Storms, lightning close LA beaches, causes power outages

In this photo provided by the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, waters rush under an the elevated portion westbound Interstate 10 as emergency crews respond to the collapse of the eastbound section, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Desert Center, Calif. The bridge, which carries the eastbound interstate about 15 feet above a normally dry wash, snapped and ended up in the flooding water below, the California Highway Patrol said, blocking all traffic headed toward Arizona.

Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says the flight left Los Angeles International Airport around 12:40 p.m. Saturday and returned within the hour.

At the power outage’s height, more than 16,000 people were impacted, including communities in Lincoln Heights, South Los Angeles, Westlkae, Lake Arrowhead, Redlands, Wildomar, Victorville, Foothill, Menifee, Compton and Whittier.

Saturday’s rainfall broke records in at least 11 locations, including five places that had the most rain ever recorded on any day in July, Sirard said.

“The fires are being suppressed by fire engines hand crews and helicopter water drops”, the Forest Service wrote on the agency’s website.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty even 24 hours off”, he said.

The popular Santa Monica Pier and its nearby beaches were also shuttered.

County lifeguards urged people to avoid the lightning. A passenger from the truck was able to get out without help and wasn’t hurt. “Do not get into ocean”.

The bridge, which spans a desert gully, was built in 1967.

In Redlands, 300customers lost power due to an equipment failure and should have electricity again by 8a.m. Sunday morning, SCE said.

Weather also caused many closures. National Weather Service storm reports said a auto was nearly submerged at the interchange of Interstate 8 and the 163 Freeway in the Mission Valley area of the city early Saturday afternoon. The evening event usually draws thousands of revelers to ogle classic cars, hear tribute bands and nosh along Brand Boulevard, culminating in a nighttime fireworks show. Forecasters expected scattered rain through Monday as the remnants of a tropical storm off Baja California continued to push north.