Southern California is preparing for a trio of hazardous weather conditions, including thunderstorms, dry lightning, and rip currents, starting Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a low-pressure system will move along the Southern California coast through Wednesday, bringing up to a 30% chance of thunderstorms. The San Gabriel Mountains, Antelope Valley, and the interior mountains of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are at the highest risk. The most likely time for storms is between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
The NWS warns that dry lightning, which can occur when thunderstorms form but precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground, poses a significant fire risk. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld explained that dry lightning is the leading natural cause of wildfires. Areas at higher elevations have a lower risk of dry lightning due to shorter distances for rain to travel, which reduces evaporation. However, these areas face risks of flash flooding and mudslides, especially in regions with recent burn scars like the Bridge fire burn scar in the Angeles National Forest.
Along the coast, elevated surf up to six feet and rip currents are expected, prompting a beach hazard advisory for Ventura County beaches, the Malibu coast, and Los Angeles beaches. The NWS cautions that rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, increasing the risk of ocean drowning.
As fire season approaches, the NWS has started issuing fire weather forecasts twice daily for Southern California. Residents are encouraged to prepare for potential wildfires by planning evacuation routes and preparing emergency kits.
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