Runoff water carves out a chunk of Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Sometimes runoff rainwater is so fast and furious it goes where it wants, and carves out a new path.

That happened when a tremendous volume of water came off the Mesa through Santa Barbara City College and towards Leadbetter Beach. It went in through the parking lot entrance at a rapid rate and carved out a section of the beach that's normally covered up with level sand.

The new crevice is right in front of the parking stalls to the east of the Shoreline Cafe. The restaurant did not have any obvious damage Thursday evening, and it is expected to be open on its regular schedule.

The runoff water also carried with it debris that came down from neighborhoods and has come up on the beach.

At one point because of the driving rain and flooding the Shoreline and Cabrillo Blvd. areas were closed.