Countywide : Spectacular Storm Lights Up the Sky

The storm that brought hail, thunder and a spectacular lightning show to Orange County on Friday is expected to bring continued rain intermittently throughout today.

The storm hit for about an hour in the morning, then returned in the evening with an audio and visual display for Friday night commuters.

The evening rain wreaked havoc with the start of several high school football games; hail was reported at both Cerritos College and Bolsa Grande High in Garden Grove.

Still, the high temperatures were warm, with Santa Ana recording the hottest at 89.

Other warm spots included El Toro, which saw a high of 88 degrees; Anaheim, which reported 87 degrees; and Newport Beach, at 87 degrees.

Temperatures can be expected to drop by at least five degrees today, according to Steve Burback of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

“The moisture is from tropical regions from the south, and the temperature here was warm already,” Burback said.

“It will take awhile for temperatures to start cooling down in a significant way.”

Heavy rainfall hit morning commuters for about a hour Friday, leading to a dozen minor traffic accidents on local freeways, CHP traffic officer Rick Pena said.

“We had an unusually high number of accidents once the rain started to fall at about 8 a.m.,” he said.

“The problem is, it rains and people continue to drive at the normal speed. When it’s raining, they need to allow themselves more distance behind the car in front of them. The standard rule is two seconds behind, but the stopping distance should increase during a storm.”

Burback said the rain should leave by Sunday night but that it could return soon.

“We’re right on the edge of the stormy season,” Burback said.

“At this time of year, rain is always a possibility.”