Topline:
If you're picking someone up at LAX or other Southern California airports this afternoon, double check their arrival times. The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops because of thunderstorms. The stop for flights coming to LAX is set to expire at 4:45 p.m.; earlier in the day, Long Beach and John Wayne airports were affected as well.
What caused this? Monsoonal flow has brought moisture up from the southeast, resulting in thunderstorms forming across interior areas from San Diego to Ventura. Some of the storm tops over the Antelope Valley are reaching 30,000 feet.
The FAA says: "We’re pausing LAX-bound flights from airports in roughly the Colorado, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque areas," a spokesperson for the agency told LAist. You can check the latest on the FAA's website.
Typical weather pattern: This type of weather is normal for this time of year. The threat of thunderstorms should abate by 7 p.m., once the heat of the day subsides. Thunderstorms are possible tomorrow and Friday too.