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Associated Press

Winter storms in the US Southwest brought rare snowfall on Thursday to the Las Vegas Strip, dusting casino marquees and prompting revellers to erect a snowman near the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
The National Weather Service reported the first significant snowfall at McCarran International Airport in a decade with 2cm (0.8 inches) falling by Thursday afternoon.

“We expected cold, but not snow,” tourist Lila de Guerrero said after taking a photo at the Las Vegas sign wearing a puffer coat and hat.
De Guerrero, who is visiting from El Salvador, said it was the first time she had ever seen snow.
German tourist Daniela Huber said she was surprised that her holiday to the desert wasn’t much of an escape from winter.
“We thought it was strange because we came from Germany, where it snows all the time,” she said.
Some suburban foothill areas near Las Vegas were pillowy white after getting several inches of snow. On the casino-lined Las Vegas Strip, the snow was fleeting, melting faster than a bad gamblers’ luck.
Outside the city, authorities closed portions of the main routes from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and Phoenix because of snow, ice and limited visibility.

Parts of Interstate 15 had to be closed, from Primm, Nevada, to Baker, California.
The Nevada Department of Transportation reported a 35-km (22 mile) jam of cars and trucks on US 93 between Boulder City, Nevada, and Kingman, Arizona.
We don’t have snow ploughs
Christine Crews, McCarran airport spokeswoman
Snowstorms also blanketed other parts of the Southwest, further easing drought conditions while clogging traffic in California, and forcing the closure of Interstate 40 and an airport in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Barney Helmick, director of the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, said its only runway closed when the visibility level hit zero. Intense snow also forced the closure of schools and businesses in the region.
Snow coated large areas of the desert outside Los Angeles and left traffic stalled near Joshua Tree National Park. Wet weather this winter has almost washed drought conditions out of California, according to the US Drought Monitor.
In Nevada, snow delayed flights at McCarran airport and traffic on motorways.
“We don’t have snow ploughs,” airport spokeswoman Christine Crews said as she tallied about 100 flight cancellations because of snow and ice. “But we have airfield maintenance vehicles and sweepers ready to go.”
Some flight delays reached more than two hours, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Lawyer Al Lasso, who moved to Las Vegas from New Jersey 25 years ago, snapped a photo of a ruler standing in 17.8cm (seven inches) of snow on his back patio in the foothill community of Summerlin.
“When it snows in New Jersey, everyone stays inside. When it snows in Las Vegas, everyone goes outside and makes snow angels,” Lasso said during his slow, 24-km (15-mile) commute into the city. “A lot of people have never seen snow here.”
Snowbound guests freed after five days stuck in California lodge
Forecasters say the snowfall could reach 7.6cm (three inches) by Friday on western and southern outskirts of the city, but rain could reduce accumulation.
McCarran airport recorded 9.1cm (3.6 inches) on December 17, 2008.

Las Vegas schools were open, but the Clark County School District cancelled after-school programmes in anticipation of freezing conditions on the roads.
Nevada Trooper Jason Buratczuk said he saw almost a foot of accumulated snow in some suburban areas, and chains were required for vehicles on the main highway through a mountain pass between Las Vegas and Pahrump.
At least 12 dead in winter storms, as avalanches and high winds hammer Europe
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the Las Vegas metropolitan area until early Friday morning,
Rain showers were expected throughout the afternoon. But as temperatures drop closer to freezing later Thursday, more snow could fall, meteorologist Jenn Varian said.


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Weather

Against the odds: snowmen in Las Vegas as city sees rare winter weather

A dusting of snow covers an area along the Las Vegas Strip, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, in Las Vegas. A winter storm is expected to drop up to 3 inches (8 centimeters) of snow on Las Vegas' southern and western outskirts while other parts of the metro area will get rain mixed with snow. (AP Photo/John Locher)

epa07386643 The light of the Luxor pyramid hotel and casino shines through a rare snow fall in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 20 February 2019 (issued 22 February 2019). EPA-EFE/SAM MORRIS / LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU Mandatory Credit - No Archive - Editorial Use Only - No Sales, LVNB / SAM MORRIS via european pressphoto agency

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Armando Garcia, 7-month-old Bella Garcia and Bella Garcia, all of Nevada, prepare to take a photo with snowmen they built on the west side of town during a winter storm on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rare event in Las Vegas dumped up to eight inches of snow in some parts of the city. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

epa07386187 A handout photo made available by the Las Vegas News Bureau shows people take photos in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign as snow falls in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 20 February 2019 (issued 21 February 2019). EPA-EFE/SAM MORRIS / LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU HANDOUT Mandatory Credit - LVNB / Sam Morris via european pressphoto agency HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES

Mountains covered in snow on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: AFP

News

World

United States & Canada

Several centimetres of snow fall in Nevada, causing travel chaos around the desert gambling city


Several centimetres of snow fall in Nevada, causing travel chaos around the desert gambling city.


United States