heat wave

Microburst caught on camera scaring beachgoers in Santa Barbara

Sunday, September 3, 2017
A quick hitting storm called a microburst rolled through Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KGO) -- A wild scene unfolded at a Santa Barbara beach Sunday as a sudden weather event struck the area, sending chairs and umbrellas flying.

The sudden 80 mph gust of wind and heavy rains caused people to scramble for safety when only moments before they were trying to find relief from the heat wave that had swept the Southland.

PHOTOS: Heat wave sweeps across Bay Area
Participants in a Scottish culture event are seen in Pleasanton, Calif. on a record-breaking hot day on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
Bay Area residents try to cool off on a record-breaking hot day on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
Visitors at San Francisco's Dolores Park gathered in the shade to cool off on a record-breaking hot day on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
Bay Area residents try to cool off on a record-breaking hot day on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
Two bears chill out in some snow at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.none
Resident flood the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday, Septemeber 2, 2017.none
The sun shines over the Bay Bridge on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
This is an image of the boardwalk at the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
This is an image of the boardwalk at the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
This is an image of the boardwalk at the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday, September 2, 2017.none
The sun beams down on a football field in Pleasanton, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.none
A refreshing fountain cascades at a hot outdoor wedding in San Jose, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.none
A man surfs at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.none
A Muni bus appears in San Francisco on hot Sept. 1, 2017.none
A bride and her party sweat in the South Bay sun on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.none
Photo taken by David Louie, shows Silicon Valley Power's Donald Von Raesfeld Power Plant on Duane Ave. in Santa Clara on Friday, September 1, 2017none
Two boys are seen cooling off near sprinklers in Pleasant Hill, Calif. on Friday, September 1, 2017.none
People are seen soaking in the sun during a heat wave at San Francisco's Ocean Beach on Friday, September 1, 2017.none
A wolverine is seen cooling off in ice at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday, September 1, 2017.none
Black bears are seen cooling off in man-made snow at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday, September 1, 2017.none
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That violent weather also knocked down trees and power lines as well as flooded nearby streets.
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A microburst is a sudden and powerful air current created within the storms that moved into the area.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the county as the rains drenched the area.

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