Heavy Rains Hit Santa Barbara over Easter Weekend
Highway 101 Closes at Montecito when Just Under 2 Inches Fell in an Hour
Areas of Montecito and Santa Barbara were hit hard by rain and hail on Saturday night, with over 5 inches of rain falling over the three-day period in higher elevations. The heavy storm resulted in damage that included mudslides, vehicle accidents, and downed power lines. A portion of Highway 101 through Montecito was closed in both directions for at least four hours.
Thunderstorms over Montecito dropped several inches of small, snow-like hail on the roads and overpasses around Sheffield Road, stranding multiple vehicles, on Saturday night. Hail was still present and piled high on Sunday morning despite overnight cleanup efforts, according to Caltrans at its X/Twitter account.
A little further west, Highway 101 off Olive Mill Road was closed by California Highway Patrol and Caltrans due to heavy flooding and debris around 9 p.m. on Saturday. During the closure, eight people and one dog were rescued from cars stuck in water. The Rosewood Miramar, an exclusive five-star hotel resting on the shores nearest to the closure, assisted with the rescue efforts, offering shelter, blankets, and food to the rescued individuals as they waited for the roads to reopen.
