You can’t beat the heat—unless the heat never comes.
While everyone was expecting extreme temperatures today, it turns out the weather was weird—but with a twist.
Rain? Possible thunderstorms?
Residents woke up to an unusual rain Thursday, even amid heat warnings that forced some schools to close early.
Now, there’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and until Friday, according to National Weather Service forecasts. Temperatures are currently in the high 70s and are expected to shoot back up on Friday, said Rose Schoenfeld, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Moisture from tropical activity off the coast of Mexico—combined with from former Tropical Storm Iselle—sent a cluster of convection near Santa Barbara, Schoenfeld said. Warm air coming from the south created some cloud cover, contributing to the slight coolness.
“Sometimes that kind of activity can send our way,” Schoenfeld said.
Some schools in Santa Barbara reduced class times on Thursday in response to anticipated extreme heat. The schools include Franklin Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High School.
Beaches in Santa Barbara can anticipate higher surf, with a forecast of around one to three feet-tall waves on Thursday and three to five-feet on Friday, Schoenfeld said.
“Tied in with these same storms, it sent some southerly swell,” she said.
