about 200 miles north, to assist a mobile home area.

People in four houses found themselves surrounded by flood water for about four hours Saturday evening until the water receded to safer levels around 8 p.m.

The homes were raised so no significant damage was reported.

"They had to sit and watch the water go by," said Larry Haydu, Clark County's assistant fire chief.

In northern Nevada, a recent bout of rainfall brought better news.

Lake Tahoe's water level hit its natural rim for the first time in 10 months, with National Weather Service reporting that the lake is now over its rim by half an inch.

The lake last reached its natural rim in June 2015. Tahoe hasn't spilled over into the Truckee River since before October 2014.

Lake Tahoe had hit a two-year low this past winter. - Las Vegas Now.

FIRE IN THE SKY: Mysterious Glowing Fireball Baffles Residents Of Las Vegas And California! [VIDEOS]

March 9, 2016 - UNITED STATES - What was this bright burning light striking the sky of Las Vegas and northern California on March 6, 2016?

It looks like a giant fireball disintegrating in the skies... But wait a minute...


WATCH: Fireball over Las Vegas.

This gigantic fireball is much too slow and remains incandescent for much too much time.

The northern California dashcam video is less clear than this first footage. You see a faint ball of fire as the car turns on the right. But the moving light is too far away to clearly determine its origin:


 WATCH: Large meteor over southern California.

So what are these mysterious lights in the sky?

Let's say that the burning object in the northern California video is a real meteor falling down to Earth on March 6, 2016.

But what about the event filmed over Las Vegas? No meteor will burn so long in our atmosphere.

I didn't get any visits of some green aliens and it doesn't seem to me these are fireworks.

I thus guess this is the re-entry of a man-made space object.

Looking at aerospace.org, there is this rocket body from Chinese Mission Yaogan 10 that is supposed to re-enter tomorrow. But maybe the event occurred a bit faster than predicted. - Strange Sounds.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Major Seismic Uptick - 17,500 Earthquakes Recorded For Nevada In 2015!

Earthquake 3D of tremors in Nevada.

January 1, 2016 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - More than 17,500 earthquakes were recorded in 2015 by the University of Nevada, Reno's Nevada Seismological Laboratory.

That includes the 231 recent quakes in South Reno and the magnitude 4.8 in Caliente that shook Las Vegas in January 2015, according to a Thursday report from UNR.

The biggest source of shakes is the so-called Sheldon sequence in far northwest Nevada, according to the seismological lab.

USGS recent earthquake locations in Nevada.

In 2015 there were 4,511 earthquakes recorded in the remote Sheldon Wildlife Refuge near Vya, east of Cedarville, Calif.

Other quake-prone areas in 2015 were Caliente, Carson City and Virginia City.

Outside of the persistent Sheldon sequence, Nevada was hit with 54 magnitude 3 or greater earthquakes - or about one per week all year.

"The south Reno swarm that just happened produced about 30 earthquakes in two days and about 200 more in the days that followed," said Graham Kent, director of the lab, in the news release. - Reno Gazette-Journal.

Earthquake History

Nevada ranks among the most seismically active States.

A number of the larger shocks have produced some spectacular examples of surface faulting; these include shocks at Pleasant Valley (1915), Cedar Mountain (1932), Excelsior Mountain (1934), Rainbow Mountain (1954), and Fairview Peak - Dixie Valley (1954). Although these events are classied as major earthquakes in terms of magnitude, no fatalities were reported and building damage was minimal because of the sparse population of the epicentral areas.

The earliest reported earthquake in Nevada occurred in 1851. A newspaper article in 1865 cited reports of an earthquake 13 years earlier near Pyramid Lake. The account stated that great cracks opened from which water spouted 100 feet high. Large landslides were also reported.

On October 2, 1915, three strong earthquakes within about 7 hours disturbed a large part of northern Nevada. The third tremor had an estimated magnitude of 7.75. It destroyed or seriously damaged many adobe houses in Pleasant Valley. Most of the damage was confined to the towns of Kennedy, Lovelock, and Winnemucca. The earthquake was felt over a very wide area - from Baker, Oregon, to San Diego, California, and from the Pacific coast to beyond Salt Lake City, Utah, an area of about 1,295,000 square kilometers. A scarp 1.5 to 4.5 meters high and 35 kilometers long, was formed parallel to the base of the Sonoma Mountains. About 100 aftershocks followed the main earthquake.

Nevada seismicity map - 1973 to March 2012

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 originated in west-central Nevada on December 20, 1932. The epicentral area, near Cedar Mountain, was almost uninhabited. Two cabins, one of stone, and the other of adobe, were destroyed, and mining property was damaged. Many chimneys were thrown down at Mina and Luning. At Hawthorne, the shock cracked and threw down chimneys. Extensive and complicated faulting occurred northeast of Mina, over an area of about 60 kilometers long and 6 to 14 kilometers wide in the valley between the Cedar and Pilot Mountains. The total felt area was approximately the same as that of the 1915 shock.

About a year later, on January 30, 1934, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake which centered in the Excelsior Mountains area about 80 kilometers west of the 1932 zone, again caused some damage at Mina. The collapse of some adobe buildings at Marietta was also reported. Several foreshocks were noted; the strongest had a magnitude of 5.5 and occurred about an hour before the main earthquake. Slight damage at Mina resulted from this foreshock. A small fault scarp 12.5 centimeters high and about 1,500 meters long was formed on the south slope of the Excelsior Mountains. The earthquake was felt widely over Nevada and in parts of California and Utah, an area of about 285,000 square kilometers.

The Rainbow Mountain area in the Stillwater Range, about 25 kilometers east of Fallon, was the origin of a series of earthquakes in July and August 1954. The first strong earthquake on July 6, magnitude 6.6, was damaging at Fallon; it was followed by a magnitude 6.4 shock about 11 hours later and by a series of smaller aftershocks. Another large earthquake, magnitude 6.8, on August 23 caused additional damaged at Fallon. It too was followed by many aftershocks. Ground breakage was traced for about 40 kilometers.

On December 16, 1954, a major earthquake of magnitude 7.1 occurred about 50 kilometers east of the epicentral region of the July - August shocks, near Frenchman's Station. A magnitude 6.8 aftershock followed 4 minutes later. Intensity X was assigned to the spectacular surface ruptures which occurred in two major fault zones; one on the west side of Dixie Valley along the east base of the Stillwater Range and the other on the east side of Fairview Valley in the Clan Alpine Range. Faulting extended north and south for a linear distance of approximately 90 kilometers. Vertical movement of 1.5 to 4.5 meters was measured in Dixie Valley. About 2 to 6 meters of vertical movement and about 1 to 4 meters of horizontal movement were measured near Fairview Peak. Because the epicentral region was sparsely populated, this potentially destructive earthquake caused relatively little property damage. At Fallon, a few toppled chimneys were noted. Chimneys twisted and fell at Austin. At Sacramento, California, located about 265 kilometers distant, the shock caused an estimated $20,000 damage to a large underground water tank at the city's filtration plant. Some damage was also reported at the city's sewage disposal plant. The shock was felt throughout Nevada and in parts of Arizona, California, Idaho, and Oregon, an area of about 520,000 square kilometers. Again, a long series of aftershocks followed.

Only Nevada's major shocks have been listed here. A study by the University of Nevada in 1965 tabulated 1,173 "felt" events with epicenters within the State during the 1852 - 1961 period. Another 586 having magnitudes greater than 4.0 were recorded and probably were felt by some residents. Approximately 220 were reported in nonspecific terms (for example, "several aftershocks were felt"). A general increase in the number of events reported each year has been correlated with the upward trend in population. - USGS.

WEATHER ANOMALIES: Las Vegas, Nevada Finally Gets Snow - McCarran International Airport Ties 1941 Christmas Day Snowfall Record!

© Via Twitter@LeeCanyonLV

December 26, 2015 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - "Ho, ho, ho! Vegas got snow!"

That was a Christmas morning posting by the National Weather Service, heralding flurries mixed with rain showers after a windy cold front swept through the Las Vegas area.

Meteorologist Chris Stachelski noted that the trace of snow recorded at McCarran International Airport tied a Christmas Day record set in 1941.

Traces also were recorded on Christmas in 1988 and 2008.

Nothing stuck on the sidewalks of the Strip, but some northwest Las Vegas neighborhoods received a dusting of snow.

It melted as the morning dawned clear and sunny with temperatures in the high 30s.

Meteorologist John Salmen says the wet weather blew in with windy squalls that brought gusts up to 38 miles per hour between midnight and 2 a.m. Friday. - CBS.

FIRE IN THE SKY: "It Looked Like A Comet" - Strange Fireball Lights Up The Skies Over Las Vegas, Nevada?!

Photo by Lisa Dalene Morawetz.

December 22, 2015 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - Many Victor Valley residents posted to Victor Valley News Facebook group inquiring about a colorful object streaking across the night sky.

The object described as colorful and round fireball streaked across the western sky heading west just after 6:15 P.M., on Tuesday, December 22, 2015.

Below are a few of the comments posted by Victor Valley News members:

“It looked like a comet because it changed colors. Green to red. It was really cool,” stated Todd N Zabrina Martin.

Photo by Robert Akers.

“It looked like something entering the atmosphere and breaking up, reminded me of when the space shuttle burned up,” stated Jim Pryor.

Early unconfirmed reports are describing the “object” as a meteor or space debris (i.e. satellite) that was seen over several states including Nevada and California.

As of 6:30 P.M., there has been no official confirmation on what exactly the object was.

More information will be updated as it becomes available.

Did you see it? Send us any photos or videos by emailing news@vvng.com


WATCH: Strange Light in the Sky Seen Across the Victor Valley.

Video: Meteor also seen over Nevada via @SteeleSoldie pic.twitter.com/VSOdZdtXae #fireball

— UFO Community (@UFOcommunity) December 23, 2015

- VVNG.

PLANETARY TREMORS: Major Global Seismic Uptick - 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Nevada!

USGS map shows the area of Calienta, Nevada where an earthquake struck on Friday, May 22, 2015.

May 23, 2015 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - An earthquake that struck a rural area of southern Nevada has been downgraded to magnitude 4.8.

The U.S. Geological Survey revised its earlier report that pinned the magnitude of Friday's earthquake at 5.4.

The temblor hit around midday about 24 miles southwest of the small town of Caliente, Nevada. It could be felt about 100 miles away in Las Vegas.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reported damage to one of the state's busiest highway transition ramps.

The ramp from southbound U.S. 95 to Interstate 15 near downtown Las Vegas has been shut down indefinitely.

The Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada Reno says several aftershocks, from magnitude 1.0 to 3.8, followed the larger temblor.

The USGS website recorded hundreds of reports from people who say they felt the shaking. - ABC7.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: More Cases Of Transportation Upheavals - Two Killed In Arizona Helicopter Crash And Two Officers Hurt In Vegas Police Helicopter Crash!

January 1, 2015 - UNITED STATES - Here are two of the latest reports of helicopter crashes in the United States.

2 officers hurt in Vegas police helicopter crash

A Las Vegas police officer stands by the wreckage of a Las Vegas police helicopter Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Las Vegas.
Two officers were hospitalized with injuries from the crash. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A Las Vegas police helicopter crashed on a residential street Wednesday and two police officers were hospitalized with injuries that weren't believed to be life-threatening, authorities said.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the Hughes 530 helicopter to go down just before 1:30 p.m. northeast of downtown Las Vegas.

The aircraft didn't catch fire, and the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the injuries to the two people aboard the aircraft weren't life-threatening.

Police Officer Laura Meltzer said the two officers were taken to University Medical Center, and there were no reports that anyone on the ground was hurt.

The wreckage came to rest tilted on its side in a neighborhood of single-story homes.

(AP Photo/John Locher)

At least one of the four main rotor blades appeared to be missing and a landing skid broke, leaving the white helicopter with a red tail and green and gold stripes incapacitated in the street.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor in Los Angeles said the agency would investigate the crash.

It wasn't immediately known if weather was a factor. The crash happened on a cold day with overcast skies and occasional snow flurries in mountain elevations, but no flakes accumulated in the downtown and Las Vegas Strip area. Winds were light, about 10 mph.

The helicopter is one of five operated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The Hughes is routinely used for patrol and as an aerial observation platform at events like the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. The event Wednesday night was expected to draw some 340,000 revelers to the Las Vegas Strip. -  Yahoo.

2 killed in Arizona helicopter crash

Two people were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday in southern Arizona.

The helicopter was returning from Phoenix after routine maintenance, said the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carol Capas said contact with Cochise Air, the copter that is leased to the Sheriff's Office, was lost around 7 p.m. near Benson, about 150 miles southeast of Phoenix. The helicopter was flying to nearby Sierra Vista in Cochise County.

The Sheriff's Office and Benson Fire Department search crews tracked the pilot's cellphone and found the crash site south of Interstate 10 outside of Benson, Capas said. The two occupants, a pilot and a mechanic, were found dead. They were not identified.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Earlier Wednesday, a Las Vegas police helicopter crashed on a residential street, injuring two officers. - FOX News.

WEATHER ANOMALIES: Ice Age Now - Rare Snow To Blanket Las Vegas, Desert Southwest On New Year's Eve!

December 29, 2014 - NEVADA, UNITED STATES - As cold air continues to plunge southward in the West, a storm will produce rare New Year's Eve and New Year's Day snow for Las Vegas, the Mojave Desert and the mountains in the region.

Pack some warm clothes and perhaps winter boots if you are heading to the Southwest for the New Year's holiday. Motorists heading over the mountains should expect delays due to snow-covered roads.

Soon after snow falls on parts of the central Rockies and Plains, a new winter storm will develop over the Southwest states.

The storm will bring snow to not only the mountains of the Four Corner states, Nevada and Southern California, but also some low-elevation locations in the region that rarely receive accumulating snow.

Las Vegas, which averages about 0.3 of an inch of snow per year, is forecast to receive 1-3 inches of snow during Tuesday night into Thursday morning.

According to the Las Vegas National Weather Service Office, there have only been 15 snowstorms that brought greater than 1 inch of snow. Records have been kept since 1937.

If more than a trace of snow falls in Las Vegas on Wednesday, it will become the snowiest New Year's Eve in the city's record.

The last and only snowstorm on record during New Year's Day around Las Vegas was in 1974, when accumulations ranged from 2 to 5.5 inches in the area. The official New Year's Day record for McCarran International Airport is 4.4 inches.

In this Jan. 1, 1974 photo at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, snow accumulated on vehicles, grassy areas and elevated surfaces.
(Photo/NWS Office in Las Vegas/UNLV)

"Unusually cold air will target the southwestern U.S. by midweek. Las Vegas has not seen measurable snow since Dec. 17, 2008, when 3.6 inches of snow fell," said AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel.

If the winter storm materializes in Las Vegas, the city could wind up with more snow than a number of locations in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic this December.

This could result in significant travel disruptions around the city leading up to New Year's Eve celebrations.

As the storm spins over the Southwest, snow will fall in the higher elevations of Southern California. There is the potential for icy and snow-covered roads over Cajon and Tejon passes from Tuesday evening through Wednesday.

"Snow levels will be down to 2,500 feet (by midweek) and the Antelope Valley in the upper deserts outside of Los Angeles could have measurable snow as well," continued Samuhel.

During Wednesday and Wednesday night, motorists should expect travel delays and possible road closures along portions of I-40 in Arizona and New Mexico, where a half a foot of snow or more may fall.

Motorists may want to consider taking a more southern route, such as I-10, during this time.

It is possible that wet snowflakes and sleet will mix in with the rain around Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona, and Palm Springs, California.

This cold regime will be firmly entrenched across the West, so people partaking in outdoor New Year's Eve festivities will need to bundle up. Temperatures will plunge below zero in Montana and highs will only be in the 30s in part of the Southwest deserts. - AccuWeather.

MASS SHOOTINGS: "Senseless Act Of Violence" - Las Vegas Shooting Leaves 2 Police Officers, 3 Others Dead; One Shooter Yelled "This Is A Revolution" Before Killing The Officers!

June 08, 2014 - LAS VEGAS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - Two police officers were "simply having lunch" at a strip mall pizza buffet in Las Vegas when a man and a woman fatally shot them in point-blank ambush, then fled to a nearby Walmart where they killed a third person and then themselves in an apparent suicide pact, authorities said.

The suspected shooters, a man and a woman, allegedly yelled 'This is a revolution' before killing two
Las Vegas police officers in a pizza parlour. (Steve Marcus/Reuters,Las Vegas Sun)

The attack at a CiCi's Pizza restaurant Sunday killed Officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31, who are both husbands and fathers. One of the shooters yelled, "This is a revolution," but a motive remains under investigation, Las Vegas police spokesman Larry Hadfield said.

"It's a tragic day," Sheriff Doug Gillespie said at a news conference Sunday afternoon. "But we still have a community to police, and we still have a community to protect. We will be out there doing it with our heads held high, but with an emptiness in our hearts."

Photos of slain Las Vegas Metro Police officers Alyn Beck
and Igor Soldo are displayed during a news conference
Sunday afternoon. (Steve Marcus/Reuters, Las Vegas Sun)

For added safety, officers who normally work alone will be paired up with another officer for a time, Gillespie said.

The deadly rampage in the aging shopping centre about five miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip took place in a matter of minutes. Police were called at 11:22 a.m. to the pizzeria, where one of the officers was able to fire back at his assailants. It's unclear whether he hit them, Gillespie said.

Shots were reported five minutes later at a nearby Wal-Mart, where the shooters gunned down a person just inside the front door and exchanged gunfire with police before killing themselves, police said.

The female suspect shot the male suspect before killing herself, Gillespie said. The victim's identity hasn't been confirmed, and the suspects' names haven't been released.

'Suddenly he had a gun'

Both officers were pronounced dead at University Medical Center. Beck had been with the department since 2001 and leaves behind a wife and three children. Soldo had been with the force since 2006 and is survived by a wife and baby, police said.

He was described as a good father and a "great guy" by his sister-in-law, Colleen Soldo of Beatrice, Nebraska. She said he attended high school in Lincoln, Nebraska, and previously worked as a corrections officer.

Sheree Burns, 48, told the Las Vegas Sun she was eating at the restaurant, seated just behind the two officers.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers put police tape up outside a Wal-Mart
on June 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(AFP Photo / Ethan Miller)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers stand near Wal-Mart employees near their store
on June 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(AFP Photo / Ethan Miller)

A man came up to one of the officers and shot him in the head, Burns said. She said she ducked under her table but peeked up and saw the other officer being shot.

She said the man took an officer's handgun and the two attackers fled.

Pauline Pacheco was shopping at Wal-Mart when she saw the armed man and grabbed her father to escape, KLAS-TV reported.

"We saw when the man was walking, he was shouting, yelling bad words, and suddenly he had a gun," she told the station. "It was terrible, it was terrible. That man was crazy."

Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the male suspect yelled "everyone get out" before shooting at Wal-Mart. The suspects then walked to the back of the store.

'Senseless act of violence'

Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement he was devastated by the murders of the two officers and an innocent bystander in an "act of senseless violence."

In a statement, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman called the killings a "cruel act" and praised the officers for dedicating "their lives to protecting all of us in our community."

Wal-Mart employees and shoppers were taken to a nearby women's clothing store to be interviewed by police. The restaurant and Wal-Mart remained closed as detectives processed evidence. McMahill said the investigation is "very complex" because it involves more than 1,000 witnesses.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers hug near a Wal-Mart on June 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(AFP Photo / Ethan Miller)

Emotions are high outside Walmart at Nellis and Eastern in shooting that left five dead including 2 police officers.
(Kevin M. Cannon)

Wal-Mart expressed its condolences in a statement and that the company is working with police on the investigation. Cici's Pizza said in a statement the company was deeply saddened by the shooting and would keep the location closed until further notice.

Sunday's killings come less than a year after the Las Vegas police department's most recent on-duty death. Officer David VanBuskirk died while rescuing a stranded hiker by helicopter on July 22, 2013.

The department has lost officers over the past decade in vehicle accidents and in an off-duty shooting, but the most recent on-duty shooting death happened Feb. 1, 2006, when Sgt. Henry Prendes was ambushed during a domestic violence call. - CBC. 

MASS ANIMAL DIE-OFF: "Rare Occurrence" - Why Are Elk Mysteriously Dying In New Mexico?!

October 08, 2013 - UNITED STATES - In August of 2013, more than 100 elk were found dead on a range to the north of Las Vegas. They are believed to have all died within a 24 hour period. The mysterious deaths have left the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish baffled over what caused the animals to die.

The death of livestock is not in itself a rare occurrence. Poachers, predators, disease, toxins, starvation, drought, heat and even lightening can wipe out herds of animals. Wildlife officials have, however, dismissed these possibilities.

Anthrax poisoning, which occurs following ingestion of the organism, was suspected as causing the deaths. In 2000, more than 150 livestock animals in North Dakota died of anthrax. The bacteria also exists naturally in the New Mexico region.

However, according to a report in Live Science, tests for anthrax came back negative. (1)

Pesticides have also been responsible for killing livestock. Cattle will eat grass that has been sprayed with pesticides such as calcium arsenate powder and liquid arsenate herbicide. These substances are highly toxic to livestock. If arsenic is ingested, it can damage small blood vessels, which affects the blood supply to the major organs, as stated by the LSU AGCenter. (2)

There does, however, seem to be no evidence of any pesticide use in the area and officials have ruled out the use of heavy pesticides as being the reason for the mass killings.

Is the Weather to Blame?
Thunderstorms and lightning are a common occurrence in the New Mexico area, particularly during the summer months. In fact, according to the Severe Weather Climatology for New Mexico report, because the state has one of the highest storm frequencies in the United States, it has the highest lightning fatalities per capita in the US. (3)

Lighting does represent a significant hazard to large animals and the natural world and, given the frequency of lightning in the area, death by lightning was another slim possibility. However, this premise was ruled out by officials at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish primarily because it would be highly unlikely that lightning strikes would lead to the deaths of 100 animals.

Contamination and Disease as Possible Causes
Contaminated well water is another possible cause of the mystery deaths but no toxins have been identified in the water. An unidentified disease has also been mentioned as being a potential cause but has also been dubbed as being unlikely due to the implausibility that so many animals would all die so quickly.

Another possible culprit is Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), which is carried by insect bites.

“With EHD, an elk could get a fever. It’s usually a pretty fast illness, and up to eight to 36 hours later the animals go into shock, and then they die,” said Rachel Shockley, spokesperson for New Mexico Game and Fish department. (4)

Theories and Other Examples of Sudden Animal Deaths
This is not the first time large groups of livestock have simultaneously died and the cause of the deaths is unconfirmed and remains a mystery.

In the 1980s, a mysterious wasting disease killed 280 cattle on a farm near the Dry Run Landfill in West Virginia. The incident eventually led to a Class Action lawsuit against DuPont, a US chemical company. DuPont was blamed for contaminating the drinking water supplies at the farm with C8.

The contamination was said to have originated from the DuPont Washington Works facility in Wood County. According to the Fluoride Action Network Pesticide Project, the farmers sued DuPont for the death of their cattle and the ill health of their family and farm workers.

The cause of death was never conclusively associated with the chemical contamination of drinking water stemming from the DuPont facility. The company did settle for an “undisclosed amount” in light of the allegations. (5)

In 2010, a more fantastical theory was pinned as the cause of deaths of more than 300 goats in rural Mexico. Shepherds and ranchers in the area were convinced that el chupacabra – goat sucker in Spanish – a Hispanic vampire beast was responsible for the livestock killings.

“Shepherds in Puebla State are frightened by the attacks on their flocks by either the chupacabra, wild dogs or some other wild creature that they’ve been unable to hunt down, and which has caused the deaths of over 300 goats for some 50 days,” reporter Pedro Morales noted in a report. (6)

As for the fated elks, EHD seems like the most probable cause. As Rachel Shockley says, EHD is most dangerous at this time of the year when temperatures are hot and the animals stay close together at water supplies.

Both water samples from the streams and creeks and tissue samples have been sent off for testing. Until EHD has been confirmed, the death of so many elk in a 75,000-acre ranch remains a mystery.

References & Image Credits:
(1) Live Science
(2) LSU AgCenter
(3) Severe Weather Climatology for New Mexico
(4) Raw Story
(5) Fluoride Action Network Pesticide Project
(6) Live Science
(7) digitalART2 via photopin cc
(8) New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish

 

- TSW.

MASS ANIMAL DIE-OFF: "Incredibly Rare Event" - Mysterious Elk Deaths Plague New Mexico?!

September 13, 2013 - UNITED STATES - Officials with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish are puzzling over the mysterious deaths of more than 100 elk, apparently all within a 24-hour period, in rural New Mexico.

An elk gets a drink from a BLM watering hole. Credit: Bureau of Land Management Colorado

The elk were found Aug. 27 on a 75,000-acre ranch north of the city of Las Vegas. Livestock deaths, by themselves, are not unusual — there are many things that can fell large animals, including predators, poachers, a natural or man-made toxin, disease, drought, heat, starvation, and even lightning.

But so far wildlife officials have seemingly ruled out most of these possibilities: The elk weren't shot (nor taken from the area), so it was not poachers. Tests have come back negative for anthrax, a bacteria that exists naturally in the region and can kill large animals. There seems to be no evidence of any heavy pesticide use in the area that might have played a role in the die-off.

Though lightning strikes are not uncommon in the Southwest and in New Mexico specifically, killing over 100 animals at one time would be an incredibly rare event. It might be an as-yet unidentified disease, though killing so many at once — and so quickly — would be very unusual. Another possibility is some sort of contamination of the well or water tanks, but so far no toxins have been identified.

Wildlife officials are hopeful that they will be able to identify the cause of death — if for no other reason that it would give peace of mind to ranchers and hunters.

Mass animal deaths are not uncommon. In just the past few weeks, massive die-offs of various animals have made news around the world. China's Fuhe River was clogged last week with over 100 tons of dead silvery fish. Officials attributed the deaths to toxic levels of ammonia dumped into the river from a local chemical factory. Around the same time, scientists finally solved the riddle of what had mysteriously begun to kill off a type of salamander in the Netherlands beginning in 2010. The culprit turned out to be Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, a contagious fungus that eats the salamander's skin.

Odd livestock attacks also abound. Last December, an unknown animal attacked livestock in Shelby County, Ky., leaving many of the victims with gnawed or detached ears, including a goat named Polka-dot. In 2010, the Hispanic vampire beast el chupacabra (of course, never proven to exist) was blamed by some for the deaths of more than 300 goats in rural Mexico. The real cause: Officials found feral canines were the real culprits.

Whatever killed the New Mexico elk was apparently neither a chemical spill nor a flesh-eating fungus, though the deaths remain a genuine mystery, at least so far. Tissue and blood samples are still being analyzed, and scientists hope to have answers soon. - Live Science.

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease - State Biologist Shocked Over The Discovery Of One Hundred Dead Elk On A Ranch In Northeastern New Mexico?!

August 30, 2013 - AMERICA -  State biologists are trying to unravel a mystery of what killed a herd of elk in northeastern New Mexico.  

More than 100 elk found were dead on a ranch about 20 miles north of Las Vegas this week.

Sky News 13 flew over the gruesome discovery on the sprawling 75,000-acre Buena Vista Ranch near Mora.

The elk weren't shot, so the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is investigating just what caused the deaths.

Their top suspicion: something called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD.  The often-fatal disease is caused by insect bites.

"With EHD, an elk could get a fever," said Game and Fish spokesperson Rachel Shockley. "It's usually a pretty fast illness, and up to eight to 36 hours later the animals go into shock, and then they die."

With elk bow hunting season starting on Sunday, some guided expeditions in the area may be called off.
Biologists are sending tissue samples from the elk and water samples from the area for testing.


WATCH: Elk herd found dead in northeastern N.M..

If it is EHD, Game and Fish says it's not contagious to humans.  The disease is spread from insect bites, not animal to animal.

Game and Fish say no other die-offs of elk have been reported in New Mexico so far this year.

They say hunters should avoid harvesting elk that appear sick and to call and report anything unusual. - KRQE.

GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS: Ominous Precedent On The Colorado River - Severe Drought Forces Dam Operators To Cut The Amount Of Water Supplying Millions Of Homes And Farms!

August 18, 2013 - UNITED STATES - In an ominous precedent, dam operators on the Colorado River will cut the amount of water released over next year from Lake Powell, a massive reservoir in the Western United States. The river flows through the Grand Canyon, eventually supplying millions of homes in Las Vegas and large farms in Arizona and California.

Red alert - Dropping water levels behind the Glen Canyon Dam will force operators to cut downstream
flows for the first time in dam’s 47-year history. Researchers say climate change could
make such moves more common in the future. © T. Ross Reeve

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced today it will reduce the flow out of Glen Canyon Dam by 9% starting in October. Homeowners and farmers will still get the same amount as they do now, but the decision highlights the likelihood of future shortages. "I view this as another serious warning to users of the Colorado River that we're headed for big trouble," says water and climate specialist Peter Gleick of the Pacific Water Institute in Oakland, California.

Historically, the untamed Colorado River flooded after the snow melted in the Rocky Mountains and then water levels dropped during the summer. Two massive dams changed that behavior, regulating the river throughout the year and also generating billions of kilowatts of electricity. Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona created the vast Lake Powell in 1966. And more than 575 kilometers downstream, Hoover Dam, completed in 1936, heads up a reservoir called Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to a 2007 agreement between the seven states that use the water from the Colorado River, the Bureau must keep a certain amount of water in the reservoirs. Both reservoirs, the two largest in the country, are now about half full - or empty, depending on how you look at it. "This is the worst 14-year drought period in the last hundred years," the Bureau's Upper Colorado Regional Director Larry Walkoviak said in a statement.

As a result of the drought, less water has been flowing from the watershed into the upper Colorado River and into Lake Powell. Flows in July were just 13% of normal, so Powell has continued to drain. Over the next operational year, which begins 1 October, the Bureau will release just 9.23 cubic kilometers of water into the river, compared to the usual 10.15 cubic kilometers.

And with a smaller river flowing downstream, levels in Lake Mead will drop by an additional 2.4 meters. The reservoir will nevertheless remain high enough for the same amount of water to be released from Hoover Dam as this year. Looking ahead to 2015, however, there is a 2% chance that Hoover dam will have to cut back, according to the Bureau's 2-year forecast of river conditions and dam operations. Those odds go up to 50% in 2016. If Hoover Dam tightens the tap, some users of the Colorado River would get less water than before, as specified in the 2007 agreement.

Even though today's announced cut doesn't immediately affect users, "it portends worse coming down the line," says Tim Barnett, a climate modeler at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, who has predicted frequent shortages in the Colorado River water deliveries over the coming decades due to climate change. "It's pretty scary when you look at the economic ramifications." Both he and Gleick note a fundamental problem: More water has been promised to 27 million users than can be supplied by the river. - Science Mag.

d more here: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2013/08/12/1542628/ecologistas-denuncian-muerte-de.html&usg=ALkJrhjzSkFICS2amLQ7rIz1euBQvyAlFg#storylink=cpy

DELUGE: Storm System Of Heavy Rain Heads To Kentucky, Tennessee After Flooding Kansas - Causing The Closure Of Many Roadways As Travel Becomes Extremely Dangerous!

July 30, 2013 - UNITED STATES - The storm system responsible for Monday's flooding rain in Kansas will continue to shift eastward across Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee into Tuesday night.

Heavy Rain Heads To Kentucky, Tennessee After Flooding Kansas.

As much as 5 inches of rain fell in a short period of time on Monday evening across southeastern Kansas, leading to the closure of many roadways and making travel extremely dangerous for much of the night.

The rain was so heavy that the Kansas Turnpike had to be shut down from El Dorado to Emporia. Authorities reported that water was ponding over large sections of the roadway, and in some places, it was deep enough to make it impassible for vehicles.

The turnpike was reopened after the rainfall ended and the water subsided.

According to Senior Vice President of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Mike Smith, "The rainfall can lead to flooding along the Cottonwood, Little Arkansas and other rivers in the region."

Low-lying areas including some croplands along area streams and rivers could be impacted by rising waters as rain runs off and works downstream.

Later Tuesday into Tuesday night, cities from Jackson, Tenn., to Louisville, Ky., will be at risk for torrential rain and flash flooding.

Those traveling on Interstates 24, 40, 64, and 65, to name a few, will need to pay particular attention to rainfall. At the very least, blinding downpours can cause dangerous restrictions in visibility. Couple this with a high risk for hydroplaning, and it is easy to see how heavy rain can lead to accidents.

Never drive your vehicle around barricades or into flooded roadways. The water can be much deeper than you think, and it only takes 18 inches of rushing water to sweep a vehicle away.

A few thunderstorms will be embedded across the region, and a few places may have gusty winds to 50 mph and frequent lightning strikes. - AccuWeather.

Flood Waters From Vegas To Philly.

Severely soggy weather soaked the East Coast to the West over the weekend, stranding travelers, washing out roads and claiming two lives.

Life-threatening flash floods and mud slides are forecast as the storm threatens to dump up to 15 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center said.

On the mainland

In North Carolina, flood waters washed away two people in the state's Piedmont region

The drownings happened Saturday after 4 inches of rain fell over five hours, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency in Catawba County.

Delilah Lovett, 10, of Charlotte and Juan Alberdi, 48, of Huntersville -- members of different families who were visiting the area together -- were both swimming in what is known as the "bathtub" on Wilson's Creek in Caldwell County around 6:15 p.m., the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said.

Rain, which had already stopped, raised Wilson Creek 2 feet above normal levels and created "very swift currents" and carried them away, according to a statement from the sheriff's department.

Kayakers found Delilah's body nearly an hour after she disappeared, it said.

Search and rescue crews found Alberdi on Sunday, about a quarter mile north of where they were first told he went into the water, according to LouAnne Kincaid, a spokeswoman for Caldwell County.


WATCH: N.C. towns under water after heavy rain.

In Lincoln County, a swiftwater rescue team saved two people found hanging Sunday onto a tree after their canoe tipped over in Lincolnton, North Carolina, according to emergency mangement spokesman Dion Burleson.

Catawba County officials reported 10 swiftwater rescues.

Record-setting hit Philadelphia International Airport, dumping nearly 8 inches of rain in just 6 hours. The storm knocked out power to parts of the airport, leaving some folks in the dark.

At least 33 roads in Catawba and Lincoln counties will remain closed on a long-term basis due to storm damage, officials said.

Out West

The heavy rains inundated area interstates, leaving cars stranded and traffic backed up for miles.

It was more of the same out West as heavy rain mixed with hail pounded the Las Vegas area.

The system also triggered a flash flood near the Grand Canyon, flipping a tour bus on its side and sweeping it 300 yards downstream. All 33 passengers crawled out a window to safety.  - CNN.

EXTREME WEATHER: Thunderstorms To Rage Across Much Of The United States - After Two Deaths In North Carolina, "Hazardous Weather" Could Hit From Florida To Maine And As Far As Colorado!

July 29, 2013 - UNITED STATES - Thunderstorms were set to hit much of the country Monday, bringing more rain after two people - including a girl - drowned in a swollen river in North Carolina.

Catawba County deputies survey a washed out section of road near Newton, N.C. following flooding Saturday.
Todd Sumlin / The Charlotte Observer via AP

The National Weather Service warned late Sunday and early Monday that “hazardous weather” could hit from Florida to Maine and as far west as Colorado.

Delilah Lovett, 10, and Juan Alberdi, 48, died in Wilson’s Creek, N.C., late Saturday, NBC station WCNC.com reported Sunday.

Delilah, of Charlotte, had gone swimming in the river which was swollen by heavy rain. Alberdi’s wife said that he had drowned trying to save the girl after she got into difficulty.

And in Arizona, a tour bus carrying 33 people to Las Vegas after a trip to the Grand Canyon was swept away by floodwaters as the driver attempted to cross a wash near Kingman. No one was injured.

"It was a really strong storm dumping quite a bit of rain ... and it caused flash flooding," Chris Stumpf, a National Weather Service forecaster in Las Vegas, told The Associated Press. "They were driving on a portion of the road where they shouldn't have tried to drive across. They should not have been driving through there."

Rhonda Ho, operations manager for Canyon Coach Lines, said its driver Joseph Razon saw a car right in front of him go through a section of the highway covered by some water, and "he thought, if a car can go through it, I can go through it."

"Then he got slammed by a rushing current of water that came out of nowhere," she told the AP. "He was driving in almost neck-deep water and trying to control the bus while it was floating."

A Las Vegas-bound tour bus lies on its side near Dolan Springs, Ariz., Sunday, after it was caught
by floodwaters in a desert wash. Patrick Moore / AP

She said Razon intentionally tilted the bus against an embankment so it would stop and passengers could escape through its roof.

This kind of weather will remain a problem.

Weather.com said that “thunderstorms will continue to affect large swaths of the country, and flash flooding will be a significant concern.”

“The best chance for a severe storm or two will be over portions of eastern Colorado and western Kansas,” it said.

“However, flash flooding will be a more widespread concern from southern Nevada east across the Four Corners region and into the Central Plains, including much of Kansas and western Missouri,” weather.com added. “Localized flash flooding will linger in parts of the I-95 Northeast corridor from Philadelphia to New York as well from heavy rainfall on Sunday.”

In Philadelphia, the National Weather Service recorded a record all-time daily rainfall of 7.99 inches at the Philadelphia International Airport. More than 7 inches fell during a 4-hour period, NBC10.com reported.

Weather.com said the Plains states could see localized rainfall of more than 3 inches. It said this could lead to flash floods, given that the ground was already wet. In the West, the rain and rugged terrain could create the potential for flash flood.

“While the West will see that flash flood threat diminish on Monday, it will continue – and perhaps even worsen – over parts of Kansas, Missouri, northern Oklahoma and northern Arkansas,” weather.com said. - NBC News.

DELUGE: Raging Floods Flips Tour Bus In Arizona - Sweeping It 300 Yards Downstream After The Driver Tries To Cross Submerged Roadway!

July 29, 2013 - UNITED STATES - A group of tourists on their way back from sightseeing at the Grand Canyon are lucky to be alive after their tour bus was swept away by flood waters in northern Arizona this afternoon. The water then carried the bus 300 yards before it flipped onto its side in the flooded wash.

Swept Away: A flash flood in Arizona swept this tour bus 300 yards downstream before flipping it over.

In all, 33 people were on the bus when it flipped. Thankfully, none of them were injured.

A spokesman for the Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District said the incident happened just before 2 p.m. He said the bus approached a low-lying area and was swept away by a flash flood.

The passengers and the driver managed to escape the bus by climbing through windows and swimming to dry land.

By the time the passengers had escaped, the water had risen to 8 feet in some areas.

 Lucky: nobody was hurt when this bus flipped over after get swept away by a flash flood.

Arizona is in the middle of its monsoon season, when flash-floods are common in some of the low-lying areas and mountain passes.

 In many cases, what appears to be little more than a few inches of rain covering a section of a roadway is actually a fast-moving stream capable of sweeping away things as large and heavy as a bus.

For decades, state and local officials in Arizona have urged motorists to not attempt to cross flooded roadways, regardless of how shallow the water appears. But people continue to do it, and frequently end up with a fate similar to the bus that was swept away this afternoon.

 Aftermath: The road is dry after a flash flood swept a tour bus 300 yards downstream.

Emergency responders then would be forced to assist these motorists - rescue efforts that were paid for by state and local municipalities.

In 1995, Arizona passed a law dubbed 'The Stupid Motorist Law,' which allows the state to hold people financially responsible for any rescue efforts that are needed to save them if they attempt to cross a flooded roadway and get swept away.

Tourists: The group on the bus was headed back to Las Vegas after spending the visiting the Grand Canyon.

The law states that a stupid motorist 'may be liable for expenses of any emergency response that is required to remove from the area the driver or any passenger in the vehicle that becomes inoperable in the area or the vehicle that becomes inoperable in the area, or both.'

 In addition to covering the expenses of the rescue effort, motorists can be fined up to $2,000.

Monsoon: Arizona's monsoon season creates flash floods across the state - and gets plenty of 'stupid motorists' swept away by fast-moving streams.

Arizona rescue official Pat Moore told Phoenix's ABC15 that he thinks the driver of the bus should be cited for driving the bus across standing water.

However, it will be up to the Mojave County Sheriff's Office to determine whether the driver will be cited. - Daily Mail.

EXTREME WEATHER: Massive Thunderstorm And Record Rainfall Slams Las Vegas - Leaving Damaged Homes, Power Outages, Uprooted Trees And Scattered Gamblers!

July 20, 2013 - UNITED STATES - A severe thunderstorm with a 71-mph wind gust measured at Nellis Air Force Base swept across the Las Vegas Valley on Friday evening, causing heavy damage in places, stranding drivers in flash floods, snapping power poles and tearing trees from the ground.

Lightning strikes over the Las Vegas Strip during storms on Friday night. High winds, rain and flash flooding struck the valley as the storm rolled through from the northeast.  DAVID BECKER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

No injures had been reported as of 10:30 p.m. Friday, though emergency responders were still taking stock of the damage well into the night.

Falling trees and gas lines severed by “tornado-like” winds forced evacuation of 200 units at the Atrium Garden Condos near Washington Avenue and Pecos Road on the city’s east side, said Las Vegas fire spokesman Tim Szymanski. Fifteen units were damaged by falling trees, and about 50 residents of the complex were expected to take shelter at nearby Desert Pines High School, with emergency services provided by the American Red Cross.

Joyce Mason, a longtime resident of the complex, said she has been concerned about potential storm damage since she first moved in, with heavy trees close to units.

“I’m just praying for no gas explosion or anything like that,” she said. “I don’t believe it’s going to be fixed tonight.”

A flash flood spills onto Bonanza Road as thunderstorms roll over the Las Vegas Valley on Friday.
JASON BEAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The entire condo complex — 300 units in total — was cordoned off by fire trucks and yellow emergency tape hours after the storm was over.

“They just say we have to evacuate. We have some broke gas pipes,’’ said Daniel Cordova, who was at the Atrium Gardens to pick up his mother, who is recovering from hip surgery.

The storm hit shortly after 7 p.m., with that 71-mph gust recorded at 7:09 p.m., said the National Weather Service. Multiple buildings in the Nellis area were reportedly struck by lightning.

Szymanski said an area roughly bordered by Stewart and Washington avenues and Eastern and Nellis boulevards were hit hardest.

Some resort properties on the Strip and the Fremont Street Experience remained without power long after the fast-moving storm raged the full length of the city from north to south.

Standing water was reported on the casino floor at Caesars Palace, where gamblers were forced to scatter to avoid getting wet.

NV Energy was working on 20 scattered outages affecting 33,000 people across the valley as of 10:30 p.m., spokeswoman Kelley Mulroy said. Additional crews were called in to assist, she said.

Clark County fire units also responded to multiple calls of people needing water rescue near the Strip.

More than an inch of rain was recorded in Henderson, and a new daily rainfall record of 0.22 inches was set at McCarran International Airport. The previous record of 0.17 inches was set in 1951. 

People take cover under a highway overpass near the intersection of Bonanza Road and H Street as thunderstorms roll over the Las Vegas valley on Friday.  JASON BEAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Some of that record rainfall kicked a hole in the roof of Gilley’s Saloon, the Western-style bar at Treasure Island where patrons watched in awe as sheets of water sluiced in.

As the thunderstorm moved from north to south at about 15 mph it knocked out power at Primm as well. Staff at Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino reported power outages in the casino and nearby outlet mall, along with strong wind and rain.

Temperatures dropped more than 20 degrees Friday due to the storm. The weather service reported 109 degrees early in the afternoon and 83 degrees at 10 p.m.

Early Friday, multiple flash flood watches for the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding area were put into effect for the weekend.

The Spring Mountains will have a watch starting today at noon and will remain in effect through the end of the weekend.

The highest risk for flash flooding in that area is early Saturday afternoon, said the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will drop slightly going into the weekend, with 103 degrees forecast for today and dropping to 97 degrees by Monday. - Review Journal.

EXTREME WEATHER: Major Heat Wave For Western United States In The Making - Reaching Most Dangerous Levels, Challenging Records And Elevating Wildfire Threat; Death Valley In California Could Reach 128 Degrees Fahrenheit!

June 26, 2013 - UNITED STATES - Temperatures will be at full throttle later this week over the interior West, reaching dangerous levels, challenging records and elevating the wildfire threat.

While many folks over the interior West are accustomed to and expect hot weather during the summer the developing pattern will take the heat to the extreme. In some cities record highs for any date throughout the year could be equaled or breached.

The weather this week will favor an expanding area of sunshine and building heat over the West. As temperatures soar to record-challenging levels, dry fuel and the potential for spotty dry thunderstorms will push the wildfire threat to new areas and raise the risk in other locations.

Building heat, drought and the risk of wildfires could result in a fireworks ban in some communities as Independence Day activities increase.

The pattern bringing clouds, showers and cool air to the Northwest will gradually erode, dissolve and disappear.

Once the pattern sets up, the heat wave will last through next week in many areas. Grassy and wooded areas that are green now may become dry fuel for fires as the atmosphere heats up.

Cities that will experience record-challenging heat on a daily basis during the pattern into next week include Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Boise, Idaho, Rawlins, Wyo., Medford, Ore., and Fresno, Calif.

Cities that could set new annual extreme temperature marks include Flagstaff, Ariz., Las Vegas and Reno, Nev. In Flagstaff, Ariz., the all-time record high is 97 set on July 5, 1973. In Las Vegas, the all-time record high is 117 degrees set on July 19, 2005 and July 24, 1942. At Reno, the all-time high is 108 degrees set most recently on July 5, 2007. Death Valley, Calif. could reach their hottest June temperature on record of 128 degrees set June 30, 1994

According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, "People driving through desert areas during the pattern should make sure their vehicle can make the journey and that they carry extra water in case their vehicle breaks down."

With time, the heat can expand to part of the California coast by way of a slight offshore flow. However, the worst of the heat will hold up just inland. The pattern will make the beaches a hot spot to avoid the heat.

Gone!

The system producing the heat and sunshine will allow widely separated, pop-up thunderstorms with time.

Most of the storms will form and die over the mountains, but there will be a few exceptions.

A few locations can receive a downpour. However, many of the storms will bring little or no rainfall. This phenomena, commonly called "dry lightning," can spark new wildfires.

While the natural spark for wildfires cannot be avoided, people are urged to be very careful when using outdoor power equipment and open flames. Never park a vehicle that has been running for any length of time over dry grass and brush as the hot exhaust can start a fire. - AccuWeather.

EXTREME WEATHER: Death Valley Records The First 120-Degree Day Of 2013!

June 07, 2013 - UNITED STATES - High-pressure aloft has taken over the Desert Southwest and the central valley of California, allowing temperatures to heat up to extreme levels into the weekend.

We have a look at some of the locations that are seeing their first 110- or 120-degree readings of 2013.

120-Degree Heat in Death Valley

When it comes to extreme heat, Death Valley, Calif. is king and holds the official title as the hottest place on Earth with an all-time record high of 134 degrees nearly 100 years ago.

On Thursday, Death Valley recorded its first 120-degree day of 2013. Highs in the low 120s are expected on Friday and Saturday as well.

Highs in the 120s are not unusual in Death Valley. In fact, only one single year since 1911 has not seen at least a single day of 120-degree heat. The average annual number of days in the 120s is 18 based on averages from 1981-2010.

Death Valley isn't the only location that has seen a temperature "first" of 2013 this week.


WATCH: Why is Death Valley so Hot?

Who Will See 110s?

Phoenix, Ariz.

• Reached the 110-degree mark for the first time this year on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to rise into the low 110s on Friday and near 110 on Saturday.
• Phoenix averages around 18 days of 110-degree heat each year (1981-2010 average).

Las Vegas, Nev.

• Will get close to 110 degrees Friday into Saturday.
• On average, temperatures reach 110 or higher around 7 to 8 days per year.

Fresno, Calif. and Redding, Calif

• Both of these California valley locations could approach or top the 110-degree mark on Saturday.
• Record high temperatures will be challenged.

- TWC.