A series of storms with potentially significant impacts has prompted watches and warnings for Santa Barbara County along with a rare advisory to avoid outdoor recreational activities in the mountains Monday. 

Rain should arrive by Sunday night with the heaviest downpours expected throughout Monday and again Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.

“A powerful storm system will move into the region starting Monday, bringing the potential for severe thunderstorms, burn-scar debris flows, flash flooding with rock and mud slides, damaging winds, heavy mountain snow, and high surf with coastal flooding,” according to the forecast. 

“Cold and blustery conditions with periodic rain” will occur through Wednesday but a chance of rain remains in the forecast for the rest of the week. 

Early Monday, the powerful storm is expected to bring hourly rain rates between 0.5 to 1 inch per hour with a possibility of severe weather including thunderstorms and waterspouts.

Rain totals through Monday are expected to be 1-2.5 inches for the coast and valleys while the foothills and mountains cold see 2.5-5 inches of rain. 

A possibility of excessive rainfall has led the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for Monday with a reminder that rock and mudslides are possible near steep terrain along with debris flows on burn scars. 

Very strong winds also are expected leading to wind advisory from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday with 20 to 30 mph southwest winds and gusts of 45 to 55 mph across most the Central Coast. 

A high wind watch has been issued for inland areas, including the Cuyama Valley and Santa Barbara County interior mountains, due to 20 to 30 mph winds with gusts up to 60 to 70 mph possible.

The conditions could create a very favorable environment for waterspouts, waterspouts moving onshore as tornadoes, and actual weak tornadoes forming over the land, according to forecasters.

The forecast for the Presidents Day holiday on Monday also led to the suggestion to plan indoor activities. 

“We advise not to make plans for outdoor activities (especially in the mountains) on Monday as conditions will be unusually hazardous.” 

The National Weather Service also issued a beach hazards statement warning of dangerous rip currents and breaking waves due to elevated surf. 

Another storm arrives Tuesday night, but will move faster and drop less rainfall. Amounts likely will range from under an inch for most areas and more than 1 inch in the mountains.

“The big deal with this system will be the cold air and low snow levels,” the National Weather Service forecast said. 

The cold system will mean high temperatures remain in mid- to upper 50s and snow levels could drop to near the 3,000-foot elevation level. 

That means Santa Barbara County’s mountains may receive some snow Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, according to the winter storm watch. The winter storm watch covers higher elevations of Santa Barbara County’s interior areas along with the Interstate 5 corridor.

Total snow accumulations of 1-4 inches are possible for elevations between 3,500 to 4,500 feet, including Figueroa Mountain, and 6-12 inches accumulating above 4,500-foot elevation, including San Rafael Mountain. Wind gusts could reach at high at 50 mph.

This week, coasts and valleys could see 2-4 inches of rain with 4-8 inches possible in the foothills and mountains.

A slight chance of rain remains in the forecast through Saturday and cold temperatures are expected to linger.

Santa Barbara Parking

The City of Santa Barbara has activated free Emergency Storm Parking at City Lot 2from Sunday through Tuesday for residents in flood-prone areas.

Registration is now open. Unregistered vehicles will be charged standard hourly rates. For more info, visit http://SantaBarbaraCA.gov/StormParking.

Freedom Warming Centers

In the South County, the Warming Center locations are:

• Sunday through Tuesday at the Veterans Hall, 112 W. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara

• Wednesday at Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, 1535 Santa Barbara St. 

• Sunday through Wednesday at Isla Vista Community Center, 976 Embarcadero Del Mar

• Sunday through Wednesday at Carpinteria Vets Hall, 941 Walnut Ave.

In the Santa Maria Valley, the Warming Center locations are: 

• Sunday at Atkinson Center, 1000 N. Railroad Ave., Santa Maria

• Monday through Wednesday at Grogan Community Center, 1155 W. Rancho Verde, Santa Maria. 

Lompoc Valley’s Freedom Warming Center at the Lompoc Stabilization Center, 333 N. 2nd St. is open Sunday through Wednesday.

For Warming Center updates, call the hotline at 805.203.3666.

Storm Preparation

Ahead of the storm, Santa Barbara opened its self-serve sandbag stations for a few hours Sunday. For more information, click here.

Goleta also opened its sandbag stations for residents to stock up. The self-service sandbag stations are located at Fire Station 11, 6901 Frey Way, and at Fire Station 14 at 320 Los Carneros Road.

More sandbag locations are available countywide. 

The County of Santa Barbara issued a storm-related alert Sunday afternoon. While the county did not announce any evacuations officials warned residents to leave their homes before the rain starts if they have any concerns.

The storm could bring hail, lightning, downed trees and more, the notice said.

Residents can also sign up for the latest news and alerts through the county messaging system, ReadySBC.

Check the latest National Weather Service forecasts and alerts here.