UPDATE: Lee Canyon Avalanche, Officials Find 4 Missing People Safe
UPDATE: Lee Canyon will be closed on Tuesday due to extreme weather conditions.
On Monday afternoon, the blizzard-like conditions and the snow created the perfect conditions for an avalanche, which ended up occurring that day.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said four people were initially reported missing. About an hour later, police said they located everyone and they were safe.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada also posted on social media that Lee Canyon Road is closed at US-95 to Mt. Charleston along with Kyle Canyon Road.
Lee Canyon Avalanche Happens Monday Afternoon
Before police posted on social media that they found everyone, publications were scrambling to get information out. The Daily Mail reported that five people were missing. However, police confirmed that it was four.
Moments after Clark County reported the avalanche to the public, police said they sent search and rescue in route to go looking for the missing people. Luckily, officials were able to locate everyone. Police still recommend that everyone should avoid traveling in the Lee Canyon area.
Wet Conditions, More Snowfall Creates Prefect Avalanche Conditions
According to the National Weather Service, it’s been wet on the West Coast and Las Vegas with an increase in rainfall. The “culprit” is atmospheric river. Essentially, this is when there’s a concentrated channel of moisture coming from the subtropics. This leads to transporting moisture and heavy rainfall into the mid-latitudes.
Avalanches Are No Jokes
Last year, an avalanche in the Mummy Springs Trail on Mt. Charleston killed one man. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the man was caught in the avalanche and died on Jan. 9, 2023.
The National Weather Service said that a winter storm with snow and strong winds will, “load existing weak layers buried deep in the snowpack.”
The Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness group says that when you enter snow-covered mountains, you’re entering mountain country. Whenever you’re skiing or snowboarding, knowing safety tips is crucial.
” In 90 percent of avalanche incidents, the snow slides are triggered by the victim or someone in the victim’s party. Avalanches kill more than 150 people worldwide each year,” the National Weather Service said.
Weirdest Weather Events That've Happened In Las Vegas, Clark County
Thunderstorm Murdered 700 Cows
According to the Las Vegas Sun, a complex thunderstorm developed over northeast Clark County. This caused a massive flood that killed over 700 cattle at a dairy farm.
Operation Save The Animals
The snowiest winter in Nevada was in 1948-1949, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Due to an influx of snow, a large airlift operation was initiated to get stranded livestock from northern and eastern Nevada. However, it was too late for 25% of the animals.
