More than 600 flights leaving from Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport were delayed on Sunday due to high winds. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, a total of 716 outbound and inbound flights were delayed, with eight flights being canceled, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. The delays were caused by winds measuring between 35 and 45 mph in Clark County, with gusts exceeding 50 mph, and one gust at North Las Vegas Airport reaching 62 mph, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS).
The delays affected a large number of departing passengers, including many of the estimated 100,000 visitors who attended the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix over the weekend. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimated that 98,000 passengers would depart from Harry Reid following the race.
In addition to the wind-related delays, dust storms led to the temporary closure of Interstate 15 South near Primm, Nev. and Stateline, Nev. on Sunday afternoon. The NWS issued a dust storm warning for areas between Primm and Mountain Pass, including north-central San Bernardino County and southwestern Clark County, leading to near-zero visibility and advisories to avoid travel in the area.
The Harry Reid Airport connector was also closed on Saturday after a three-vehicle crash, resulting in traffic delays and the need for extra time for drivers to get to the airport. The crash caused minor injuries and led to the closure of all northbound lanes on the connector until 11:15 p.m. Saturday.
By Saturday, the connector had reopened, and normal traffic flow had resumed. Despite the delays and challenges, no major injuries were reported, and authorities continued to manage the situation.
