Storms close beaches, causes power outages in California

Forecasters said the tropical air “will lead to the possibility of thunderstorms as well as significant increases in moisture and cloud cover for Saturday through Monday”.

The unusual weather turned Los Angeles County’s typically packed beaches into empty stretches of sand when the threat of lightning strikes forced authorities to close 70 miles of beaches.

Last summer, a lightning strike killed a man at Venice Beach and injured about a dozen people.

An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Virginia made an emergency landing at LAX Airport when the aircraft was struck by lightning, the Associated Press reported.

“There will be the potential for brief heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding and minor mud and debris flows”, the weather service stated.

Thunderstorms, higher than average surf and strong rip currents could develop along the San Diego County coastline this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Dolores weaken and move offshore from Baja California.

Get your free daily Essential California newsletter>>. The previous record had been 0.92 inch for July 1-31, 1902.

Rain was not as generous in Death Valley, where a dust storm was reported early Saturday afternoon. The storm chance for Sunday is about 20 percent, according to the NWS.

Heavy rain caused debris and rocks to fall onto several roads in and around Kingman, Arizona, according to spotter reports relayed by the National Weather Service. A National Weather Service beach hazards forecast was scheduled to be in effect through Monday evening.