Even Las Vegas Needs a Rain Plan: Record Storm Snarls IMEX Arrivals

Las Vegas set a daily rainfall record Sunday as thousands of event professionals started arriving for IMEX America 2026. The city last broke that record in 2012. IMEX was in town then, too.

Harry Reid International Airport recorded 1.08 inches of rain as of 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. That topped the previous record of 0.78 inches, set in 2012.

Tropical Storm Rachel fueled thunderstorms and flooding across parts of the valley, according to the NWS. The airport warned travelers of possible weather delays on Sunday and Monday.

IMEX's three-day exhibition opens Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Mandalay Bay, but programming starts Monday with Smart Monday, powered by Meeting Professionals International.

For an industry built on contingency planning, the storm tested it in a destination where many planners may be more concerned about the potential impacts of heat on an outdoor event.