Thunderstorm Brings Downpours And Brushfires To LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — A series of storms rolled across Los Angeles Wednesday bringing downpours that triggered brushfires and forced beach closures.

The muggy weather and thunderstorms were triggered by a a flow of monsoonal moisture. The storms moved from east to west across the area, with rain and thunder reported in the San Gabriel Valley before the precipitation arrived in the West Los Angeles and West Hollywood area by around 11:30 a.m.

Rainfall was concentrated in the Hollywood Hills and west into the Santa Monica Mountains. Totals included .17 inch at UCLA and .09 inches in Topanga Canyon.

Downpours drenched Burbank and the parts of the Valley while Los Angeles Fire officials believe lightning was to blame for a small spot fires that broke out in the Hollywood Hills and Encino area. Santa Monica officials also closed the beach due to lightning. Authorities warned people to seek shelter indoors until the storm passed.

Beaches in Malibu were evacuated as a downpour hit and thunder, well, it thundered.

On Topanga Canyon Boulevard, a car flipped on its side in the heavy rain just up from the beach. No one was injured, the CHP said.

National Weather Service officials echoed that advice, with a Twitter post saying, "When thunder roars go indoors."

Forecasters said warm and humid conditions were expected to continue into the afternoon, with a slight chance of additional thunderstorms lingering into Wednesday evening.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock