Mother Nature reminded the Southern Californians that winter was still there, bringing a dramatic series of thunderstorms, lightning, hail and cool temperatures that brought decades of bone-dry weather.

Reports of pea-sized hail began early in the morning across Ventura County and moved east eastward over Los Angeles County and Inland Empire in the afternoon, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson.

Pasadena totaled a little over a half an inch on Wednesday morning, according to city records.

Hail has also been seen elsewhere as large as upland, Costa Mesa, Whittier, Brea and Yorba Linda.

Temperatures in Los Angeles County reached highs between mid-50s and mid-60s on Tuesday.

In Anaheim, a tree caught fire shortly after being struck by lightning near West Broadway and South Manchester Avenue at about 6: 05 p.m., said Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Shane Carrhinger.

The ferocious temperatures were fueled by Santa Ana winds and aided the growth of two fires: the Emerald Fire in Laguna Beach and the Plantain Tree Fire in Whittier.

Temperatures ranged from the mid-50s to the mid-60s across Los Angeles County, about 15 degrees warmer than on Monday, Thompson said.


Weather

READ MORE:  250 fire control centres throughout J-K for the prevention and control of forest fires

Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. On Earth, (wikipedia)


Los Angeles County Lifeguards

Los Angeles County Lifeguards is a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The lifeguard operations safeguard 31 miles of beach and 72 miles of coastline, from San Pedro in the south, (wikipedia)