Temecula Weather Photos and Features

Distant Lightning: Lightning flashes in the distance, at the south end of the Temecula Valley, as seen from Glenoak Hills. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kitchel.

Sunset Glow: A narrow band of storm clouds glows at sunset at it traverses the Temecula Valley. Photo courtesy of Markus Nixon.

Sunset Front: A cloud formation glows red and orange in the setting sun, as seen from the Redhawk area. Photo courtesy of Greg Turbeville.

Night Blitz: Multiple early morning lightning strikes wreaked havoc on the Temecula Valley. Photo courtesy of Kevin Popeney.

Sky Crackle: Lightning arcs wildly through the early morning sky. Photo courtesy of Eric Kazakoff.

Lightning Strike: Trees frame the fragments of a lightning strike in the Temecula Valley. Photo courtesy of Daniel Brincat.

Hanging Around: A large spider prepares for prey in the Silverhawk area. Photo courtesy of Tom Shields.

Twilight Glow: The glow of the evening highlights the palms from above Palm Plaza in Temecula. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Bobcat Family: A mother bobcat and her cubs hang out in Glenoak Hills front yard. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kitchel.

Fire Season: This fire in southeastern Temecula along Temecula Creek was quickly doused. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Morning Breakthrough: Sunlight streaks through the morning clouds over eastern Temecula, as seen from Rancho California Road. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Local Catch: A Lake Skinner striper bass, caught by Tracy Sleeper over Labor Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Eric Pettner.

Afternoon Rays: Sun rays burst through high clouds in this view from Butterfield Stage Road. Photo courtesy of Jerry Montante.

Refueling Stop: A hot air balloon refuels in Paseo Del Sol. Photo courtesy of Julie Mitchell.

Big Pond: Harveston Lake provides plenty of breathing room for this solitary duck. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Aguanga Lightning: A lightning strike near Aguanga was part of unstable remnants of Hurricane Emily that passed through Riverside County. Photo courtesy of Michael Mojarro, socalweather.net.

Early Lightning: Early morning lightning crackles southwest of the Temecula Valley. Photo courtesy of John Michaelson.

Morning Thunderclouds: The sun blazes through an early morning thundercloud canopy over the Temecula Valley. Photo courtesy of California Dreamin' Balloon Adventures.

Old Town Parade: A Little Miss America waves a flag in the Independence Day parade in Old Town Temecula. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Rose Haven: A red rose at the rose haven in Temecula, operated by the Temecula Valley Rose Society. Photo courtesy of Joe Bennett.

Aspiring Pilot: Seven year old Sabastian launches his airplane into the blue at the new Harveston sports park in Temecula. Photo courtesy of Joe Bennett.

Aerial Flag: This Independence Day flag flies from a balloon over the Temecula Valley vineyards. Photo courtesy of California Dreamin' Balloon Adventures.

Morning Flight: Temecula Valley balloons mark Independence Day with a patriotic morning flight. Photo courtesy of California Dreamin' Balloon Adventures.

Blooming Cactus: Prickly pear cactus bloom bountifully in La Cresta. Photo courtesy of Gary P. Mineo.

Gourd Festival: Plentiful gourds from the annual festival in De Luz that celebrates gourd artistry with food, music and dance. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Low Cruisin': A morning surprise outside the back window for a sleepy Temecula resident. Photo courtesy of Joe Bennett.

Sunday Ride: A ride through the trees on a seasonal, overcast Sunday morning near Silverhawk. Photo courtesy of Tom Shields.

Harvest Time: Ripe avocados, the Temecula area's other major crop, await harvest in De Luz. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Receding Clouds: Remnants from the latest storm leave De Luz, bringing the welcome return of warmth and sun. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Shopping Mecca: The Promenade in Temecula shopping mall, as see from a radio-controlled aircraft above. Photo courtesy of Joe Bennett.

Crimson Sun: The setting sun illuminates scattered clouds from a recent storm, from Glenoak Hills east of Temecula. Photo courtesy of W. Reeder.

Fair Shake: A playful cat and dog, Otis and Coby, paw at each other in a backyard near Winchester and Murrieta Hot Springs Roads. Photo courtesy of Eric Pettner.

Sage Wildflowers: Wildflowers of orange and purple carpet rolling hills and the San Jacinto foothills near Sage, east of Temecula. Photo courtesy of Jerri Cummings.

Harveston Rainbow: A rainbow arcs into the sky from a rain-soaked Harveston neighborhood in northern Temecula. Photo courtesy of Anthony Reiter.

Silverhawk Sunset: Red sky marks sundown near Winchester and Murrieta Hot Springs Roads. Photo courtesy of Tom Shields.

Adobe House: An old house on a hill near Lake Skinner is reminiscent of a midwest scene. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Old Timer: This classic car shines at the 2005 "Good Old Days Car Show" in Old Town Temecula. Photo courtesy of Eric Pettner.

Painted Lady: A butterfly spreads its wings near Lake Skinner in the Temecula Valley wine country. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Twin Balloons: Two balloons in flight at the edge of the Temecula Valley wine country. Photo courtesy of Van Le.

Lightning Show: A lightning strike from the recent thunderstorm was captured from Highway 79 South. Photo courtesy of Carlos Fimbres.

Valley Hills: The hills of the northeastern Temecula Valley are a beautiful deep green in this ballon view. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Lake Overview: Clouds darken the waters of Lake Skinner in the Temecula Valley wine country, from a balloon above. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Winter Vineyard: A balloon floats above one the Temecula Valley wine country vineyards, taken from another balloon above. Photo courtesy of Sandy Wood.

Downed Oaks: These oak trees near the fifth hole at the Temecula Creek Golf Course were snapped in half by a tornado. Photo courtesy of Ed Healy.

Water Tower Tumble: Small water towers tumbled downhill in Rainbow during the tornado, flattening a fence and damaging a car. Photo courtesy of Marjie Preston.

Sunset Reflection: The colors of evening overtake this row of homes overlooking the Redhawk Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Jeff Ornellas.

Vineyard Flowers: Wildflowers color the Callaway Winery vineyards, which seem to stretch to the horizon in the Temecula Valley wine country. Photo courtesy of James Sappington.

Tornado Damage: A felled fence in this Rainbow Canyon neighborhood was typical of the damage pattern of the tornado.

Uprooted Tree: Thirty seconds of tornado was enough to uproot this sixty foot pine tree and the concrete sidewalk next to it.

Tornado Cleanup: City of Temecula Public Works employees make quick work of a tree blocking a street in the Rainbow Canyon neighborhood in the aftermath of a tornado.

Cleanup Continues: Efforts are underway to reopen Via Montezuma across Murrieta Creek in Temecula after storm damage. Photo by Dave Norton.

Road Repaired: This section of Pala Road over Pechanga Creek reopened after being destroyed in the early January storms.

Scenic View: A vivid panorama from the Redhawk Golf Course, including local hills, a balloon and snow on San Gorgonio. Photo courtesy of Robert J. Navarro.

Creek Flow: Fast water ignores rock and sand and undercuts the banks of Sandia Creek in De Luz near Camaron Road. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Clear and Cool: The recently dusted San Bernardino Mountains overlook southern Temecula after the storms have passed, as seen from atop Rancho California Road. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

Balloon Glide: The Re/Max hot air balloon flies over the Temecula Valley wine country. Photo courtesy of Joe Bennett, wcs-trcap.net.

Downed Palm: Many trees such as this one were unable to withstand the rain and wind of the recent storms. Photo courtesy of Michael Mojarro.

Pala Road Destroyed: Pechanga Creek claims a large chunk of Pala Road just south of Great Oak High School in Temecula.

Road Clearing: A CalTrans tractor works to keep Highway 79 South clear after storms caused mudslides.

Flooded Sandtrap: Ducks make use of a sandtrap flooded by recent rains at the Temeku Hills Country Club. Photo courtesy of Garnett Lohrey.

El Prado Flood: Near Sandia Creek Road in De Luz, work crews attend to a buckled road bed, flooded by recent rains. Photo courtesy of Sheldon Otto.

Pot O' Gold: A rainbow between showers in De Luz appears to dump the last of its summer colors into oranges. Photo courtesy of Dave Norton.

2004 Photos and Features

Older Featured Photos (2001-2003)