Multiple crashes were reported on Highway 101 Friday morning including one near the Mission Street exit in Santa Barbara. A storm soaked the region and is expected to continue dropping rain through Saturday.
Multiple crashes were reported on Highway 101 Friday morning including one near the Mission Street exit in Santa Barbara. A storm soaked the region and is expected to continue dropping rain through Saturday. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo

Rocks on highways, a car stuck in mud, and minor flooding have all been reported in Santa Barbara County as a storm drenched the area overnight.

Most areas have gotten 1-2 inches of rain overnight, with Rancho San Julian getting 4.55 inches of rain, the most reported in the county so far.

Scott Safechuck, public information officer for Santa Barbara County Fire told Noozhawk there were no significant impacts from the storm overnight and no reported damage or fallen trees.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Solvang, Buellton, and Gaviota areas from midnight to 3 a.m. due to heavy rain and potential for flooding. 

As of 9 a.m. Friday, those and other areas of the county had a flood watch or flood advisory in effect, warning residents of minor flooding impacts from the moderate-to-heavy rainfall. 

Rose Schoenfeld, meteorologist with the National Weather Service said they received a report of a car stuck in 6 inches of mud around 5 a.m. Friday on Highway 101 near El Capitán State Beach.

Around 2 a.m. there was a report of rocks across all lanes of Highway 154 west of Cathedral Oaks Boulevard.

Around midnight there was flooding on northbound Highway 101 near Gaviota, according to the National Weather Services Local Storm Report.

California Highway Patrol reported multiple vehicle crashes on the South Coast overnight and into Friday morning, including crashes on Highway 101 near Mission Street in Santa Barbara and Evans Avenue in Summerland.

Schoenfeld said the storm has gone they way the National Weather Service expected and that more heavy rain is expected for Saturday.

Drivers should use more caution than normal and should expect delays, Schoenfeld advised.

“If a road is flooded, we encourage people to find another route,” Schoenfeld said. “Don’t drive through flooded roads.”

For those living near burn scars or areas vulnerable to flooding, Schoenfeld advised signing up for emergency alerts and listening to evacuation instructions.

Santa Barbara County residents can sign up for emergency alerts at ready.SBC.org.

Rainfall Totals

Most areas reported 1-2 inches of rain overnight, but some had more than 4 inches of rain, the NWS noted. 

The agency released 24-hour rainfall totals at 4 a.m. showing Santa Barbara County had the top rainfall amounts for the entire region of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. 

Rancho San Julian received 4.55 inches, the Alisal Reservoir recorded 3.7 inches, and El Capitan State Beach had 2.93 inches, to name a few. 

Rainfall monitoring stations show the amounts recorded as of Friday morning.
Rainfall monitoring stations show the amounts recorded as of Friday morning. Credit: Santa Barbara County photo

County Public Works rainfall monitoring stations show local totals as of 7 a.m. include: 1.3 inches in Santa Maria; 0.92 inches in Guadalupe; 1.88 inches in Lompoc; 2.16 inches in Buellton; 2.52 inches in Solvang; 3.7 inches on the Gaviota Coast; 2.57 inches in Goleta; 2.07 inches in Santa Barbara; and 1.55 inches in Carpinteria. 

More rain is expected throughout the day Friday and on Saturday. The NWS expects heavy rain and winds on Saturday, and possibly thunderstorms. 

A damaged vehicle seen on Highway 101 near Mission Street in Santa Barbara Friday morning.
A damaged vehicle seen on Highway 101 near Mission Street in Santa Barbara Friday morning. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli contributed reporting to this story.

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.