Late shot of hard rain a reminder of unpredictable micro weather moments

The Thursday morning rain in the Santa Barbara and Montecito weather was forecasted around 8 a.m. but it packed a punch that caught many people off guard.

It was a reminder of the micro-impacts sometimes embedded into passing weather patterns, especially unstable low pressure systems.

The strong surge caused street flooding in the Funk Zone on lower Anacapa, and in the upper areas of Montecito work crews in the January disaster zone had to seek shelter until everything passed.

On the streets of Carpinteria, the crews setting up the California Avocado Festival said the rain was helpful, and the streets were cleaned up as the tents started coming out of the trucks and the stages were going up.

“We have a beautiful clean festival area now, ” said Kevin Rock with the Festival. “The city public works department was on the ball here.”

The festival runs for three days and is expected to draw about 100, 000 people.

In the foothill areas where water runoff can be damaging to properties, the flow picked up quickly with the downpour as expected by there were no serious impacts to existing or new areas in and around the disaster zone from nine months ago.

The coastal weather surge created some increased surf.

At the Carpinteria City Beach, a couple from Ventura eating their lunch said they did not get the same impact there. Donna Scarlett said, “we had nothing. Maybe a little overcast this morning.”

Her husband Tom, checks the NewsChannel 3 First Alert weather often to make sure he knows what’s ahead before he hits the road. “I love to check the weather forecasts before I hit the road. I love Alan Rose and to hear what he has to say.”

Off of Summerland three dolphins cruised near the shoreline and only a handful of people were on the beach for fitness walks and to stroll with their dogs.

Ahead the First Alert Weather forecast is calling for a sunny weekend with temperatures in the 70’s.