Live updates: Rain soaks Ventura County overnight

More river rescues

Ventura County and city of Oxnard firefighters rescued three people from an island in the Santa Clara River Thursday afternoon.

The operation took place south of Highway 101, near the east end of the River Ridge Golf Club, fire officials said.

The county's Copter 5 hoisted three people from the island.

The helicopter was busy Thursday, having also performed multiple rescues along the Ventura River.

San Marcos pass reopens

Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County, also called San Marcos Pass, reopened at 3 p.m. Thursday after crews cleaned up rocks and mud that closed the route most of the day, authorities said.

Ocean flooding impacts homes near Marina Park

Big surf crept ashore in Ventura Thursday afternoon, causing minor damage to some homes near Marina Park at the north end of Ventura Harbor, authorities said.

The flooding impacted beachfront homes on Greenock and Nathan lanes, said Ventura Police Department Cmdr. Edward Caliento around 1:30 p.m.

No evacuations were required, he said.

Large waves had apparently broken over the retaining wall and damaged some of the homes.

Second helicopter rescue; flood watches canceled

Ventura County firefighters and a sheriff's helicopter responded to a second rescue along the Ventura River, near Stanley Avenue, around 12:20 p.m. Thursday. A person was said to be stationary and on solid ground across the river when crews arrived. The sheriff's Copter 5 was on the way for a possible hoist rescue. The victim was later said to have been successfully rescued.

Earlier, the National Weather Service said around 10:45 a.m. Ventura River levels had been measured at 18 feet near Foster Park, approaching flood stage. Minor flooding had impacted the Ventura RV Resort, downstream on Main Street, but no other flooding impacts were expected, an official with the weather service said.

By 12:20 p.m., the weather service announced early cancellations of flood watches in Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

– Gretchen Wenner

One rescued from Ventura River flood waters

Rescue crews hoisted a man after he was trapped in rushing water along the Ventura River on Thursday morning.

The rescue mission was called at 9:37 a.m. in the area of Stanley and Ventura avenues, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The victim was hoisted up to a helicopter after they were found grabbing onto bamboo in the river bottom. The victim was then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

A second victim from a possibly unrelated incident was also reported in the area, authorities said. A search of the area was underway for additional victims.

– Jeremy Childs

Burn-area evacuation orders lifted in SB County

Authorities in Santa Barbara County lifted evacuation orders for burn-scar areas there as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The orders had been issued Wednesday over concerns about possible flooding and debris flow in places burned by the Thomas, Alisal and Cave fires.

Ventura County's Office of Emergency Services noted all streams and creeks in the county remained below flood stage, but residents were advised to remain cautious as flows will continue throughout the day amid scattered showers and possibly isolated thunderstorms.

– Gretchen Wenner

Shipwreck salvage halted due to storm

Storms and hazardous sea conditions this week again stopped salvage operations of a shipwreck off Santa Cruz Island roughly 20 miles off Ventura.

The Speranza Marie, a 60-foot fishing boat, had six people aboard when it ran aground near the remote island early on Dec. 15. Another fishing boat rescued the crew members and brought them to the mainland. No injuries were reported.

Crews started to remove wreckage on Tuesday and secured the boat to some nearby boulders before the next storm hit. Agencies issued a stand-down through Thursday because of the storm.

– Cheri Carlson

Evacuation order lifted in Ventura

As of 9 a.m., an evacuation warning for the Ventura RV Beach Resort, 800 W. Main St., has been lifted by Ventura city officials.

– Jeremy Childs

Storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has a high surf warning in effect for Ventura County beaches until 10 a.m. Friday, with a coastal flood advisory also in place until 1 p.m. Friday.

The warnings are due to waves up to 12 to 16 feet high along with dangerous rip currents. Sets up to 18 feet will be possible during the highest surf. The large waves bring the possibility of coastal flooding.

A flood watch is in effect countywide through this afternoon due to the high amounts of rainfall from the storm. At high elevations in the mountains in Los Padres National Forest, a winter storm watch is in place through 10 p.m. tonight.

– Jeremy Childs

Overnight rainfall totals for Ventura County

Over the past 12 hours, approximately 1-4 inches of rain fell across Ventura County as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to data from the Ventura County Watershed Protection District.

The highest rainfall totals were recorded in the mountains northwest of Ventura, with the highest amount being 4.68 inches recorded at Old Man Mountain.

Most cities in Ventura County averaged between 1-2 inches of rainfall. Thousand Oaks recorded the most at the Civic Arts Plaza with 1.91 inches. Santa Paula had the second highest overnight total at 1.8 inches, followed by Ojai at 1.77 inches.

Other 12-hour rainfall totals include 1.62 inches in Newbury Park, 1.6 inches in Ventura at the Government Center, 1.5 inches at Simi Valley High School, 1.48 inches at the Oxnard office of the National Weather Service, 1.34 inches in Fillmore, 1.16 inches at the Camarillo Airport, 1.02 inches in Moorpark and 1 inch in Port Hueneme.

Rain is expected to continue to fall throughout Thursday, with a 20% chance of thunderstorms by the afternoon.

– Jeremy Childs

Rockslide shuts down Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County

Much of Highway 154 shut down in Santa Barbara County Thursday morning due to a rockslide, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The closure began around 6:30 a.m. and is in place between the interchanges with State Route 192 in Santa Barbara and State Route 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

California Highway Patrol reported a geologist was dispatched to the site of the rockslide to assess the duration of the closure.

In Ventura County, mountain debris caused the partial blockage of the 19900 block of South Mountain Road between Santa Paula and Fillmore. The blockage was reported around 5:20 a.m. approximately one mile from the 12th Street bridge.

A noninjury crash along southbound Highway 33 knocked several rocks into the roadway after a car apparently crashed into the hillside. The crash was reported at 6:40 a.m. along the Arnaz Grade. Caltrans officials were en route to remove the rocks.

– Jeremy Childs

Power outage reported in Meiners Oaks

A power outage affecting 56 customers in the unincorporated community of Meiners Oaks was reported by Southern California Edison on Thursday morning.

The outage was caused by trees falling into SCE equipment, officials said. Power is expected to be restored by 1:30 p.m.

No other power outages have been reported in Ventura County.

– Jeremy Childs

Thursday morning: How things look

The storm system that arrived in Ventura County Wednesday was forecast to drop the most rain overnight, from around midnight to roughly 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Light rain arrived by midday Wednesday, but no major problems had been reported in Ventura County as of Wednesday evening. The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services did issue an evacuation morning Wednesday for residents of the Ventura Beach Recreational Vehicle Resort, at 800 W. Main St., due to flooding risks along the lower Ventura River.

In Santa Barbara County, authorities issued evacuation warnings late Wednesday afternoon for residents in burn scar areas from the Thomas, Alisal and Cave fires where flooding and debris flows were possible. Ventura County Sheriff's officials noted the orders only applied in Santa Barbara County.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Live updates: Rain soaks Ventura County overnight