This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.
Some desert residents were awakened overnight as thunder and lightning came across the Coachella Valley.
The valley is now under a flash flood watch from the National Weather Service until 6:00 p.m.
Rains hit hard in east valley areas first, with Thermal recieving .16 inch of rain between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. Showers in the mid-valley have been strong, but brief, allowing for quicker drainage and drying.
KESQ meteorologist Jerry Steffen said via twitter that the storms will stay through the afternoon.
Areas of Palm Springs are the hardest hit so far, with reports of flooding at multiple intersections. There are no road closures and no flooding calls, Palm Springs Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said. "It hit us pretty hard for a few minutes,'' Kovaleff told City News Service.
Thunderstorms caused water damage of "unknown extent'' in the 66000
block of 3rd Street in Desert Hot Springs around 11:20 a.m., according to
Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.
No one was injured.
