Las Vegas' Waterlogged May Breaks Records
Historically Drenched May in Las Vegas, Setting Record for Most Rainfall in Initial Six Days
Sin City's weather antics are nothing new, but May 2025 took the cake—er, rain. Smashing the record books, it's officially the wettest May on record, drowning the previous high of 0.96 inches set in 1969 by more than doubling that amount. And the storm that caused it happened within six days!
Harry Reid International Airport soaked up a whopping 1.44 inches of rain thanks to a wild thunderstorm bombarding the city.
The downpour caused a handful of trouble, flooding some areas. Las Vegas Locally reported on water-logged parking garages, while KTNV shared chilling drone footage of the disaster on Amigo Street and Robindale Road.
It wasn't all grim, though. The storm also brought hail and cooler temperatures, providing some relief from the usual desert heat. But get ready for the temperatures to soar again, reaching the 90s by the weekend.
And sadly, the city's casinos aren't immune to the chaos. MGM Resorts International announced they're axing in-person concierge services at two of their Vegas properties, laying off staff in the process. As it stands, share prices for MGM, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts have all plummeted this year.
On a brighter note, the casinos are built to handle a variety of unpredictable situations, so they likely weathered the storm as best they could. Yet the economic impact remains uncertain, with the potential for disruptions to tourism and commerce.
Keep those ponchos on, Vegas... summer's just around the corner!
delightful Details
- The heavy rainfall caused the Las Vegas Wash to swell more than seven feet overnight[1][2].
- A Flash Flood Warning was issued in Henderson after a man sadly went missing, presumed swept away by floodwaters while attempting to cross a wash[1].
- While specifics on the immediate impact on casinos are not available in the reports, they're typically built to handle fluid situations. The overall economic impact depends on the extent of disruptions to tourism and local business[3].
- The storm kicked up not only heavy rain but also pea-sized hail and briefly cooler temperatures[1][2].
- The accumulative rainfall in Las Vegas during May 2025 was just over 1.44 inches, making it the city's rainiest May on record, surpassing the previous high set in 1969 by more than double.
- The heavy rainfall in May 2025 caused environmental concerns, with the Las Vegas Wash swelling more than seven feet overnight.
- The heavy rainfall in May 2025 could have significant impacts on the city's economy, especially with the potential for disruptions to tourism and commerce, as the economic impact remains uncertain.
- The science behind weather patterns in Las Vegas is complex, and though the city's casinos are built to handle a variety of unpredictable situations, they may have experienced some challenges in the face of such a heavy storm, like the human casualty reported in Henderson.
