Pool After a Las Vegas Storm: What to Do First

After a wind and rain storm in Las Vegas or Henderson, get the debris out, empty the skimmer and pump baskets, then test and shock the water within a day. Don't drain the extra rain into the street. SNWA says pool water goes to the sanitary sewer clean-out, and most of the time you don't need to drain at all.

If the water's still green or cloudy after 48 hours, or your equipment won't start back up, call or text us at (702) 608-5226.

Why is this storm such a big deal for pools?

Because we almost never get rain.

The valley had 0.99 inches for all of 2026 before Tropical Storm Rachel's leftovers rolled in. Forecasters called for up to 1.2 inches by Tuesday, with Summerlin and the northwest getting the most. On top of that, the National Weather Service put out a wind advisory for gusts of 45 to 55 mph Sunday into Monday.

So that's roughly a year's worth of rain in three days. Plus half the desert blown sideways into your backyard.

Last week we had near-record heat. Sunday was forecast to top out in the 70s for the first time since late May. Your pool felt that whiplash too, it just can't complain about it.

What should I do first after the storm?

Start with the stuff that clogs. Chemistry comes second.

1. Skim out the big stuff. Palm fronds, leaves, the neighbor's patio cushion. Get it out before it sinks and starts breaking down.
2. Empty the skimmer and pump baskets. A packed basket starves the pump of water. That's how pumps overheat.
3. Check your filter pressure. SNWA's rule of thumb is to clean a cartridge filter when the pressure is 10 psi over its normal clean reading. After a dust storm you can hit that in a day.
4. Brush the walls, steps and floor. Dust settles in a fine layer. Brushing puts it back in the water so the filter can catch it.
5. Test the water, then shock. More on that below.

Run the pump longer than usual for a day or two. You want the whole pool going through the filter a few times while the dust is still floating.

Does rain mess up pool chemistry?

Yes. Not in a dramatic way, but enough to matter.

Rain dilutes your chlorine. Runoff from the deck and planters, plus all that windblown dirt, brings in phosphates and nitrates. Those are algae food. Aqua Magazine points out that heavy rain can drop sanitizer levels quickly and that phosphates should be expected to rise after a storm. Rain in cities also tends to pull pH and alkalinity down a little.

Here's the funny part. Rain is the softest water your pool will see all year. Our tap water is hard and loaded with calcium, so a little dilution isn't a bad thing.

It's not enough to fix your hard water, though. Sorry.

The real risk is timing. Your water is still warm from last week's 100-degree days. Warm water plus algae food plus low chlorine is how a blue pool turns green by midweek.

So retest after the storm passes:

• Bring free chlorine back up to your normal range.
• Get pH back to about 7.4 to 7.6.
• Check total alkalinity and adjust if it dropped.
• Shock if the water looks dull or you see any green on the steps.

My pool is almost overflowing. Should I drain some out?

Probably not. Give it a few days first.

Quick math: SNWA says the typical Southern Nevada pool is about 470 square feet. One inch of rain on that surface is about 290 gallons, which raises the water roughly an inch. Runoff from the deck can add a bit more. Most pools have that much room.

And our desert will take it back. SNWA figures an average pool loses 48.6 gallons per square foot each year to evaporation. For a 470-square-foot pool, that's about 22,800 gallons a year, or around a fifth of an inch a day on average. It's slower in cool weather, but it adds up.

This is the one week a year Las Vegas gives your pool water instead of stealing it. Enjoy it.

If the water is up past the middle of the skimmer opening, the skimmer stops pulling debris well. Then it's worth lowering it a little. Do it the legal way:

• Never drain to the street or storm drain. SNWA says local water-waste rules prohibit it.
• Use the sewer clean-out. That's the 3- to 4-inch capped pipe, usually in the front-yard landscaping near the house.
• Go slow. SNWA says to keep the flow at or below 12 gallons per minute and watch for backup into sinks and showers.

Not sure where your clean-out is? That's a normal question. We can find it for you.

What about wind damage and power outages?

Gusts this strong knock down limbs and power lines, and NV Energy staffed extra crews for the weekend. A few things to check once it calms down:

• Your timer or automation clock. If the power blinked, a mechanical timer can lose its place. Your pump might now be running at 4 pm instead of 4 am. Reset it.
• Tripped breakers. Reset once. If it trips again, stop and call an electrician. Never touch equipment that's sitting in standing water.
• Your pool gate. Wind and debris can jam a self-closing, self-latching gate. Make sure it still shuts and latches on its own. That gate is a safety barrier, not decoration.
• Covers and solar blankets. Check for tears or a cover that blew off and dumped its dirt in the water.

When should I call a pool pro?

Call us if:

• The water is still green or cloudy after 48 hours of filtering and shocking.
• The pump is humming but not moving water, or it won't prime.
• Filter pressure stays high after you clean it.
• There's a layer of mud on the floor the vacuum can't handle.
• You'd rather spend your Monday doing literally anything else.

That last one is fine too. Weekly service means someone else is already on it after storms like this. We skim, empty the baskets, check the filter, brush, and test and balance the water every visit.

Call or text Summit Pool Services at (702) 608-5226. We're open 24/7 and we cover Henderson and Las Vegas.