Snow, hail and flooding create hazards for Central Coast drivers

Snow, hail and flooding affected roads throughout Santa Barbara County on Sunday, as a cold weather system brought a number of concerns that continued into Monday.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Los Padres National Forest, along with the California Highway Patrol, responded to a minor-injury crash that occurred on Highway 154 near East Camino Cielo.

One woman was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, county fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

“Use caution on Highway 154 due to snow and slush on the roadway,” Safechuck added.

One caller said an inch of hail covered the roadway, with firefighters reporting snow was falling, according to emergency dispatch reports.

Drifts of hail were reported on Highway 101 between Los Carneros and Fairview Avenue, and in areas around Goleta, including Hollister Avenue near the Santa Barbara Airport.

The National Weather Service said “significantly cooler weather” would continue through Monday.

High temperatures were forecast in the 50s Sunday and Monday, with lows in the low 40s and 30s around the county.

One advisory noted the likelihood of flooding caused by excessive rainfall from the eastern portions of the Santa Ynez Valley into the interior Santa Barbara mountains until 9 p.m. Sunday. The advisory was extended at least six hours as heavy rain continued to fall over some areas.

Rain rates up to 0.5 inches per hour were observed, creating the likelihood of flooding.

“Additionally, there is a chance of thunderstorms through Monday morning which could result in heavier showers, small hail, and localized flooding.”

The county’s interior mountains and other higher elevations around Southern California will remain under a winter weather advisory through 4 p.m. Monday, with snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, locally up to 1 foot, and wind gusts up to 45 mph.

Snow was expected to fall to the 4,000 foot elevation, lowering to 3,000 feet overnight Sunday and Monday.

On Monday mornig, snow closed Interstate 5 over the Grapevine north of Los Angeles.

For a short time, a special marine warning noted the possibility of severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts for the East Santa Barbara Channel from Point Conception to Point Mugu.

A severe thunderstorm is nearly stationary, and can include lightning, heavy hail and possibly water spouts, which can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas.

Small crafts could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

Rainfall totals varied with the Santa Barbara Airport in Goleta getting 0.45 of an inch, Santa Barbara City Fire Department seeing 0.25, and 0.20 in Santa Maria, according to 24-hour tallies from the NWS.

Meanwhile, Dos Pueblos saw 1.33 inch in 24 hours, Santa Marcos Pass had 1.14, 0.53 at Imerys (formerly Celite) above Lompoc, and 0.46 in Buellton, according to Santa Barbara County Water Flood Control data.

After this weather system moves on, dry but cool weather is expected mid-week.

The Central Coast may see a weaker storm with a chance of light rain at the end of the week, according to forecasters.

This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Snow, hail and flooding create hazards for Central Coast drivers."