Thunderstorms, lightning strikes Southern California – Orange County Register

Isolated thunderstorms and lightning made landfall along the Southern California coast early Wednesday, October 12, with additional afternoon showers expected in the mountains and valleys.

A flood warning is in effect through 3:45 p.m. in parts of the San Gabriel Mountains, with National Weather Service officials warning the rains could cause flooding and mud and debris flows near recent burn scar areas. The potential downpour could bring up to an inch of rain in the mountains, NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell said, but some areas may not catch any.

“It’s still uncertain at this point – we’re under an unstable moisture mask where showers could form anywhere,” Kittell said. “We will most likely see that in the mountains and deserts west of LA County.”

Latest radar image at 141:

Showers/TSTMs continue in the LA County mountains but also develop in Ventura County.

Short moderate to strong, small hail and gusty winds are possible.

This activity continues into the afternoon hours. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/XC4YbSBWEo

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) October 12, 2022

Some early morning rain in Orange County’s coastal towns. The county could get more showers in the interior and in mountain communities in the evening as the low pressure area continued its path northwest.

Morning lightning strikes near the shore prompted officials to temporarily close Los Angeles County and Huntington beaches. They reopened later that afternoon.

By evening, thunderstorms would likely be limited to the mountains in San Bernardino and Riverside, NWS meteorologist Samantha Connolly said. Heavy rain and hail fell in the San Bernardino Mountains in the afternoon.

Thursday will also see another chance for thunderstorms in the San Bernardino and Riverside mountains, although they would likely remain over the mountains and high deserts. The rain bags should bring a few tenths of an inch, said Connolly.