As Santa Barbara County prepared for, weathered and cleaned up after the last week of powerful winter storms, Noozhawk’s team of journalists was on the front lines, ensuring you had access to critical updates and in-depth coverage every step of the way.
From mandatory evacuation orders to the aftermath of the storms’ impacts, our mission to keep you informed and safe is more vital than ever.
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The rain brought a parade of 217,923 readers to Noozhawk this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top Five stories you were reading during that period, all of them storm-related. In fact, nine of the Top 11 most-read stories were about the weather.
Not to be a wet blanket, but this is my opinion column and not a news story.
1. Evacuation Warnings Issued Ahead of Powerful Storm Targeting Santa Barbara County
With a monster storm spinning its way toward Santa Barbara County last weekend, evacuation warnings were issued Feb. 2 for parts of the South Coast.
As our Tom Bolton reported, the National Weather Service was warning that the storm — the second in a week — would be even more damaging than the Jan. 9, 2023, superstorm that walloped the county.
The weather service forecast called for as much as 6 inches of rain along the South Coast, with double that in the mountains.
Given the anticipated power of the impending deluge and the already saturated conditions, the potential for major flooding was of grave concern.
Sheriff Bill Brown told Tom that the evacuation warnings would be upgraded to evacuation orders on Feb. 3 if the weather service confirmed the expected storm impacts.
He estimated that about 500 homes would be affected.
2. Evacuations Ordered as Major Weather System Approaches Central Coast
As forecast, or foretold, in the item above, Santa Barbara County public safety officials on Feb. 3 ordered mandatory evacuations for South Coast neighborhoods below recent burn areas and along Sycamore Creek in Santa Barbara.
Our Josh Molina was on hand when authorities announced the evacuations during a news conference at the Office of Emergency Management, hours before the leading edge of the latest storm arrived.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation, said Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge for the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard.
“I can’t stress enough the importance that everyone be at a high state of readiness, take the precautions to save your life from the upcoming floodwaters that will affect the Santa Barbara area. Everyone needs to be vigilant.”
The affected neighborhoods were along creeks in Carpinteria, Summerland and Montecito below the 2017 Thomas Fire burn area; Sycamore Creek on Santa Barbara’s Eastside; below the 2019 Cave Fire footprint near Highway 154 in Santa Barbara; and on the Gaviota coast below the 2021 Alisal Fire burn area.
3. Flash Flood Warning Issued for Santa Barbara County
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Santa Barbara County on Feb. 4 as heavy, steady rainfall was drenching the region and causing widespread flooding.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, the weather service urged locals to avoid travel unless necessary, emphasizing the danger posed by rapidly rising water and potential landslides and debris flows.
The deluge — accompanied by high winds — caused significant damage, with trees falling onto homes, roads and utility lines, resulting in numerous power outages.
Evacuations were ordered for homes along Santa Barbara’s Mission Creek and other flood-prone areas.
The Santa Barbara Airport — which set a rainfall record for the date of 2.23 inches, swamping the 1990 high-water mark of a half-inch — was shut down due to flooded runways.
“All commercial flights have been canceled, private and general aviation operations are paused, and the terminal is closed until further notice,” an airport statement said.
The flash flood warnings remained in effect through midnight.
4. Officials Tracking ‘Life-Threatening’ Storm Headed to Santa Barbara County
In the hours before last weekend’s powerful storm was expected to slam into Santa Barbara County, descriptions of its force were elevated by authorities sounding the alarm about its impacts.
As our Giana Magnoli reported Feb. 2, officials said the “life-threatening” storm had the potential for even more rainfall than last year’s Jan. 9 storm, which caused widespread flooding and property damage.
“NWS (National Weather Service) is telling us it’s at least that significant if not more,” county Emergency Management director Kelly Hubbard said.
Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist at the weather service office in Oxnard, warned of heavy rain starting later that afternoon and growing in intensity through the morning of Feb. 4, with potential thunderstorms, fierce winds, downed trees and power outages.
She said that, although forecast models are increasingly reliable, there is still a range of possibilities for the storm’s impact.
“The message we’ve been giving for Santa Barbara County is, this storm has the potential to rival if not exceed the rainfall rates and totals of the worst storms in people’s memory,” Schoenfeld said.
“We just want people to be prepared for the worst.”
5. Worst of the Storm Moves On After Soaking Santa Barbara County
Well, that passed.
Following the latest “storm of the century,” Santa Barbara County woke up Feb. 5 with soggy surroundings, continuing rainfall and gusty winds.
Our Giana Magnoli reported that the storm’s intensity had shifted eastward overnight, with Ventura and Los Angeles counties bearing the brunt instead of us.
Evacuation orders were lifted for Santa Barbara County neighborhoods, although officials cautioned that fallen trees, rock falls and slides were still possible.
While the storm dropped considerably less rain than those computer models had projected, it did cause widespread flooding.
Intermittent showers were expected through Feb. 7 — although the “showers” that dumped on me that afternoon in Santa Maria and Santa Ynez were more like torrential downpours.
Fortunately, there’s nothing but sunshine in this next week’s forecast. It is winter, however, so don’t expect any relief from the cold.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» Margie Yahyavi of Santa Barbara, 1955-2024 — I was privileged to serve on the board of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation when we hired Margie Yahyavi as our executive director back in 2010.
In some respects, she was an unorthodox choice, but the soccer mom’s passion for youth and her organizational skills very quickly proved she was exactly what our then-adrift organization needed. Over the next dozen years, the foundation blossomed under her leadership, with an undeniable reach and results for its programs.
More than that, we became fast friends and, when our offices were across the street, she frequently dropped by to chat, strategize or just vent. I’ve missed those conversations and am sorry there won’t be any more.
Rest in peace, Margie. And thank you for the impact you made on the lives of tens of thousands of children and teachers in Santa Barbara and Goleta — and all you did for Noozhawk, too.
» BizHawk: Lilac Montecito Brings ‘New Dinner Concept’ to Coast Village Road — South County editor Josh Molina’s BizHawk column was a ray of sunshine in the week’s bleak run of rainy weather, finishing ninth among 10 storm stories.
» Santa Barbara to Host Community Workshop on Reimagining Franceschi House, Park — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway writes the latest chapter in the decades-long saga of dilapidated Franceschi House and its surrounding park.
» Fed Up with Regulations, Miller Family Wine Co. Moving Operations Out of Santa Barbara County — Miller Family Wine Co. is the latest company to fall victim to Santa Barbara County’s anti-business environment, but it won’t be the last. North County editor Janene Scully has the how, but voters need to start asking the why.
» 4 Felony Charges Filed Against Tennis Coach in Decades-Old Molestation Case — Editor in chief Tom Bolton has the details on a convicted sexual predator’s past apparently catching up with him.
» Mark Patton: UCSB Celebrates Some Sweet-16 Moments in Women’s Basketball — Sports columnist Mark Patton catches up with retired UC Santa Barbara women’s basketball coach Mark French and many of the stars of the 2003-2004 Sweet 16 team. They’ve not lost a step in the last 20 years.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Body Discovered in Santa Ynez River Near Lompoc.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Raise your “Red Solo Cup” to Toby Keith, the country music legend who died Feb. 5 at age 62. He was always as good as he once was: Toby Keith Never Knew It, But He Helped My Brother Make a Big Life Change.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Is there anything better than #nicotime? Check out my Instagram feed and tell me whether you agree. I’ll wait.
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Watch It
Laying down the paw in this two-bit town. HT to Best of Bill reader Nate Morris.
