After a day of drizzle, North County braces for more intense rainfall

In Northern Santa Barbara County, the rain started falling in the morning and tapered off in the afternoon, only to pick back up Wednesday night.

Several cities along the Central Coast have already received a tenth of an inch to 3/4 inch of rain, with even more expected to fall into the evening and into Thursday.

Driving through Enos Ranch in Santa Maria, windshield wipers are at full blast and umbrellas were in tow.

“I just drove back from San Luis and the rain was light, so far not too bad, not too much traffic,” said Erica Spohn.

Some are calling it the calm drizzle before the storm.

“Little road hazards here in there you know, little swerves but nothing too major,” said Dominic Garcia.

Even though it’s not the first big downpour of the season, the hazards are still there.

“It has been dry for the last couple of weeks so some of those diesel fuels and things like that are still going to be deposited back on the roadway and you have the potential to come back up,” said CHP Officer Rick Larson.

After responding to a handful of rain-induced crashes and fender benders throughout the day, CHP Officers like Larson will be out in full force as the rain falls.

“I drive slower in the rain,” said Spohn.

“I always drive like at the speed limit or I always try to travel five miles below,” said Garcia.

Both drivers plan of attack is exactly what authorities can’t stress enough in these conditions.

“65 is the maximum speed limit during optimal conditions, obviously if it’s raining that’s not the conditions, so the speed limit needs to be decreased greatly and what I see is people continuing to drive at 65 or better like there’s no water on the road and that’s when things become dangerous,” said Officer Larson.