R&R for Mr. Sun

Snow, rain, and tornado warnings were all part of the zany weather this past weekend in Santa Barbara, which finally saw the clouds and chilly temperatures give way Monday to a bright blue sky.

The National Weather Service radar recorded signs of a twister Saturday evening and issued a brief tornado warning for the area near Highway 101 at the Ventura and Santa Barbara County lines. No damage was reported, however.

Earlier that day, rainfall hit levels close to sea level, while the mountains above Santa Barbara were blanketed with snow. The cold weather led to trouble for some, and the county’s search-and-rescue team kept busy, particularly after a group of hikers not dressed to handle the cold found themselves in a bad way. The two men and two women, ill-equipped to handle the frigid weather and dampness that accompanied it, started to recognize signs of hypothermia, and one became worried about a diabetic condition after the cold caused an insulin reader to malfunction. Several agencies responded to the group, which had lost track of the trail because of the snow cover.

Meanwhile, the snow, as it does every time it dusts the nearby mountains, led to dozens of visitors heading up to look at the fresh powder. The Forest Service, however, issued warnings to more than 100 visitors to the Figueroa Mountain Road area for parking along the road, reminding people they need to buy a $5 Adventure Pass to use the area.