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Photos: Gnarly Lightning Storm Wreaks Havoc
Wow. Quite a shot by @latimes's Rick Loomis, of a lightning strike over the Queen Mary in Long Beach. pic.twitter.com/UnzmHenxfy
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) July 1, 2015
Tuesday was a wild summer day across Southern California, as a summer storm brought lightning across Los Angeles and Silver Lake was left in the dark overnight.
As expected, a storm rolled through Los Angeles late Tuesday afternoon and lightning was spotted all the way from Long Beach to the South Bay.
Lifeguards briefly closed Los Angeles County beaches around 4:45 pm and cleared out everyone that had come for relief from the muggy heat. They were reopened about an hour and a half later, according to KTLA.
#Lightning strikes just witnessed inland of #RedondoBeach. Topaz Lifeguard clearing the water first then the beach. pic.twitter.com/Z7KgFhyOkT
— LACoLifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) June 30, 2015
Thankfully the storm wasn't as dangerous or as deadly as the strike at Venice Beach last year that killed an incoming USC student, but one strike left a scorched hole in the sidewalk outside the Torrance DMV and also sent a security guard who stood nearby to the hospital after he fell ill.
Possible lightning strike sends person to the hospital near Torrance DMV http://t.co/7kAAlVkERR pic.twitter.com/CHnhqJNp1P
— KTLA (@KTLA) July 1, 2015
A lightning strike in #Torrance making a DMV very popular as people stop to take pics of scorched concrete. #NBC4U pic.twitter.com/UVvL1hT4tb
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) July 1, 2015
In Silver Lake, a power outage Tuesday night left over 20,000 customers in the dark after a vault exploded on the 600 block of North Hoover Street. Although state officials are kindly asking you to turn down your AC just a bit to take a little pressure off the power grid, a DWP spokesman told the L.A. Times, "These [vaults] can blow up for any multitude of reasons."
12,000 customers had their power back by 10:45 p.m., while the remaining 8,000 or so customers in Silver Lake and Westlake had their power restored around 4 a.m.
Although the rest of the week should bring us a little relief from yesterday's madness, there's still a chance of rain that should last until Thursday.
@momserratblues @LAScanner yup pic.twitter.com/2BlLRvyoFO
— Terissa Kelton (@TerissaKelton) July 1, 2015
I confess I just finished my trader joes ravioli And am now drinking Trader joes Zinfandel . Power out in silver lake pic.twitter.com/t84fKLmbwd
— Bae'lanna Torres (@Nicosan1) July 1, 2015
Those across the canyon who haven't been hit by the Silverlake power outage, It's like they're taunting us. pic.twitter.com/tgqVwH8ipk
— \ˈjərps\ (@jerps) July 1, 2015
Power is now fully restored to Silver Lake as state braces for more stress on its power grid http://t.co/0P0Z7s2w6X pic.twitter.com/taOoRbXvKQ
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 1, 2015
Early Morning Power Outage Blacks Out The Silverlake Area. http://t.co/TQ9Ij8Kzuq pic.twitter.com/oZJlEQFJo0
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) July 1, 2015
In California, the storm stretched as far south as San Diego:
Wow! This photo by @CodyBarbo shows lightning downtown. Have a photo of wild weather? Tweet us using #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/G3ySEFe5KG
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) June 30, 2015
Rain, thunder & lightning: Be careful out there! http://t.co/V3QVpDySdB pic.twitter.com/w4gT48EhOp
— The CW San Diego (@thecwsandiego) June 30, 2015
Crazy thunder across #SoCal! Coming up at 11 our story filled w/ lightning, lifeguards, surfers & the DMV! #OnlyinLA pic.twitter.com/BLmoX79K3m
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) July 1, 2015
Awesome shot by Chris Nichols - @EPN560 North Yucca Valley in Yucca Mesa area. #thunderstorm #lightning pic.twitter.com/cBXKP7nA4s
— JASMINE VIEL (@jasmineviel) July 1, 2015
A palm tree was struck by lightning in Vista as seen in this photo by Patty Sliney. Watch #NBC7 now for storm updates pic.twitter.com/I4DGLvvtdG
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) June 30, 2015