Monsoonal moisture finally flowed into San Diego County in a big way Monday, producing thunderstorms that sparked dozens of lightning bolts throughout the region’s mountains and deserts while also creating hail the size of a nickel, the National Weather Service said.
The clamor began shortly after 1 p.m. when winds shot up to 50 mph in the Pine Valley and Buckman Springs area. Strong gusts also were reported in Borrego Springs.
Forecasters warned at 3:29 p.m. that potentially life-threatening rain was moving into the Mount Laguna area, along with Interstate 8, east of Pine Valley, and Lake Morena, Campo and Lake Cuyamaca.
The thunderstorms were closely monitored by firefighters in the eastern half of the county, due to a shortage of seasonal rainfall. That region is experiencing extreme drought, according to federal forecasters.
Thunderstorms could return on Tuesday afternoon.