Storm Dumps Rain on Santa Barbara South Coast
Thunder and lightning wake up residents as first in series of storms moves through the region
By Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk Managing Editor | @magnoli | 
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1:00 p.m. |
Thunder and lightning woke up the South Coast Thursday and the National Weather Service said rain is expected to last through the late afternoon.
“It’s definitely not over,” said Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the NWS Oxnard Office, around 9 a.m.
Santa Barbara County rain gauges showed some South Coast mountain areas got more than 2 inches of rain by noon.
Santa Maria had received 0.89 inches, Lompoc had 0.48 inches, Solvang had 0.94 inches, the Gaviota Coast had 1.81 inches, Goleta had 1.43 inches, Santa Barbara had 1.85 inches, Montecito had 1.92 inches, and Carpinteria had 1.71 inches.
The Cold Spring debris basin above Montecito had 2.45 inches and San Marcos Pass recorded 2.13 inches.
The NWS issued a Flood Advisory for Santa Barbara County through 9:30 a.m., which was extended through 12:30 p.m.
Radar and rain gauges showed moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms in the area, and rainfall rates up to 0.7 inches per hour could continue through the morning, according to the NWS.
Police and fire personnel assisted some homeless people and their dog out of danger along Mission Creek in Santa Barbara Thursday morning after an early morning storm dumped rain on the area. (Peter Hartmann / Noozhawk photo)
Some roadway flooding was reported Thursday morning and wet roads likely contributed to the high number of California Highway Patrol incidents, mostly non-injury spinouts and crashes, Thursday morning as well.
At 10:48 a.m., the California Highway Patrol reported that two inches of mud was flowing across Highway 101 in the Seacliff area south of Carpinteria.
Shortly before 7 a.m., Santa Barbara police and fire personnel assisted a homeless couple and their dog to safety after their encampment along Mission Creek was threatened by rising water, according to fire Battalion Chief Mike de Ponce.
No injuries were reported, and the couple were referred to the American Red Cross for assistance in finding lodging.
A big oak tree toppled onto a residence in Los Alamos around 8:15 a.m. but the residents weren’t home at the time, county fire spokesman Mike Eliason said.
Neighbors were evacuated from the 200 block of Shaw Street as a precaution since the tree was still settling, he said.
A large oak tree fell onto a Los Alamos house Thursday morning, but residents were not home at the time, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. (Tim Gailey / Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo)
Workers from the county’s Building and Safety Department were inspecting the structure to assess the damage and determine whether it was safe for residents to return, Eliason said.
Significant debris flows were not expected Thursday, but emergency management officials are monitoring a Friday night/Saturday storm and may issue evacuation warnings to some South Coast areas.
The stronger storm is expected to drop higher rainfall amounts, 1.5 inches to 3 inches, Phillips said.
“It looks like we’re going to have pretty good subtropical moisture, so we could get six to 12 hours of rain,” she said.
Strong winds are also expected Friday night into Saturday, with gusts up to 60 mph.
“So we’ve got some concerns with the additional rain and the strong winds,” she said. Higher mountain areas will get snow in that storm, she added.
Mission Creek flows below Cota Street in Santa Barbara. (Peter Hartmann / Noozhawk photo)
After Saturday’s storm, light to moderate showers are possible Sunday and Monday.
The NWS Flood Advisory advised drivers to avoid flooded roads and watch out for minor creek flooding.
"The rain will likely trigger shallow mud and debris flows, minor rock falls, and flooding capable of localized damage, especially in steep terrain near burn scars," the advisory said.
Go to the ReadySBC.org page for county emergency information.
North County Editor Janene Scully contributed reporting to this story.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNewsand @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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