Beaches Cleared In Santa Monica, Malibu Following Electrical Storm With Lightning

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) - Los Angeles County lifeguards cleared beaches Wednesday up and down the Southern California coast after an electrical storm with lightning in Santa Monica.

Beaches from Dockweiler to Malibu were cleared just after 2:30 p.m. Anyone at the beach was urged to head indoors.

Residents were warned a late-season storm system moving through the region could bring lightning, hail, gusty winds and downpours, possibly causing some flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

County beaches were reopened just after 5 p.m.

Lifeguards shared video footage apparently captured near their headquarters in Santa Monica.

Lightning and rain were reported across the L.A. Basin and as far inland as the Inland Empire.

Clouds began building throughout Wednesday morning and brought thunderstorms to parts of the San Gabriel Valley and Pomona by early afternoon.

Thunder was also heard as it rumbled over the West Los Angeles area and over the Santa Monica Mountains, bearing down on coastal areas.