Thousands of lightning strikes light up Southern California skies. Could more rain be on the way?

"Thousands of lightning strikes lit up the skies above Southern California over the past two days as the region prepares for the potential of more wet weather over the weekend. Over the past 48 hours, at least 2,000 lightning strikes were spotted over the Southern California area, from the Channel Islands off Ventura County all the way to the Central Coast, with most of the thunderstorm and heavy rain occurring over the Pacific Ocean about 50 miles offshore, according to the National Weather Service."

""We have an area of low pressure that's been cut off from the jet stream and it's been moving slowly across the area and that [has] actually retained some of the moisture to the south, and it's produced a lot of lightning strikes," said NWS meteorologist Todd Hall. The Bay Area region had more than 13,000 total lightning strikes, with 6,500 in-cloud and 6,700 cloud-ground, meaning that those were discharged between the thunderstorm cloud and the Earth's surface, according to the weather service."

At least 2,000 lightning strikes were recorded over Southern California during a 48-hour period, concentrated from the Channel Islands to the Central Coast and mostly over the Pacific Ocean about 50 miles offshore. A low-pressure system cut off from the jet stream moved slowly across the area, retaining moisture from the south and producing extensive lightning. The Bay Area recorded more than 13,000 total lightning strikes, including 6,700 cloud-to-ground discharges. Most lightning strikes occurred during wet conditions, presenting little fire risk. A weak low-pressure system will bring thunderstorms, winds, and isolated showers beginning Saturday, and a large trough will bring cooler temperatures and wetter conditions in northern California into early next week. Some interior valleys and mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties could receive at least a quarter-inch of rain.

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