Wednesday’s rain a welcome sight for many on the Central Coast

Wednesday’s rainstorm was welcomed with open arms by many people on the Central Coast.

“Awesome!” said Laurie Hampton of Santa Maria. “Even though the dog won’t be able to go outside for a while, I love the rain.”

“I love it. It’s great,” said John Miles of Guadalupe. “It’s about time we’ve gotten it. It’s packing all the dirt down. No more dusty days.”

Rain started falling during the early morning hours while most people slept.

When they awoke, the skies really opened up across several Central Coast locations.

“It was coming down pretty heavy,” said Kelly Ward of Grover Beach. “I had to bring in all the patio furniture in and that made me happy.”

Ward was among many who commuted along Highway 101 during the storm.

Wet, slippery surfaces, along with decreased visibility made driving hazardous.

“On the 101 there was a lot of brake lights.,” said Ward. “People forget how to drive in the rain and then all of a sudden everyone just hits the brakes, so it was a little more than usual.”

“I actually saw some cars get whipped off the road, their back ends got whipped off,” said Blake Villapania of Nipomo. “I saw them fishtail a couple of times, especially when I got on the freeway.”

Despite the rain, temperatures were mild in Santa Maria and rose steadily once the rain stopped during the late morning hours.

“It does feel very tropical,” said Ward, while shopping at the Santa Maria Crossroads Center. “It feels very humid. I think it’s still in the 70’s even with the rain. Definitely not quite sweater and boot weather yet.”

While the rain was a welcome sight, the storm will last only one day. Forecasts call for dry conditions over the next several days.

“I hope the rainy season is on its way, but it doesn’t look like it from the clouds right now,” said Ward. “It looks like that will it for a little bit, but we can hope for more.”