Powerful storm delivers thunder, hail and rain to parts of Southern California
Grocery store clerk Alec Gonzalez keeps his feet dry by riding the cart through pounding rain in Redlands.
Reports of hail, flooding and a lightning-caused fire flowed into the National Weather Service on Thursday afternoon as a powerful storm crossed over several Southern California counties, officials said.
Forecasters had warned that a powerful storm carrying a heavy dose of monsoonal moisture was headed for Southern California ahead of the weekend and, on Thursday afternoon, the storm delivered.
More than an inch of rain fell in an hour in Escondido, while a downpour in Antelope Valley sent mud flowing onto the 14 Freeway, said NWS weather specialist Stuart Seto. Just before 4 p.m. a lightning strike sparked a fire in brush near Vista del Lago Road and Interstate 5, the California Highway Patrol said.
The weather service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Ventura County this afternoon, where it predicted quarter-size hail and 60-mph winds could hammer Lockwood Valley residents. Residents were told to stay indoors and avoid driving on roads prone to flooding.
The turbulent weather is part of a surge of monsoonal moisture that’s expected to cover Southern California through the weekend.
Debris flows are possible in the Colby fire burn area, which scorched about 1,900 acres in the hills above Azusa and Glendora in 2014.
In Northern California, Bay Area residents will feel a big cool-down as temperatures drop by 10 to 15 degrees, according to the weather service.
The moisture and humidity will linger over the mountains and desert until Sunday.
On Wednesday, some Southern California communities received scattered showers that left people feeling sticky because of the increased humidity.
Weather officials say a powerful mass of high pressure is moving west from Texas.
Winds that typically pull in weather from the ocean are instead dragging weather from the tropics. Rising sea temperatures related to El Niño are playing a role in this week’s storm.
Rain over the last couple of weeks caused flooding in parts of Southern California and helped douse some wildfires but did nothing for reservoirs, according to meteorologist Richard Heim of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. Reservoir levels did not increase, and for the most part, California remained dry.
Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA
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