Lightning Sparks San Diego Brush Fires
Scattered thunderstorms with lightning sparked more brush fires Sunday in San Diego County, even as residents flocked to the beaches to get away from temperatures in the high 90s.
The mercury stopped just short of 100 degrees in the inland valley areas, with coastal temperatures hovering at about 80 degrees throughout the day, National Weather Service Meteorologist Steven Vanderburg said.
More than an inch of rain fell in Warner Springs, and El Cajon and Alpine also reported short periods of heavy rain, Vanderburg said.
Lightning strikes set small fires on Sunshine Summit in the East County, as well as Barona, but firefighters quickly got the flames under control, dispatchers with the California Department of Forestry and Heartland fire reported.
Lightning strikes started two fires Saturday afternoon in the southeastern part of the county.
More rain is expected for the next few days, partly from the seasonal monsoon weather and partly from remnants of Tropical Storm John, downgraded from a hurricane when it made landfall in Baja.
Most of the rain is expected to fall in the mountains and deserts, Vanderburg said.
"There's a chance there could be thunderstorms at the beach," he added.
The Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the mountains and deserts from noon to 8 p.m. Monday.
About 300,000 people were at San Diego beaches Sunday, lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said.
Copyright 2006 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.