Thunderbolts And Lightning Wake Dana Point: Photo Of The Week

DANA POINT, CA — A vivid lightning display captured the attention of Orange County residents Thursday night.

Photographer Matt Larmand of Capistrano Beach shared this photo with Patch, showing what he called "hands down the best lightning display I've ever seen in Southern California."

Larmand, who frequently captures drone photos of sharks, surfers and sea creatures turned his lense skyward for the phenomenal display.

"I shot for about three to four hours last night," he tells us, and he could still see flashes and hear thunder after he went to bed.

Residents from Lake Forest to San Clemente remarked on the storms that cycled through the region.

Much of the lightning was in the clouds or over the ocean, but according to the National Weather Service San Diego, at least 11 strikes hit the ground, causing spot fires.

One fire broke out due to a lightning storm, according to Orange County Fire Authority. A home in Aliso Viejo caught fire, however quick work from OCFA saw that "virtually everything but the garage was saved from fire damage."

Lake Forest resident Stacy Bilt captured this eerie shot of lightning streaking across the sky toward Irvine.

It was a fine night for concert-goers of the "End of the Road World Tour" for rock band "Kiss" at Irvine Five Point Amphitheatre. The show ended "a few songs early" due to the approaching storm, at least one fan tells us.

"The band played 'Rock And Roll All Night' a few songs early to end the show," one reader said over social media. Lake Forest resident Karen Grimsley-Garces says the stands were metal, and the storm was closing in leading to the early end of the show.

"I think they only left out one or two songs," she says of the band speeding up their finale. "After 'Rock and Roll All Night' it just started dumping hard! It was a lot of fun."

Send us your lightning pictures to ashley.ludwig@patch.com.