Wet weather pattern makes one more splash before the weekend
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Despite the wave of wet weather that lingers on for one of the more contiguous spans of moisture seen in awhile, those who need to be out and about on the South Coast are making due.
Those out on the roadways this morning did not encounter many delays until about 11 a.m. when a driver lost control and hit the center divider on Highway 101 at Casitas Pass Road.
The rest of the morning commute was accident free on the freeway.
There were at least two crashes on surface streets in Santa Barbara including on Alameda Padre Serra and De la Guerra St.
Another was on the Las Positas overpass involving two vehicles, one that was turning left, that jammed up lanes on a very busy route.
The Santa Barbara - Montecito Farmers Market on Coast Village Road had a line of vendors for the Friday morning sales including those coming in with fresh berries, vegetables, local meats, and flowers.
Rico Ochoa from Lily's Eggs had a table full of fresh eggs and customers who are "regulars" coming out, some thanking him for setting up in the rainy weather.
"Rain or shine, we're out here. It could be challenging, but we always love to take care of the community, " said Ochoa.
While buying eggs and flowers, Shanon Minne said, "I am so grateful that they come out there, that it's not easy to come out in this weather. Yeah that's awesome."
The Farmers Market generally operates rain or shine but in the worst storms, everyone stays home.
Some of the Central Coast farmers will be challenged a bit by the weather, including in the strawberry fields.
Rain can be beneficial, but it can also damage some of the berries for awhile and delay some of the harvest.
It's been worse so this is basically factored into the winter growing season.
Growers know the farm to market freshness demand is ongoing with no foul weather breaks.
The current weather system had consistent rain but no embedded thunderstorms or aggressive winds. The wind is, however, expected to pick up as the front moves through.
The National Weather Service say, "precipitation amounts will range from 0.33 to 0.66 inch across the coast and valley south of Point Conception with up to 1.00 inch in the Santa Ynez Range."
The protective sand berm in front of the Carpinteria City Beach has been leveled out but it did its work by protecting waterfront properties.
