Thunderstorms hit Riverside County

ANZA - Storm cells today pounded southern Riverside County, where a lightning strike touched off a fire and intense rain made driving conditions perilous in places.

The storms developed in northern San Diego County and, by noon, moved into Anza and Idyllwild, according to the National Weather Service.

''It was raining really heavy for about 30 or 40 minutes,'' said Riverside County firefighter Terri Szabo. ''There was a lot of thunder and lightning.''

Szabo, who works at county fire Station 29 in Anza, said the rain was still falling at 2:30 p.m.

The firefighter said lightning triggered a blaze in the San Bernardino National Forest near Idyllwild.

According to the California Highway Patrol, sheets of rain were reducing visibility and making roads slippery on state Route 74 near Mountain Center.

The storms stretched across the Coachella Valley by mid-afternoon.

At 2:45 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Riverside County, including Perris and Hemet, warning of damaging winds and downpours.