Thunderstorms knock out power, bring rain and blow strong winds on Northern California
Thunderstorms will continue to rain on the North State this week, pushing strong winds and lightning our way and keeping temperatures cool, according to meteorologists.
The strong storm that rolled over Redding and surrounding parts of Shasta County on Monday evening was likely the first of two strong evening thunderstorms. The second is expected Tuesday and more storms are coming later this week, according to the National Weather Service.
On Monday, thunder was strong enough to trigger car alarms in Redding.
Wind gusts reached 41 mph, said Eric Kurth, meteorologist at the weather service’s Sacramento branch. Redding and Shasta Dam got up to a quarter of an inch of rain within a two-hour period, he said.
These storms move fast, so rain levels stay low, Kurth said.
The storm knocked out power to at least 9,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers in parts of Shasta and Tehama counties including Manton, Palo Cedro, Shingletown, Redding, Oak Run and Whitmore, the utility company reported. Parts of eastern Shasta County were still without power on Tuesday morning. Crews are on their way, and the company estimated it would restore power by early afternoon.
Expect more strong thunderstorms Tuesday evening, with another tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain falling in a short burst, Kurth said. Short gusty winds could exceed 30 mph. “These could come from different directions" at the same time "because they’re coming directly from the storm itself. Sometimes it (wind) can come away from the storm in all directions,” he said.
More storms are on the horizon this week, Kurth said. People living in the Sacramento Valley from Shasta Lake to Butte County and surrounding mountain communities will see lighter scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday. These storms can pop up in one place while it’s sunny just a few miles away, but they’re still strong enough to produce “heavy rain, dangerous lightning, gusty winds and hail,” the weather service reported.
Redding and other valley floor communities' skies will clear by Friday, the weather service reported. Storms will retreat into the foothills and mountains so the valley floor may get a sunny weekend.
While Siskiyou County, including Mount Shasta and possibly Yreka, will see some stormy weather this week, mountain areas will likely get stronger thunderstorms on Friday and over the weekend, the weather service said.
Weather cools off Northern California
Storms are bringing a welcome drop in temperatures after toasty 90-degree to triple-digit afternoons in the valley last week.
Before the storm hit on Monday, Redding reached 99 degrees and Red Bluff hit 101 degrees, Kurth said. Starting Tuesday, daytime high temperatures will stay in the 80s for the rest of the week.
Mount Shasta will also cool down, with daytime high temperatures in the 70s.
More storms arrive next week, Kurth said, so “we’re not seeing any big heat on the horizon.”
Check back for updates to this story as the weather changes.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Thunderstorms rain on Siskiyou and Shasta counties
