Las Vegas thunderstorm brings rain and high winds to area, high water to Strip

LAS VEGAS — Authorities say high winds and severe thunderstorms hit Las Vegas, knocking down trees and utility poles and flooding parts of the famed Strip.

The National Weather Service says that a 71-mph wind gust swept through nearby Nellis Air Force Base just after 7 p.m. on Friday. The Las Vegas Review-Journal (http://bit.ly/1b0iR5Y ) reports that multiple buildings in the area were struck by lightning.

Rain fell throughout the Las Vegas Valley and a flash flood warning was in effect for the area until 10 p.m. Clark County fire units responded to several calls of people needing water rescue near the Strip.

NV Energy spokeswoman Kelley Mulroy says the company was working on 15 scattered outages affecting 33,000 people across the valley. Some resorts on the Strip and Fremont Street were without power several hours after the fast-moving storm moved through the city.