First Storm of 2014 Rain Season Soaks Santa Barbara County, but Water Woes Continue

Despite a heavy dose of rain for about three hours Friday night, Santa Barbara County’s exceptional drought is far from over. The flooded streets and roaring storm drains might have seemed like the right sign of relief, but the numbers tell a different story.

Rainfall totals range from about 0.5 inches in Buellton to just under 1.5 inches in Santa Maria. Downtown Santa Barbara and Goleta had about 1.0 inches of rain depending on where you were. The foothills including San Marcos Pass often have varying amounts depending on the direction of the storm clouds.

The Santa Barbara County Flood Control District says however, Cachuma Lake is at 29 percent of its capacity, and is 64 feet below the spill gates at Bradbury Dam. Cachuma is the main water source for Goleta, Santa Barbara and other South Coast communities.

The area has been in an “exceptional” drought status for months and is still at a high risk for fire dangers.

The last hard rain that came close to the amount Friday night was March 1, when a powerful storm pounded the coast, ripped up beaches, and damaged several boats. That weather event was also short lived, and the area has been dry for nearly every day over the last eight months.

Friday night the rain hit hard and fast starting about 9 p.m. It was a two hour sprint through the region but the intensities were enough to send cars spinning on local roads, and cause intersections to fill up with runoff.

Flooding was reported in Goleta on Cathedral Oaks, Fairview, and Calle Real.

In downtown Santa Barbara where thousands planned to celebrate Halloween, many people in costumes were caught off guard without jackets and rushed into bars and nightclubs as quickly as possible. Some were stuck in lines, crunched up against walls for shelter but the driving rain soaked anyone on the streets.

The corner of Cota and State Street had water out several feet and some pedestrians jumped from the curb to the low spots to cross. Some slipped and fell. Others were splashed by passing cars while they waited. It was messy everywhere people were outside.

Fortunately the trick or treaters in local neighborhoods were able to make the rounds without a drop falling on them. Many business areas has special events for kids including Coast Village Road which became “Ghost” Village Road for the evening.

There were also special events for kids in downtown Santa Barbara and on Milpas St. during the early evening.

Saturday morning, there were reminders of the storm with debris strewn along the waterfront, a broken pine tree branch blocking part of Cota St. and storm drains with large piles of leaves clogging the openings.

A sailboat is on Goleta Beach, and its believed to have broken away from an anchored spot nearby. The owner is on the scene.

There’s no reported serious flood related issues or property damage in the city of Santa Barbara.