A lightning storm over East County late last week brought a vivid reminder that summer weather can turn dangerous quickly in the mountains and desert areas east of Santee.

East County Magazine published video from Crest looking east toward Alpine and Boulevard after a thunderstorm moved through the region. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning after Doppler radar detected a strong storm near Interstate 8 between Boulevard and the county line at 10:36 p.m.

The warning included possible marble-sized hail and wind gusts close to 50 mph, according to East County Magazine. The warning area covered mountain and desert communities including Boulevard, Campo, Jacumba, Live Oak Springs, Tierra del Sol, southern Mount Laguna and parts of the La Posta, Campo and Manzanita Indian Reservations, along with stretches of Highway S2 and Interstate 8.

For Santee residents, the storm is a practical heads-up for late-summer trips into the backcountry, especially along I-8. Public safety officials advise people to go indoors when thunder is heard, avoid open fields and hilltops, stay out of water and avoid touching corded phones, plumbing or electrical equipment during a lightning storm.

East County Magazine also reported that residents in Deerhorn Valley and on Mt. Helix noticed the thunderous display. Lightning can strike miles away from a storm, so the safest move is to get inside a substantial building or vehicle until the storm has passed.