Wind, Hail Reported In South Orange County: Advisory

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A special weather statement was issued by the National Weather Service as rain, wind and hail pelted Orange County late Monday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, powerful lightning, thunder and hail have been detected. Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms near Laguna Beach Monday afternoon, moving southwest at 15 mph, according to the weather service. Some areas were being hit with windgusts of up to 30 mph and pea-sized hail.

Along the coast, conditions could be hazardous to small craft, and intense lighting was possible from Seal Beach to San Clemente, the weather service warned.

"If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building", the weather service warned. "Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle."

The thunder and lightning came with warmer temperatures in the upper 70s across the region. The chance of rain, thunder and lightning is expected to continue across the region Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures will begin to cool off Tuesday and into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.