Lightning, Thunderstorms Strike Across the Bay Area
By Stephen Ellison and NBC Bay Area staff ••
Lightning and thunderstorms hit across the Bay Area on Monday afternoon and into the evening, giving residents a late-summer weather spectacle rarely seen in the region. Jeff Ranieri and Ian Cull report.
Lightning and thunderstorms hit across the Bay Area on Monday afternoon and into the evening, giving residents a late-summer weather spectacle rarely seen in the region.
Forecasters observed at least 1,000 lightning strikes in the Bay Area, with isolated thunderstorms soaking parts of the region amid 90-degree heat.
NBC Bay Area Chief Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri said areas in the East Bay, South Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains saw a good amount of rain as well as lightning and some hail.
Lightning and thunderstorms hit across the Bay Area on Monday afternoon and into the evening, giving residents a late-summer weather spectacle rarely seen in the region. Sharon Katsuda reports.
Gusty winds also were reported, especially in coastal areas, where a small-craft advisory was in effect.
Isolated thunderstorms started in the afternoon then a second phase developed in the Central Valley and headed toward the Bay Area Monday evening, forecasters said.
The weather service warned of 30 mph wind gusts and dime-size hail expected in parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Officials said frequent cloud-to-ground lightning was occurring and advised people to seek shelter inside.
Rohan Kalra
Drivers viewing a free lightning show in the Bay Area. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Maryanne Mathiesen
A lightning show on the Southwood area of South San Francisco. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Rod Tolosa
Lightning strike over Pacifica's popular surfing spot. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Jim Teo
Lightning bolts near Sutro Tower in San Francisco. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Angel Lopez
A bolt of lightning lights up the sky on top of Communication Hill in San Jose. (Sept. 11, 2017)
NBC Sports Bay Area
A lightning strike seen from AT&T Park in San Francisco. The wet weather prompted a rain delay for Monday's San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers game. (Sept. 11, 2017)
NBC Sports Bay Area
A lightning strike seen from AT&T Park in San Francisco. The wet weather prompted a rain delay for Monday's San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers game. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Terry McSweeney/NBC Bay Area
Lightning can be seen from southbound HIghway 101 near San Francisco International Airport on Monday. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Robert Handa/NBC Bay Area
A lightning strike can be seen near Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara. (Sept. 11, 2017)
@maurerpwr/Instagram
Lightning strike near Sutro Tower in San Francisco on Monday. (Sept. 11, 2017)
Matt McEwen
Lightning can be seen near San Francisco International Airport on Monday. (Sept. 11, 2017)
@jenquintos/Instagram
Lightning spotted in Daly City. (Sept. 11, 2017)
@w1ld1ly/Instagram
A lightning strike spotted in San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.
snapave from Instagram
Lightning Tonight Over the Bay
54stormywill54 from Instagram
T-storm outbreak around the Bay Area tonight!! Seeing an epic lightning storm here in Livermore, CA!
iamkromero from Instagram
I caught lightning!!! Not in a bottle, but still. This weather makes me soooo excited. I ran outside with my phone as soon as I heard the booming thunder. (Sept 11, 2017)
peterkabai from Instagram
Crazy lightning over NorCal today!
zelda_and_rufus from Instagram
We are having VERY bizarre weather for San Francisco tonight and the dogs are NOT pleased.
picturehappyphotos from Instagram
Tonight we had several cells of thunderstorms roll through the Bay Area. Thunderstorms are rare here and exciting to see. The lightning lit up the sky right at sunset. The stormy clouds gave the sky a vibrant pink glow. Even the sun was pink as it set. (Sept 11, 2017)
patfromsf from Instagram
My first ever lightning shot!!!
eachplacearhapsody from Instagram
What a spectacular evening in San Francisco today! I have always chased storms for lightning photos but this time the storm came to me. Shot this from my home balcony, I guess I got lucky this time! This a single shot and just one big lightning bolt. (Sept 11, 2017)
lightleak from Instagram
The Bay Area never ceases to amaze. What an incredible show over the city tonight. (Sept 11, 2017)
Tonight's Lightning (Sept 11, 2017)
shreeniclix from Instagram
Rare Thunderstorms in Bay Area and I stayed at Foster City to capture it with our iconic hut! (Sept 12, 2017)
mazmanphotography from Instagram
Oh what a night !!!! Last night was the best lighting I have ever seen in the Bay Area and I have lived here over 32 years. Enjoy this capture !! (Sept 12, 2017)
dumarcphotography from Instagram
Lightning show over the Bay Area, it was a sight to behold. (Sept 12, 2017)
niravthakorphotography from Instagram
After a wild evening of storm chasing I finally got lucky as an enormous bolt of lightning appeared just past Point Bonita light house. (Sept 12, 2017)
vic_h_miranda from Instagram
What an amazing night. (Sept 12, 2017)
the415guy from Instagram
How about that lightning show last night in San Francisco?! I was in my living room around 9:30ish trying to unwind when all of a sudden the sky began to light up again. (Sept 12, 2017)
kurteek from Instagram
Good thing we stayed and watched the lightning show in Treasure Island. (Sept 12, 2017)
lightleak from Instagram
The lightning strike over San Francisco lasted just under 1 second but seemed to go on forever. (Sept 12, 2017)
dtm_photo from Instagram
Lightning over San Francisco last night, really proud of this capture. (Sept 12, 2017)
thesanfrancisco from Instagram
About Last Night (Sept 12, 2017)
gcmak from Instagram
It is the beginning of the end. We had hundreds if not thousands of lightning strikes yesterday. It was an amazing experience to be out capturing such a rare event in San Francisco. (Sept 12, 2017)
shainblumphotography from Instagram
Last night's intense storm in San Francisco brought some amazing lightning strikes. (Sept 12, 2017)
w1ldl1ly from Instagram
Lightning over San Francisco. (Sept 13, 2017)
jenquintos from Instagram
Thunder, lightning, rain and this hot weather we've been having in the Bay Area. So weird! (Sept 13, 2017)
snapave from Instagram
Lightning tonight over the Bay. (Sept 13, 2017)
1985lukephotography from Instagram
Amazing beauty of God's creation. We don't often get cool displays of lightning in the Bay Area (South Bay at least)... so yeeeeaaaah... I'll take advantage of it when I can! (Sept 13, 2017)
viewswithlulu from Instagram
Climate change is real. (Sept 13, 2017)
More than 8,700 customers across the region were without power late Monday, according to PG&E. More than half the outages, about 4,400, were in the East Bay, and nearly 3,000 more were on the Peninsula, PG&E said. There were also 609 in the South Bay, 554 in San Francisco and 200 in the North Bay without power.
The lightning also caused at least 16 flights destined for San Francisco to be diverted to Mineta San Jose International Airport, according to an airport spokesperson.
One passenger said his plane sat on the San Jose tarmac for about 30 minutes before heading back north to SFO.
