Wild weather could worsen; more lightning, power outages, heavy downpours and even hail possible

Scattered thunder and lightning storms put on quite a show Friday morning across Southern California, causing lightning strikes and power outrages.

Officials warn the wild weather will worsen Friday afternoon, with heavy downpours, more lightning and even hail possible.

As of 11:30 a.m., the National Weather Service was warning of a heavy band of rain and wind moving through Universal City, Pasadena, Azusa and into Glendora. [Updated at 1:15 p.m.: Marble-sized hail was reported in Altadena, and the NWS said more storm cells were heading into th eAntelope Valley.]

In Northern Orange County, lightning strikes set fire to several trees and power lines. Several cities in Orange County reported power outages including Fullerton, Brea and Yorba Linda -- and Fullerton Community College closed Friday because of a lack of electricity. There were reports of people stuck in an elevator at the Fullerton courthouse.

The chance of showers and thunderstorms will be even greater Friday afternoon in the mountains and Antelope Valley, with those events eventually decreasing by Sunday afternoon, says the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office. Some of storm activity will produce brief heavy downpours and potential flooding.

In Fontana, fire dispatchers said a man was taken to a hospital with injures after lightning struck a crane he was touching.

The current storm system is generated by a subtropical air mass that will continue to bring warm and humid weather to the Southland through late Saturday. Cooler temperatures are expected Sunday.

-- Richard Winton

Photos: Damage seen after lightning strikes in Fullerton on Friday. Credit: KTLA News

 

Comments

[Doug in Toronto]

I guess all the Bush-ites were right about climate change being just an illusion, huh?

Enjoy what you have created... This is what the future holds.

[lisa]

Let's protest and demand better treatment from the weather ... Mother Nature has no heart !

[nastradamus]

2012...we are all going to die. this are all precursors to the worse to come! hold on everybody, its going to be a bumpy ride!!!!!

[Greg the Jedi]

PLEASE....I DO NOT WANT TO READ SOMEBODY SAY "OH BOY, ITS EARTHQUAKE WEATHER!!"

[bigstew]

Doug in Tronto,
Brilliant! "A change in the weather is what the future holds". You must a member of Al Gore's global warming science team.

[Marcos El Malo]

Yeah, right, Doug. Because our local weather is direct proof of GLOBAL climate change. A storm like today is not evidence for or against climate change. You do a disservice to the very real threat of climate change with your preposterous "warning". Do us all a favor and pull the covers back up over your head there in Toronto.

[Astonished]

They keep promising thunder and lightening and I haven't seen or heard squat yet! I think its all a government plot!

[Pete the Fed]

Sure wish we could get some of the rain and thunderstorms here in Foothill Ranch. For the last three days we have had high humidity and hot weather. Clouds to the east, south and north but nothing here in our area. Just miserable heat and humidity.