Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports title=
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports
Local News
117 Comments
Reads 44085

(photo: Mike Eliason)

Edhat readers share their photos, videos, and reports from the intense storm that hit Santa Barbara on March 5, 2019. See them all below!

By Mike Eliason of Santa Barbara County Fire Department

Lightning strikes in the skies above Santa Barbara, CA, March 5, 2019, as seen in these views from Stearns Wharf.

Photo by @colinmccrindle

By an edhat reader

We set up a tripod on the roof and took a few hundred pics and selected the best to give to you. I am 12 years old and love photography. 

  

By Sophie Cameron (daughter of HolaZola)

Lightning In Paradise, so photos shot from Goleta.

Photos by Yesenia Thomas

Captured from the top of Old San Marcos.

Video by Mark W.

By an edhat reader

Lightning in Isla Vista, Platform Holly hit. Monster cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning seen from Isla Vista.

Video by Sara G.

Video by Rey H.

Lightning strike near Mussel Shoals

Reported by edhat readers

  • Is anyone else hearing that roaring thunder? We're on the westside and its every few minutes, getting deeper and almost rattling our windows.

  • Intense lightning off the water.

  • Strong winds and hail off Painted Cave.

  • Lights flickering, some houses dark, off State and Sola Streets.

Login to add Comments

117 Comments

Show Comments
yin yang
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 10:23 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

That was about 9 audible strikes in less than 20 seconds... No accompanying downpours though. Windy forecast about a half inch between midnight and 3 a.m.

Shasta Guy
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 10:17 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

You may be right. At https://rain.cosbpw.net the rain gauges above Montecito show less the 0.2”/hr accumulation rate, so hopefully we’ll all dodge a bullet tonight as a community

a-1551852854
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 10:14 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

I'm just following everything that's been linked here & hoping for best for burn scar areas and residents. Not sure what to think of this NWS forecast for Montecito (MONTECITO #2 (MOIC1)): "Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall."
Of course all the warnings and watches are highlighted! I just got a kick out of "possibly a thunderstorm."

a-1551851088
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:44 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Ooh, Right on the coast! The inherent, mind-boggling power of lightning is further illustrated when you compare the distance away and effect you see and hear and feel.

John Wiley
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:30 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Hope the relatively brief squalls we've been seeing here ([email protected]) are similar elsewhere, and that we don't see longer or even heavier ones as the night unfolds. So far that looks to be the case on radar... (fingers crossed)

4358ed
  • 4
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:28 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Amazing display! We saw a bolt of lightning hit a palm tree on Hollister next to Big Brand Tires - It looked like a Roman Candle! Thanks for posting such great photo's.

Shasta Guy
  • 3
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:28 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

I second Two Scoops Motion. Get to a safe place while you still can if you are in a debris flow zone. There are still strong bands offshore coming our way.

Shasta Guy
  • 3
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:13 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Nature is playing for keeps tonight. Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning
CAC083-111-060630-
/O.NEW.KLOX.FF.W.0012.190306T0507Z-190306T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service OXNARD CA
907 PM PST TUE MAR 5 2019

The National Weather Service in OXNARD has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
THE Thomas Burn Area IN Western Ventura County in southwestern
California... Southeastern Santa Barbara County in southwestern
California...

* Until 1030 PM PST.

* At 904 PM PST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms with very
heavy rain with rates up to near 0.20 inches in 7 minutes about to
move into the Thomas burn area. Flash flooding and debris flows
are expected to begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
The Thomas Burn area including M

John Wiley
  • 4
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 10:09 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

I wonder if they do have cat tonics. Seriously tho, hope you both come thru this ok and that tomorrow dawns bright and calm.

Shasta Guy
  • 2
  • 1
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:52 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

My little doggy is keeping herself buried under her blanket. I haven’t checked on my cats. One of them is a permanent scaredy-cat so she probably hasn’t moved from under the bed where she spends a lot of her life.

yin yang
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:51 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

I empathize. Would cat take comfort from you? Had a dog who bloodied himself tearing at doors to get away, but wouldn't open his eyes for thunder if I was with him. My current cat is so bonded and loves affection so much that she came to me. But she's not freaking out, just unsettled. And you're a lot closer to the storm. If you need comfort... She'll be fine, you have to let her be. Which would be painfully hard for me. Or you could sit by her and just talk, I did that a few times during the thunder.

John Wiley
  • 3
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 09:31 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Does the defensive position convey a clear warning against putting your hand under the bed, or is it just hiding in terror?

a-1551847994
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:53 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

At 8:51pm,
Daniel Swain.Verified account @Weather_West.19m19 minutes ago. "Line of very intense thunderstorms about to slam Santa Barbara. Appears to be associated with bow echo signature on radar, so damaging winds possible in addition to continuous lightning and torrential rainfall. Pretty wild for these parts..". #CAwx

yin yang
  • 2
  • 1
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:45 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

This is so informative and amazing (and cool): Real Time Lightning Map (Thanks, poster!) Interesting for SB to be the focal point of CA coastal weather. N. CA sure needs a break. _____________________________

Strokes of the last 60 minutes are shown. The real-time data comes directly from the computing servers of Blitzortung.org, which are fed by hundreds of stations on several continents. The delay is calculated from the time stamps of each strokes compared to the current time.
Legend:
New lightning strikes have a red circle which gets smaller and disappears when it gets older than 60 seconds.
The color of filled circles represent the age of strikes up to 60 minutes. New strikes are yellow. The older they get, the darker the color. Dark brown is equal to almost 60 minutes. Those strikes will vanish soon.
On higher zoom levels the thunder front of current strikes is shown as white transparent growing circle (speed of sound). It gets more transparent while travelling and disappears after a while.
IMPORTANT: This map is intended for entertainment purposes only! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=1;z=11;y=34.3959;x=-119.7473;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Shasta Guy
  • 3
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:40 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

That big blob in the channel could be a big problem. Make sure you’re safe.

Flood Advisory
National Weather Service OXNARD CA
830 PM PST TUE MAR 5 2019

CAC079-083-060730-
/O.NEW.KLOX.FA.Y.0055.190306T0430Z-190306T0730Z/
/00000.N.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Santa Barbara CA-San Luis Obispo CA-
830 PM PST TUE MAR 5 2019

The National Weather Service in OXNARD has issued a

* Flood Advisory for...
Santa Barbara County in southwestern California...
Southern San Luis Obispo County in southwestern California...

* Until 1130 PM PST.

* At 822 PM PST, National Weather Service Doppler radar and
automated rain gauges indicated moderate to heavy rain with
embedded thunderstorms moving over Santa Barbara County this
evening. Rainfall rates between 0.33 to 0.50 inch per hour have
been observed. Roadway flooding and flooding of small creeks and
streams is likely. Minor mud and debris are possible near the
Thomas, Whittier and Sherpa burn areas.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Santa Maria... Santa Barbara...Lompoc...Montecito...Santa Ynez...
Carpinteria...Solvang...Cuyama...Goleta...Guadalupe...Buellton...
and the Thomas...Whittier and Sherpa burn areas.

a-1551846887
  • 3
  • 1
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:34 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

If you need to take cover inside your home because of winds or tornado, go in your closet and put pillow over your head. Stay away from glass/windows, flying debris of any kind. Other option is get in bathtub and put mattress over you.

a-1551846385
  • 3
  • 1
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:26 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

I forgot the exact time, but in the late 4 p.m. hour? It was as dark as 5 p.m., some showers, then the sun came out and a stunning complete rainbow was visible (from San Roque)? That was so beautiful. Others must have seen it, no?

a-1551846319
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:25 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Thanks for all the links! If this comes over my head or even close, I'll be buried under the covers, almost certainly with my cat. :-) Ah, rain starting up again.

a-1551873162
  • 2
  •  
Mar 06, 2019 03:52 AM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Usually when they could be most helpful to the community, KEYT news folks are home. And, the station is showing regular programming, with not even a message strip to keep people up to date

Shasta Guy
  • 1
  • 1
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:27 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

That would be north of the SB Mission. They could have been going to San Roque or up Mission Canyon. The thunder is less than 2 sec after the lightning. I’m back outside again. That cell in the Channel coming our way will be a lifetime memory.

Roger
  • 1
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:23 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

No everything went out here for awhile my cat is too scared to come back in and took off from me. I think they were looking for palm tree fires from lightening strikes.

Shasta Guy
  • 2
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:19 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Go to the Doppler radar composite image at Vandenberg. We’ve got some strong stuff coming our way. Be careful. https://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=vbx&product=NCR&overlay=11101111&loop=no

a-1551845684
  • 3
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 08:14 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Thanks for this live strike map =================================================================
https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=9;y=34.3037;x=-119.8512;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

TripleA
  • 4
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 07:59 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Very strong lightning show! Saw a strike that was somewhere btwn. Old San Marcos Rd. and the Upper Patterson area around 7:20. Then a transformer up that way did the glow thing, power down near Wake Center was out for a few minutes. It was amazing sky to ground lightning!

Shasta Guy
  • 2
  • 2
  •  
Mar 05, 2019 07:50 PM
Lightning, Hail, and Power Outage Reports

Hearing it real good near the Mission. Lots of brownouts. I’m outside under my patio cover waiting for the dime sized hail to start falling. I love severe weather! It reminds me of Nothern California and Kansas.

Pages

Please Login or Register to comment on this.

RELATED ARTICLES