Santa Barbara County is unlikely to see a white Christmas this year, but a wet one is a definite possiblity, according to the National Weather Service.
A rainy pattern is setting up midweek for the region, with the second significant storm of the month in the forecast Wednesday night through Thursday night, and another weaker weather system expected to arrive on Saturday, Christmas Day.
The first storm is predicted to drop 1-3 inches of rain along the coast and in inland areas, with some mountain locations receiving up to 5 inches.
“By Friday, it looks like the main rain event will be through,” according to Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard.
Friday is expected to be partly sunny, before the second storm arrives on Christmas Day. That system is predicted to add another ¾ of an inch or so to the rain totals, Phillips said.
The chance of rain is pegged at 30% Tuesday night, 60% during the day Wednesday, and by 80% Wednesday night, with rain likely on Thursday.
Snow levels should remain around 7,000 feet with the first system, but could drop as low as 3,000 feet by Sunday. That could affect travel plans at the end of the holiday weekend while giving 3,997-foot La Cumbre Peak a white dusting.
Some gusty winds are likely to accompany the storms, but no warnings or advisories had been issued as of Sunday.
That could change as the week progresses and updated forecasts are available, however.
Daytime highs should be in the 50s, with overnight lows around 40.
Santa Barbara County overall has received 133% of normal rainfall to date for the rain season that began Sept. 1. Last week’s record-setting storm gave most of the county a good soaking while adding significantly to that total.
Click here for the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
