Editor's Note: Newer featured photos are available.
![]() 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) |