While parts of Southern California endure a heat wave that is breaking decade-long records, northern California just got lit up by an “unprecedented” lightning storm. Is California suffering a weather curse?

In some sections of Southern California the thermometer breached 119 degrees Fahrenheit last week. The scorching temperatures withered vegetation and sent long lines of traffic heading toward the beaches.

More ominously, the triple-digit temperatures overwhelmed parts of the electrical grid, causing blackouts on Friday, as air conditioners drew record amounts of energy.

The record temperatures are exacerbating the dry conditions plaguing much of the state, which is currently suffering from two years of drought-like conditions.

But while the southern part of the state is baking under the sun, the northern part of the state is roasting over the fire.

An unforeseen weekend lightning storm ignited more than 800 wildfires according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection assistant regional chief Del Walters. “We didn’t get real lucky with this lightning storm. It wasn’t predicted … and so we got hammered.”

Walters says officials are continuing to locate new fires. He said the storm was “unprecedented” due to how long it lasted and the high number of lightning strikes, which numbered between 5,000 and 6,000.

After initially being informed on Sunday that over 520 fires were burning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said it was “quite shocking” to learn that by Monday morning there were over 700 fires raging. Moments later an aide updated him with the latest total of 842. Governor Schwarzenegger has called for assistance from Nevada and Oregon to help contain the blazes that have burned thousands of acres and are threatening more than a thousand homes.

The rate at which disasters are piling up in California is leading commentators to conclude that the California dream is dead. Unfortunately, much of the media coverage continues to be obsessed with the red herring that is man-made global warming. For the real reason California is being cursed, read the articles “Is California Under a Curse?” and “California Disasters Continue—Why?” For information on what the Bible prophesies concerning the future role of earthquakes and lightning storms across the United States, read “God Punishes With Earthquakes” (Chapter Six of the book Isaiah’s End-Time Vision) by Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry.