Lightning, thunder shake up Santa Barbara after day of pouring rain; more showers expected Thursday

12:28 p.m. Thursday

Multiple small rock slides blocked both lanes of Highway 154 at Windy Gap, an area east of Painted Cave Road between two distinct rock formations, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Traffic reportedly backed up for several minutes as Caltrans crews made their way to the scene and soon after cleared the debris.

Original Wednesday report

Lightning and thunder struck late Wednesday night in Santa Barbara, capping a day of storms that shook up Santa Barbara.

The sudden bursts of rain led to flooding in some areas, and scattered vehicle accidents around the county.

More rain and possible thunderstorms are expected in the late morning and early evening, but with the rest of the day partly cloudy.

According to the National Weather Service, Santa Barbara received about two inches of rain over the past 24 hours, Goleta about 1.5 inches, and a little more than two inches in the Santa Ynez mountains.

Rain started falling in Santa Barbara at around 7 a.m. this morning, quickly escalating into a downpour. Lightning and thunder followed within minutes, startling many people out of bed.

While the worst of the storm will hit today, rain is expected to continue through Thursday and Friday. Over the next 24 hours, forecasters have predicted at least 2 inches of rain. In classic Santa Barbara fashion, flooding will inevitably follow.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for North Santa Barbara County Wednesday evening.

Winds up to 60 miles per hour and possible pea-sized hail is expected in Santa Maria, Lompoc and Orcutt until 8:45 p.m.

A possible tornado is also expected in the region.

2:48 p.m. Wednesday

With another downpour hitting just before 3 p.m., the rainfall levels of today’s storm have officially reached 1.5 inches in Santa Barbara. The highest levels reach 1.8 inches up in the Mountains near Tangerine Falls.

2:00 p.m. Wednesday

The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department reported no road closures due to Wednesday’s storm.

Portions of Calle Real, from Refugio Road to El Capitan Terrace Lane, are closed due to storm damage in February. Four miles of South Refugio Road, from Highway 246 to West Camino Cielo, are also closed off from damage in 2017.

12:44 p.m. Wednesday

Santa Barbara County Fire Department confirmed that a pickup truck rolled onto train tracks at 10:55 a.m. this morning just north of El Capitan State Beach.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to Cottage Hospital, according to the fire department’s PIO.

Fire department crews worked to clear the upside-down vehicle from the tracks. Train traffic was temporarily stopped.

12:30 p.m. Wednesday

Clouds are clearing out a little Southwest over the coast. A swath of blue sky above the horizon visible at Lookout Park and Beach. Rain is expected to pick up again at 1 p.m.

12:09 p.m. Wednesday

The storm is dying down, but the morning of heavy rainfall has left creeks full and rushing around Santa Barbara.

11:09 a.m. Wednesday

According to the CHP, a traffic collision caused an SUV to land on nearby train tracks and is not blocking the railroad. It is along the southbound lane of 101 Highway by Refugio state beach.

10:35 a.m. Wednesday

The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for Santa Barbara County early this morning until 7:33 p.m. tonight.

Rain will dump at a rate of 0.5 inches to 1 inch per hour throughout the day.

Small stream flooding is expected in urban, low-lying and poor drainage areas, according to the NWS report.

9:30. a.m. Wednesday

A car spun out onto the right rand side of the northbound lane of Highway 101 next to the Fairview Avenue off-ramp. No injuries were reported, according to Sanchez.

Around the same time, a damaged car was towed away on the left hand shoulder of the northbound lane of Highway 101 near the Garden Street on ramp. No injuries were involved.

9:04 a.m. Wednesday

In downtown Santa Barbara, Anacapa Street between Mason Street and Cabrillo Boulevard has been closed off with traffic cones due to street flooding.

8:30 a.m. Wednesday

This morning, the California Highway Patrol tended to three separate incidents along Highway 101.

At 8:30 a.m., a car hydroplaned into a truck along the southbound lane of Highway 101 near Refugio, according to Officer Martin Sanchez of CHP. No one was injured and and the scene has since been cleared.

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