A major winter storm has dropped more than three inches of rain on parts of the Central and South Coasts, but no major flooding or debris flow issues have been reported in the region.
Some mud flowed onto northbound Highway 101 in the Faria Beach area just before sunrise Wednesday, disrupting traffic. CHP officers caravanned vehicles through the area for about an hour to give Caltrans crews space to clear the mud. By 6:30, the highway was completely reopened.
No serious problems were reported in the Thomas, Sherpa. and Whittier brush fire burn areas. Evacuation orders went into effect Tuesday afternoon for potential areas in the burn zones at risk for debris flows. The evacuation orders were lifted at 8 Wednesday morning.
Rainfall totals on the South Coast as of 6 a.m. Wednesday include 1.5" of rain in Santa Barbara, 1.2" in Montecito, 1.1" in Ojai, and .5" in Ventura. On the Central Coast, Solvang had 1.1" of rain, Nipomo an inch and Pismo Beach 1.2".
There was a spectacular lightning show throughout much of the region Tuesday night, but National Weather Service meteorologists say they don't expect much more in the way of thunderstorm activity from this system. However, coastal and inland areas could get up to another inch of rain, and mountains up to two inches.
