The storm moving toward Santa Barbara County is taking its time getting here, but rain was expected to start falling across the region Wednesday afternoon.

The heaviest downpours are expected Wednesday night into Thursday, according to Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

The storm has the potential to break the daily rainfall record for May 4 in Santa Barbara — 0.37 inches set in 1998, Lund told Noozhawk.

Rainfall totals are expected to be in the range of half an inch to an inch in coastal and valley areas, with 1-2 inches in the mountains and foothills, Lund said.

This weather system brings a chance of thunderstorms, which could create heavier downpours, mainly between midnight and 8 a.m. Thursday.

Rainfall rates of half an inch or more per hour are possible with any thunderstorms, which could lead to isolated flooding and shallow mud and debris flows, according to the Forecast Discussion on the NWS website.

Those storms also could produce gusty winds, hail or graupel, and waterspouts over the ocean, Lund said.

Snow levels may reach down as low as 3,500 feet, Lund said,, which would put a white dusting on local mountains.

Scattered light showers are possible through Saturday morning, Lund said, “but a warming and drying trend should begin by Sunday.”

Daytime highs through Friday should be around 60, with overnight lows in the upper-40s.

Click here for the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.