Rain, Hail Hit Big Bear Region

Scattered thunderstorms brought heavy rain, lightning and marble-sized -- and larger -- hail to the mountains and high deserts of San Bernardino County on Saturday but there were no reports of significant damage or injuries.

A flash flood warning for parts of the county near the mountain resort of Big Bear was canceled by late afternoon.

“We had some pretty good rain and some lightning, but nothing too serious,” said Firefighter Nick Bruinsma of the Big Bear City Fire Department. He said two small fires were reported Saturday, evidently when lightning ignited single trees, but caused no wider damage.

The area got a little more than an inch of rain.

In the community of Forest Falls near Big Bear, residents reported hail the size of golf balls, according to the National Weather Service. In Big Bear itself, the hail was slightly smaller, about the size of a marble or dime, forecaster Brad Doyle said.

Minor street flooding was reported in mountain ranges throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Doyle said the storms were typical for this time of year, caused by moisture from the southeast mixing with regional heat.

“We’re in the monsoon season,” he said. “Most areas probably didn’t receive anything, but if you’re in one of these mountain or desert areas, you can get some extremely heavy rain.”

Forecasters were predicting more of the same today, with storms and possible flash floods in the mountains and deserts this afternoon and evening.

The day also is expected to bring sunny skies and seasonal heat to Los Angeles and neighboring counties, with temperatures in the 90s and 100s in the valleys and cooler at the beaches. The high temperature for downtown Los Angeles is expected to be 85.

Saturday’s hot spot was Woodland Hills with a high of 104, short of the record of 108, said National Weather Service spokesman Bill Hoffer.