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Shop NowResidents of Las Vegas, Nevada were in for quite a shocking surprise recently, as this notoriously warm region was hit by a torrent of water and fierce hail storm. On Monday, October 2, video went viral online showing the intense flooding and hail that resulted from the powerful storm.
The weather event consisted mostly of hail and it seemed impossible to move anywhere as roads were flooded and covered with piles of ice. It almost looked like winter had arrived early but it is still just fall.
Unfortunately, this type of hailstorm is not uncommon in New Mexico; reports have been increasing drastically over the last 30 years and population growth could be a contributing factor.
Hailstorms are not something to be taken lightly; they can cause serious damage to homes and property as well as put people’s safety at risk. In Las Vegas, many drivers were forced into unsafe situations due to the flooding caused by the storm.
This situation could have been even worse if it weren’t for smartphones and other forms of social media which allow us to document events like these more easily than ever before.
“We literally have a river!” ????
New Mexico roads were transformed into hail rivers after a fierce storm, forcing motorists to drive through icy flooding. #NMwx pic.twitter.com/LuRlQwltR2— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 3, 2023
According to the National Weather Service, between 1955-1979 an average 11 hail reports were made per year however that number rose up to 168 by 2019. It is likely that this increase is due largely in part to population growth within the state; between 1955-2020 there was an increase from 785,000 people up to 2.1 million people living in New Mexico (MacroTrends).
With more people comes more phones and increased likelihood that someone will catch an event like this on camera which allows us all access into what actually happened during these dangerous storms.
Although there may be nothing we can do about the frequency of these storms, there are some precautions we can take when faced with extreme weather events like this one in Las Vegas.
First and foremost we should always try to remain indoors when severe weather hits as driving conditions during heavy rains or hail can quickly become dangerous for both you and other people on the road. Additionally it is important to stay informed about upcoming forecasts so that you know what kind of weather may be headed your way and how best to prepare for it accordingly.
