Weather
Manhattan Beach Coastline Reopens After Lightning
Los Angeles County beaches were closed due to lightning that was spotted along the coast.
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Los Angeles County beaches were briefly evacuated Tuesday when lightning was spotted along the coast.
Los Angeles County lifeguards reported a lightning strike in the Marina del Rey area around 9:45 a.m. With an electrical storm in the area, the county closed beaches stretching from Torrance to Malibu.
Santa Monica Fire Department officials followed suit, urging people to clear beaches while telling people on the pier to seek shelter indoors until the storm passes.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Just before 10:30 a.m., beaches were reopened between Torrance and Manhattan Beach. The rest of the beaches were reopened about 15 minutes later.
The National Weather Service reported a "weak upper-level disturbance" moving into the county Tuesday morning "with plenty of mid-level clouds and scattered showers." Forecasters noted that the system could bring "an isolated lightning strike," but such activity was expected to quickly move out of the area.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to the NWS, there will be a lingering chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains and Antelope Valley thanks to the "monsoonal moisture" in the air.
SM Alert Lightning Advisory - An electrical storm with lightning has been reported in Santa Monica. Please evacuate all ocean and beach/sand areas. If on the beach or on the Santa Monica Pier, seek shelter indoors until the storm has ended.
— Santa Monica Fire (@santamonicafd) July 23, 2019
City News Service contributed to this post
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