Severe Thunderstorms Blow Through. Crews Dousing Fire Starts.

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A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the North Bay between 4:30am and 5:30am Sunday morning, causing high winds, frequent lightning and heavy rain in places.

Frequent cloud-to-cloud and cloud to ground lightning illuminated the sky throughout Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.

The storms slammed into the Bay Area about a half hour earlier, causing fire starts in counties throughout the Bay Area. As of 5:30am most lightning caused fires were being caught early and kept under control. Fire agencies throughout the Bay Area and North Bay had deployed additional crews and equipment to prepare for the arrival of the storms.

Small lightning caused fires were reported in Livermore, San Mateo County, Alameda County, Marin County and Sonoma County. Most were doused quickly by responding crews. The largest reported was the Arroyo Fire near Livermore at 20 acres and a moderate rate of spread.

The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the region, including much of the North Bay to accompany the Red Flag Warning which is in effect until 11AM. The NWS says it will probably extend the Red Flag Warning past 11AM due to the storms.

By 5:30AM the storms were moving north at 40-50 mph and were over Lake and Mendocino Counties where frequent lightning is being reported and additional fire starts are expected.