The beaches are open and the thunderstorms have passed after several hours of severe weather warnings, heavy rainfall and lightning poured down across San Diego County.
The "multi-cell cluster of pulse thunderstorms," as NBC7's Dagmar Midcap said, head out of the county by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
"We will enjoy a dryer and clearer evening and overnight with only very slight chances for a shower or storm to form mostly over the mountains," Midcap said. "It will stay warm and humid overnight and we’ll start the process all over again tomorrow."
A severe thunderstorm warning for San Diego and Riverside Counties went into effect at 1:30 p.m. and lifeguards temporarily cleared beaches for several hours, asking residents to stay out of the water and off the coast as lightening struck off the coast. A beach hazard warning put into place was lifted shortly before 5 p.m.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a coastal hazard message and said lightning was possible at the beaches but later lifted it. An aviation weather warning was in effect for San Diego International Airport for cloud to ground lightning from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. moving in from the southeast.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for San Diego and Riverside Counties that lasted until 3 p.m. for damaging winds moving faster than 60 miles per hour. Hail, lightning and very heavy rain are all possible in these conditions, the NWS said.
Lifeguards began evacuating beaches around 1:30 p.m. Imperial Beach lifeguards asked beachgoers to get out of the water as a matter of policy due to lightning. Coronado Lifeguards asked beachgoers to get out of the water after reported lightning strikes off the beach. Beaches across San Diego County were being cleared out as heavy rain and possible thunderstorms approached.
In the middle of the storm, lifeguards had to rescue a group of young swimmers about a mile north of Mission Beach caught in a rip current. There were no injuries, they said, but it could not have happened at a worse time.
The California Highway Patrol said they believe lightning struck at least three powerpoles around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, knocking them down and into the road way. CHP officials initially issued a Sig Alert for Dye Road at Ramona Street in Ramona but later changed it to a hard closure as SDG&E crews worked to repair the damage throughout the night.
The San Diego County Water Authority is reminding residents and businesses to turn off their sprinklers and other irrigation systems for at least two days following heavy rain. After heavy rain, irrigation systems can be left off for up to two weeks.
Cal Fire said they have had lots of reports of lightning, but not confirmed fires.
Check back for updates on this breaking news story.
