Amid the humidity, quite the light show

System unleashes thunderstorms and a remarkable number of lightning strikes.

The weather system that has affected Southern California this week brought thunderstorms and muggy weather, along with a phenomenal number of lightning strikes — more than 2,100 — and numerous flash flood warnings, the National Weather Service said.

On Tuesday, the storm’s busiest day, observers recorded 1,478 lightning strikes in Southern California, the agency said.

“The last couple of days have been our time, I guess,” meteorologist Mark Moede said.

On Thursday, emergency crews rescued drivers trapped in their cars on flooded roadways in Acton. A helicopter rescue team hoisted one man to safety as muddy water flowed down the roadway, said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Gustavo Medina.

“All the roadways look like a lake,” said Sheriff ’s Lt. Anthony Gunn, warning commuters not to try to drive through moving water. “If possible, not to drive anywhere at this point.”

The flooding forced a Metrolink train carrying about 250 commuters to turn around before reaching the Vincent Grade/Acton station. On its way back to the Via Princessa station, the train was halted when floods affected another segment of the track. Soon after, though, authorities determined the track was safe.

Service was interrupted for six other trains heading north from downtown Thursday night.

Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times VISITORS depart after Huntington Beach police and lifeguards evacuated the beach, water and pier — including the U.S. Open of Surfing — as a thunderstorm approached the area, posing the threat of lightning.