Fall's First Rain Arrives, Thunder Possible

After weeks of stifling temperatures, rain and cooler temperatures have returned to Lake Forest. The first rain of the fall season arrived in the early hours of Thursday.

The National Weather Service indicates there is an 80 percent chance of showers during the day Thursday, and a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday night.

Showers and a thunderstorm are possible before 11 a.m. Thursday, but more likely to arrive after that time, according to the NWS.

Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds and lightning, the weather service warns. Temperatures will peak near 69 degrees Thursday.

There's a 60 percent chance of rain Thursday evening, again with the likely accompaniment of hail, wind and lightening. 

Partly sunny weather will return Friday, with temperatures topping out at 70 degrees at the warmest.

The NWS released a weather statement for Orange County on Tuesday night, claiming a low pressure system off the Central California coast is moving through Southwest California through early Friday. Numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected, with the bulk of showers on Thursday.

Although precipitation could be variable, general rainfall amounts could be a quarter-inch near the coast to a half-inch in the mountains for Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

As sunny weather returns to Lake Forest, temperatures are predicted to rise again, hitting the 80s by Sunday.