Monsoonal storms moved across Southern California Tuesday and overnight Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms, dangerous lightning and hail.
Due to lightning strikes, most LA area beaches were closed before 5 p.m., including Catalina, Cabrillo, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan and others, according to Supervisor Sims with LA County Fire Department. Several Orange County beaches were also closed.
Lightning also struck overnight in Needles at around 12 a.m. and in Blythe at around 1 a.m.
There was a close call in Torrance, where lightning struck a flag pole outside a DMV center while people stood outside. A hole was left in the concrete where the electricity struck the ground.
"I heard a really big... boom. I saw all this lightning here and... people went on the floor," a witness said.
A man who suffered a panic attack following the strike was taken to the hospital for observation.
Residents in the Temecula area reported heavy rain about 3:30 p.m., with dust storms kicking up in the area before the precipitation fell.
The storm moved to the northwest, crossing into Orange County around 4 p.m.
- FORECAST: See our interactive radar
The quick-moving storm moved into Los Angeles County just before the evening commute.
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Forecasts predict weather in the Inland Empire will quiet down as the storm continues to move to the northwest, eventually clearing out of Southern California overnight.
However, the possibility of volatile weather will continue into Wednesday, once again bringing the danger of lightning strikes along the coast, hail and gusty winds.
Download the NBCLA app here for the latest forecasts.
Gadi Schwartz contributed to this article
