Just when Southern California residents may have been getting used to sunny days and high temperatures, monsoonal storms from the south will bring thunder, rain and possibly lightning through Wednesday evening, forecasters said Tuesday.

Less than half an inch of rain was expected for Orange County with the coming storm and even less in Los Angeles County, where precipitation is expected to vary but remain under .25 inches starting overnight Tuesday.

The mountains and deserts will see most of the action with the eastern San Gabriel Mountains expected to see some activity of brief downpours and gusty winds. The San Bernardino Mountains may receive heavier rainfall.

The San Jacinto Mountains are also expected to see rainfall, but not as much as the San Diego County mountains extending north to the Santa Rosas, where the heaviest rainstorms are expected. The Santa Ana mountains could also see rain and thunderstorms.

“Anywhere above 7,000 feet will see measurable rainfall,” said Mark Moede a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The eastern valleys in San Bernardino County will also see thunderstorms and some lightning was expected. The chances of lightning in Orange County are less likely, but not zero.

Wednesday temperatures are predicted to remain on pattern, with hotter temperatures inland and cooler on the coasts, but the monsoonal moisture will likely warm the region an additional 3-5 degrees. Inland Orange County could reach mid-80s to upper 90s temperatures.

Other projected highs on Wednesday include near 95 in Riverside, near 81 in Torrance and near 91 in Pasadena.

Summer has arrived…and so has the monsoon! Altocumulus is indicative of the monsoonal moisture surge in the mid-levels of the atmosphere. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow mainly for mountain & desert areas. #CAwx #Monsoon2k22 #SummerSolstice2022 pic.twitter.com/J4LHqkTGqb

— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) June 21, 2022

Los Angeles County will possibly see dry lightning Tuesday night, before showers on Wednesday. The dry lightning will pose a fire danger risk, but increased moisture Wednesday could lessen the risk if lightning persists. When thunder begins, the National Weather Service recommends getting indoors or under a tree line if outside.

We are expecting monsoon showers and thunderstorms Tue night-Wed evening, over LA and Ventura Counties. When thunder roars, go indoors! Seek shelter in a building or hard topped vehicle. If you are hiking, get below tree line asap! #SoCal #CAwx pic.twitter.com/e1PFti9ujE

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) June 20, 2022

On the coast, cloud-to-water lightning late Tuesday into Wednesday is a concern.

Brief downpours could continue into Thursday before drier conditions on Friday and Saturday. Another monsoonal moisture system could move back over the area earlier next week.

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