Lightning Strike in California, August 24, 2003

EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA
230 PM PDT SUN AUG 24 2003

.SYNOPSIS...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS
AND FOR THE DESERTS THROUGH 900 PM MONDAY. MOISTURE IN SOUTHEAST FLOW
WILL BRING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY TO THE MOUNTAINS AND
DESERTS. A FEW STORMS COULD DRIFT WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH
TUESDAY. THE MOISTURE WILL DECREASE WEDNESDAY WITH THUNDERSTORMS
CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. DRIER SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL
DEVELOP DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK.

.DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS GOT AN EARLY START TODAY IN THE MOUNTAINS
AND DESERTS AND INLAND EMPIRE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS IN AND NEAR THE
COACHELLA VALLEY AND HEMET. OTHERWISE...JUST PATCHY STATUS NEAR THE
COAST...MAINLY S. THE 12Z NKX SOUNDING WAS MORE UNSTABLE AND SHOWED
THE INCREASE IN MOISTURE WITH SE WINDS IN THE MID LEVELS AND A PW OF
1.57 INCHES. WEAK ONSHORE GRADIENTS.

ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW OVER OUR CWFA THROUGH TUE IN
SE TO E WINDS ALOFT. HURRICANE IGNACIO IS FORECAST TO MOVE UP THE GULF
OF CALIFORNIA AND SOME OF THE MOISTURE COULD GET ENTRAINED IN THE SE
WINDS ALOFT. THIS WILL BRING A TREAT OF SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS TO
ALL AREAS...BUT MAINLY IN AND NEAR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. THERE
WILL BE ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR POTENTIAL HEAVY SHOWERS AND HAVE ISSUED
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 900 PM MONDAY. THIS MAY HAVE TO BE
EXTENDED INTO TUE. THE MOISTURE DECREASED WED AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD
BE CONFINED TO THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. MAX TEMPS WILL BE A TOUGH
CALL WILL CLOUD COVER AND RH TENDING TO HOLD THEM DOWN. HOWEVER...THE
TROPICAL AIR MASS WILL HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR WARMING. A SHALLOW
AND DISRUPTED MARINE LAYER WILL CONTINUE.

LONGER RANGE PROGS INDICATE DRIER SW TO W FLOW ALOFT FOR AN END THE
THUNDERSTORMS. THE MARINE LAYER WILL BECOME BETTER ESTABLISHED AND
DEEPEN A LITTLE FOR MORE COASTAL LOW CLOUDS AND FOG IN THE NIGHTS AND
MORNINGS. NEAR TO A LITTLE BELOW SEASONAL TEMPS FOR THIS PERIOD.

SAN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH...SEE LAXFLSSGX.

CAZ042-043-048-050-055>058-060>062-251300-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
600 AM PDT SUN AUG 24 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR
EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE... TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS.
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEADLY LIGHTNING AND MAY HAVE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS MONDAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEADLY LIGHTNING AND MAY HAVE
BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY.