Remembering The Great 2008 Snowstorm In Vegas, Other Whacky Weather Events

The year was 2008 when Las Vegas residents woke up to snow blanketing the palm trees, covering desert shrubs and cloaking casinos. It was quite a shocking spectacle for many.

It was precisely 16 years ago when some areas of Clark County received 8-to-10 inches of snow. According to a report by Channel 8 (KLAS), the National Weather Service's official measurement was 3.6 inches of snow on Dec. 17, 2008.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal even reported that the weather service dubbed this 2008 snowstorm as the "eighth greatest snowstorm ever," in Las Vegas.

For many Las Vegans, it was their first time ever having a "snow day." This was because Clark County School District closed all schools. People also built snowmen, had snowball fights, and were able to momentarily do activities that were hard to do in the desert.

Further, the Review-Journal states that Interstate 15 was closed at Primm, and Highway 95 was closed from Railroad Pass to the California border. Along with that, Route 160 was closed between Las Vegas and Pahrump. So, it was definitely chaos when snowfall came.

Aside from the winter storm in 2008, there have been other moments that made meteorologists ponder. In fact, we're currently upgraded to "extreme" drought conditions in Las Vegas as I type this out. We've had 151 consecutive days with no rainfall above one-tenth of an inch, according to the Review-Journal.

Another weird weather or "climate" related phenomenon was the invasion of grasshoppers that happened five years ago. According to Today, a wet winter and a mild spring created the perfect conditions for the particular species of grasshopper to make a stop in Vegas. The massive swarm of pallid-winged grasshoppers were attracted to ultraviolet light, which is plentiful in Las Vegas.

This caused a massive takeover of grasshoppers in the Las Vegas streets. It was nearly apocalyptic.

There has also been a sprinkle of tornados that happened throughout Nevada's history. In Las Vegas, the Reno-Gazette reports that one tornado happened on Mar. 30, 1992, and another happened on Mar. 30, 1992. The "most severe" damage came from an E0 tornado that took place on Sep. 11, 1998, in Henderson.

"A small tornado tore the roof off a Henderson warehouse and destroyed a large block wall at a service station a short distance away. Heavy rain fell mainly on the east side of the metro area with amounts up to 1.85 inches in a two hour period. As a result flash flooding filled streets and washes and trapped several motorists although no serious injuries occurred," the Reno-Gazette reports about the 1998 tornado.

What's the beautiful thing about living in the desert? The weather is usually hot, but it's still unpredictable.

The time of year has come where everyone is thinking about holiday travel plans. Where they'll go, what they'll pack, who they'll see. What most people aren't thinking about, however, is the very thing they should be considering. Travel delays. It's bound to happen sooner or later. But that doesn't mean it has to be stressful for holiday travelers. The secret to success is to be on top of your timing and preparation. That means doing what you can to avoid hectic travel times and being ready even if you land right in the middle of it.

It's wise to expect at least some travel delays in your itinerary. Tenfold during the holidays. And a hundredfold if you live in a city with an airport known for such headaches. We just reported on the top ten airports in the U.S. that are known for how many of their flights get delayed every year. If you're flying into or out of Las Vegas, Miami or San Francisco, sorry to say you have a pretty good chance at getting at least one flight delayed.

So let's say you have plans to meet your family for dinner on the other side of your upcoming flight. Which is great because you ran out of the house without feeding the kiddos and you're on a budget too tight to afford airport food prices. It'll all work out, providing that your flight leaves on time and there's no delay on the runway. Then it comes...the news that your flight is delayed. Cue the mounds of stress.

Was it really the flight being delayed that caused the stress? Or was it the lack of preparation and putting too much of your success on things out of your control? The problem is obvious. Fortunately, so is the solution. We got some tips from travel experts at Palm Paradise Realty Group that will help travelers avoid flying during those times when delays are more likely. As well as tips to handle delays when they do come.

The most popular times to travel is from afternoon into the late evening. Therefore, try to book an early morning flight. Those are less prone to delays and very often have smaller crowds and shorter security lines. Redeyes are also often light on passengers. For long flights, it might even be helpful to book an overnighter that your kids can sleep on. They won't be bored and you won't be stressed about getting through the crowds. It's a win-win!

Due to work, school or other demands, most of the world has to travel for the holidays the day before or the day of. Experts advise travelers to try to book a flight at least a few days before Thanksgiving or Christmas to avoid the rush. The same goes for flying home. Pick a few days after the holiday for the easier time spent in the terminal. You might have to take extra time off, but it might be worth avoiding the headache.

If travel delays are inevitable, experts advise that packing smart is the difference between stress-free travel and total chaos. Bring your own snacks and empty water bottle to fill up after getting through security. This will eliminate the need to get in long lines for food or drink. For my kiddo, I pack a Snackle Box and don't let them see it until the flight. So everything's a fun surprise.

If you have to be somewhere shortly after your flight is supposed to land, then timing is everything. The way to NOT make timing everything is to allow plenty of it on the other side of your flight. Make a whole day for travel, if you can. That gives you the whole day to get to where you need to be, settle in, and refresh before hitting the holiday plans with the family. Don't make 7:00 dinner plans when your flight comes in at 6:00pm. That just sets you up for failure.

This is especially necessary if you have little ones. Download movies or apps before heading to the airport, and don't forget the chargers! If you want to mix it up and use fewer electronics during potential travel delays, there are lots of downloadable game cards like airport bingo or scavenger hunts. And don't be afraid to go old school with those travel board games. They're time-consuming and take up little space in the carry on.