Summer storm: Thunderstorms bring lightning to parts of Southern California
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds struck Southern California on Wednesday morning.
Beach closures were announced for some beaches in Orange and Los Angeles counties. In addition, the officials at Cerritos College said the campus was closed Wednesday due to a power outage.
The National Weather Service warned of an elevated fire danger "through the coming week due to hot conditions with low humidity."
Lightning strikes and thunderstorms were located over Mount Wilson and were moving northwest covering Monrovia, Angeles Crest Highway between Mount Wilson and Mount Waterman, Sierra Madre, Arcadia and Duarte Wednesday morning.
The forecast called for partly cloudy conditions and a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight Tuesday. Temperatures will range from the upper 50s to mid-60s, with winds topping out around 35 mph in some areas, during the overnight hours.
Meanwhile, a drier southwest flow will develop on Thursday, with a slight chance of more thunderstorms in the afternoon, mainly over the mountains, followed by drier and warming conditions Friday and Saturday.
Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 50 mph overnight in parts of San Bernardino County.
With monsoonal moisture flowing into Southern California from Santa Barbara County, the storms will be most prevalent over the mountains and deserts on Wednesday, according to the NWS.
The thunderstorms could produce strong gusty winds and brief heavy rainfall. Damaging winds are expected in excess of 60 mph and may be accompanied with penny-size hail.
Meanwhile, a drier southwest flow will develop on Thursday, with a slight chance of more thunderstorms in the afternoon, mainly over the mountains, followed by drier and warming conditions Friday and Saturday.
The weather service advised that people take precautions during thunderstorm activity -- saying, "When thunder roars, go indoors!!"
The agency also advised hikers to get below the tree lines during lightning activity.