Holy fire smoke — and rain? — fill Southern California skies Thursday
Southern California has been having some off character humidity this summer, unlike the usually dry heat it gets around this time this year.
It got so humid on Thursday evening that water started falling from the sky. Yes, it rained. And yes, of course, people freaked out.
But for good reason. With the Holy fire consuming thousands of acres of land in the Holy Jim and Trabuco Canyon communities in Orange County and Lake Elsinore-area communities in Riverside County, the rain came as a surprise to many.
A meteorologist, whose name I didn’t catch, said a dissipating hurricane off of Baja has spread moisture over deserts. A high-pressure current has moved it eastward. “It’s causing a very unstable fire environment,” he said.
— Shane Newell (@journoshane) August 10, 2018
A few weeks ago, it also randomly rained in parts of Los Angeles when monsoonal moisture was passing through. This time around, there was no mention of a monsoon, but a thunderstorm developed in the Antelope Valley just before 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
At 345 pm, thunderstorm developing just south of Pearblossom in Antelope Valley. Potential for gusty erratic winds and dangerous cloud to ground lightning. #LArain #LAWeather #cawx #Socal pic.twitter.com/hiP0kFh9O9
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) August 9, 2018
Around the same time, a flash flood warning was issued for parts of San Bernardino County.
The NWS has issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for the mountain and east valley communities from now until 6:00 PM. Please avoid flooded roadways and be aware of potential debris flows below recent burn areas. ^eas pic.twitter.com/5xbpQyttLu
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) August 9, 2018
At around 5:30 p.m., it started pouring in some areas of Los Angeles County.
Thunderstorm cells now tracking through Coastal L.A. County. The coastal storms may produce dangerous lightning. Those further inland have had frequent lightning, along with brief heavy downpours. #SoCal #LArain #CAwx pic.twitter.com/cWc5imm0Z4
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) August 10, 2018
#BREAKING How is it #RAINING in Torrance right now?!?! Yay! #socalfires #socal #larain #rain pic.twitter.com/zO52tju1XU
— Ann Pickard
(@illoimprov) August 10, 2018
Rain out of nowhere?
— KT | SB | LA (@pocosperolocals) August 10, 2018
Big booming thunder storm rolling through the San Bernardino National Forest right now. No rain as of yet. @ABC7
— Wile E. Quixote (@quixotic1forU) August 9, 2018
With the Holy fire affecting skies all over Southern California, the rain had an eerie effect to some.
LA weather feels very apocalyptic right now. Heat, rain clouds mixed with smoke and a bright orange-red sun. No me gusta
— Hannah Oakley (@hoakley96) August 10, 2018
I thought the darkness was from the #HolyFire or a marine layer moving in. Turns out …. IT’S RAIN. You so crazy, SoCal weather. pic.twitter.com/NUnHcXYRRT
— Janna Abraham (@SportsPundette) August 10, 2018
Don’t be so quick to assume it’s just smoke. Are you there? There are thunderstorm cells forming all over SoCal. National Weather Service just issued weather advisory for a strong thunderstorm cell north of LA.
— Angie Tucker (@AngeliqueTucker) August 10, 2018
Air Attack on the #HolyFire being suspended due to lack of visibility and weather, now reports of lightning coming from the pyrocumulus over the fire. #Breaking pic.twitter.com/oRO00wmEBV
— Bernie Deyo (@EPN473) August 10, 2018