Flash thunderstorm dampens Newport-Mesa

-- Alex Coolman

A brief but dramatic thunderstorm swirled through the Newport-Mesa

area Thursday afternoon, mixing thunder, lightning and a heavy splash of

rainfall into what had been an ordinary, muggy afternoon.

The thunderstorm was part of a patch of scattered storms moving

through the extreme southwest counties of California, said Brad Doyle of

the National Weather Service.

Doyle said a few showers might come into play early Friday, but

expected clear skies in the afternoon.

“The weather will definitely be improving as the day moves along and

the system moves further east,” he said.

At the beach, the storm lasted only about 10 minutes, but lifeguards

were concerned about lightning strikes.

“We made a couple general announcements recommending that people exit

the water,” said Lt. Dave Wenger of the Newport Beach lifeguards.