Santa Barbara Pummeled with Thunder and Lightning

A rare thunder and lightning show accompanied an even more rare rain storm early Friday morning across the Central Coast. Moving from north to south, the rainfall made its way through Santa Barbara County, pummeling the foothills by 3 a.m. in a torrent that lasted a few minutes. It left behind three-quarters of an inch in the rain gauge at Lake Cachuma, raising the water level over an inch.

Evacuation and flash flood warnings had been issued for the Sherpa and Rey Fire burn areas on Thursday when the National Weather Service anticipated rain could fall as fast as a quarter inch in minutes. Elsa Arndt, duty officer at the Office of Emergency Management, said no incidents were reported and the rainfall was much milder than forecast.