Strong Thunderstorms Hit SD County Mountains, Deserts

100 Lightning Strikes Recorded; Stormy Conditions Expected Through Evening

2-Lightning-Cameron-Stotz-25242158.jpg

2 Lightning - Cameron Stotz
(Photo courtesy: Cameron Stotz)

Posted: 08/11/2012
Last Updated: 312 days ago

The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Southwest Riverside County and San Diego County’s East County mountains and deserts.

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The NWS has confirmed 100 lightning strikes for San Diego County Saturday. Most hit between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Riverside County is getting most of the lightning strikes now with over 100 as well.

A severe thunderstorm warning has extended into rural north-central San Diego County. The warning is one level below a tornado watch or warning so those storms are capable of rotating.

10News Meteorologist Craig Herrera has been tracking the storms all afternoon.

”We still have the chance for scattered thunderstorms all evening capable of producing lightning, quarter-sized hail, gusty winds and heavy downpours where these thunderstorms develop,” Herrera said. “There are separate storms over the East County mountains and deserts. Some have produced lightning strikes, and gusty winds. Campo reported some wind gusts to 44mph between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.” says Herrera

At 3 p.m., the weather service said Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter size hail. The storm was located near Temecula and moving north.

A 10News viewer in Fallbrook said he definitely noticed the dark clouds to the north and another 10News viewer said it began raining in Ramona around 4 p.m.

The monsoonal moisture and unstable air from the East is helping to fuel these strong storms.

The thunderstorms could affect traffic along Interstate 8 and forecasters are watching to see if lightning strikes spark any wildfires -- that happened earlier this week near Warner Springs with the Chihuahua fire which has burned 1,800 acres.

The NWS says while these storms can produce large hail and damaging winds, they are producing continuous cloud to ground lightning.

The NWS reminds residents that if you can hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Meteorologist Craig Herrera is tracking the storms from the 10News Pinpoint Doppler Weather Center.

He will have the latest information on the storms coming up on 10News at 5, 6, and 11 p.m.

Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2012 by 10News.com. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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