Explosions, Thunder: Southwest Riverside County Gets Noisy

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — It's been particularly noisy across Southwest Riverside County over the last several days. What sounds like thunder or explosions has coyotes howling and some citizens a bit concerned.

In fact, the noise is coming from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, as troops train with high explosive munitions.

Most Southwest Riverside County residents are accustomed to the "booms" that can last all day and night, but for people new to the area ... not so much.

This week, the troops are training in the Whiskey/Zulu Impact area, which is situated near the Southwest Riverside County cities of Temecula and Murrieta. Local residents living on the western outskirts of the cities — especially unincorporated areas — might hear and feel the training more than east-siders. Depending on weather conditions, the troops' "thunder" can seem louder than other days.

The training is ongoing, and noise advisories issued by the base show residents can expect more booming through at least Aug. 7. See the latest from the base here.

Of course Camp Pendleton is not always the source of booms. Late summer often brings monsoonal-weather to the Southwest Riverside County and the local deserts. Mother Nature delivers that with real thunder, lightning (dry or otherwise), hail, crazy wind, downpours, and ridiculously humid, hot conditions. Welcome new neighbors!