Lightning is likely to break out in coastal cities Wednesday night when a cold, fleeting storm from the Pacific darts across San Diego County, the National Weather Service said.
“The most likely time for it will be between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.,” said Alex Tardy, a weather service forecaster.
The storm could drop up to a half-inch or so of rain from the coast to inland foothills and valleys and more in the mountains. The system will move east on Thursday, when the region begins 7 to 10 days of mostly dry weather.
NOAA recommends people take the following steps to avoid getting hit by lightning:
1. If you are outside and you hear thunder or see lightning, immediately seek shelter. Seek out a sturdy building, and stay away from electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures. If possible, stay inside an interior room.
2. If you are inside a vehicle, roll the windows up and avoid with any conducting paths leading to the outside of the vehicle, such as radios, CBs, ignition, etc.
3. Not all types of buildings or vehicles are safe during thunderstorms. Unsafe buildings include those that have exposed openings, such as beach shacks, metal sheds, picnic shelters or pavilions, carports and baseball dugouts. Porches are dangerous as well.
4. Convertibles offer no safety from lightning, often even if the top is up. Neither do vehicles with open cabs, such as golf carts, tractors and construction equipment.
5. Lightning can travel great distances through power lines, especially in rural areas. Do not use electrical appliances, especially corded telephones, unless it is an emergency. Cell phones are safe to use, as are laptops that are not plugged in.
6. Do not take a shower or bath during a lightning storm, as both water and metal are good conductors of electricity.
