Extreme weather combination bears down on the Central Coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Sub-freezing temperatures, high winds, hail, snow and a blizzard warning are coming to the Central Coast over the next three days.

Longtime weather forecasters say some of the conditions haven't been seen like this since 1989.

That includes a snow level down to 1000 feet.

Wednesday morning, a light dusting of snow hit Broadcast Peak at an elevation above 4000 feet.

If the snow comes down to below the 2000 foot level, that will mean impacts to San Marcos Pass, Highway 154, the main connector between Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. 

It will also create driving limitations for residents in the West Camino Cielo communities and at Painted Cave.

A blizzard warning has been issued for higher elevations in Ventura County.

Rainfall will be mainly an issue Thursday through Saturday.   At times forecasters say the intensity could be .75 - 1.0 an hour.

Crews in the Santa Barbara waterfront parking lot have cleaned up part of a tree that came down on a parked car in hard winds.  Damage was not significant.

The parking lot was strewn with branches and various debris ranging from tree limbs to overturned trash cans.

Power has been restored to areas of Santa Barbara left in the dark Tuesday night during fierce winds.  Many intersections on Chapala St. were without working signal lights.

The Lobero Theatre had a show underway with singer Jack Johnson during the outage.  The band quickly modified the set to go acoustic.    Fans in the seats illuminated the stage with flashlights and cell phone lights. Some of the fans recently spent all night in line to get in-person-only seats for this show, that did not have on line sales.

(The Lobero is also celebrating its 150th birthday tonight.)

Downtown employee Becky Hoffman was on a run and said the weather was not an issue. Her route was through several areas. "We recommend starting at the court beautiful Santa Barbara Superior Court  taking Garden St. down to the bike path through the Funk Zone and back up State St., " she said.

Annie Hayes did see some impacts on her animals. "It's definitely affecting the pets,  the pets are nervous they are cold. Trying to get them out. Trying to  get the dogs out the horses out."

For some college students visiting here from Seattle, they were looking for some warm weather instead of something that looks like what they would be getting back at home.

Frances Flemming said, "we were hoping to go to the beach and go surfing and wear shorts but that did not happen."

Her friend, Lily Grabinski said, "we thought we were coming to sunny California from cold Seattle, and It's snowing in Seattle. "

 Some people decided to get out before the weather takes a turn. Brittany Lough said, "we are trying to  enjoy a little outdoors before it gets too wet and take in as much sunshine as we can get." 

When it comes to making comfort food, Judy Lough said, "I was thinking about making some Minestrone soup which I have never made before."

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