I don’t know about you, but I’m not a “winter” — and I’m not just talking about a color palette. So next week’s forecast of unseasonably warm weather is right up my alley.
And after last weekend, a dry spell will be a welcome break, too.
As I always say, though, drama and inconvenience are good for Noozhawk, and the disruption our most recent storms dumped on Santa Barbara County was very good for our traffic.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk logged an audience of 190,388 readers over the last seven days.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
In case you’re new around here, this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. Man Who Died in Creek Was in Pickup Attempting to Cross During Storm
A 61-year-old Los Angeles County grandfather was swept into rain-swollen Maria Ygnacio Creek above Goleta during the Jan. 3 deluge, triggering an intense search and rescue response.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, the man — later identified as Rosauro “Lalo” Vasquez of Downey — was found dead in the creek about two hours later.
His body was recovered only about a half-mile downstream from the low-water crossing he and two family members had been attempting to drive across near North San Marcos Road north of Via Regina.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck told our Rebecca Caraway that three people were in a Dodge Ram pickup truck when it stalled in the high water.
When they tried to get out of the pickup, at least one of the occupants was swept downstream by the swift current.
Safechuck said the truck itself was carried about 50 feet down the creek by the water, which had risen to a depth of 3-4 feet.
Family members called 9-1-1 just before noon to report the man had been swept away, prompting a large multiagency water rescue operation.
In addition to firefighters, the search — by air and ground — involved the county Search and Rescue Team, sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and American Medical Response personnel, as well as neighborhood residents just trying to help.
At about 1:50 p.m., searchers found Vasquez’s body in the creek near North San Marcos Road and Via Parva.
My friend, Dr. Paul Aijian, who lives up the canyon from the creek crossing and talked with Vasquez’s family, said the group had been staying at a nearby vacation rental house.
He said family members told him that Vasquez was in a second pickup trying to hitch up a tow chain to the stalled truck when he was carried away by the surging floodwaters.
Aijian told me the family said one of Vasquez’s sons, the driver of the stalled truck, also was swept downstream but he was rescued by a neighbor.
Funeral services are pending but Vasquez’s brother-in-law, F. Mendez of Whittier, established a GoFundMe account to assist the family with expenses.
Mendez described Vasquez as “a man of faith, a strong family man and a friend to many.”
As of Jan. 9, the site had raised just under $1,300. Click here to make an online donation.
The tragic outcome compelled authorities to remind the public about the dangers of fast-flowing water, which can wash a vehicle downstream at a depth of less than two feet.
“A lot of people still want to chance it,” Safechuck said. “You really never know how deep it is until they start driving through it, and it’s too late by then.”
2. Santa Barbara Hit With Highway Closures, Flooding During Heavy Rain Storm
Heavy rainfall battered Santa Barbara County on Jan. 3, triggering highway closures, flash flooding and emergency warnings across the region, especially along the South Coast.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, Caltrans shut down Highway 101 in both directions between Winchester Canyon Road west of Goleta and Highway 1 north of the Gaviota tunnel because of debris flows and flooding.
The route reopened the next morning, the California Highway Patrol said, but not before diverted traffic clogged Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass in the interim.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the South Coast as rainfall rates topped 1 inch per hour in some areas.
Highway 1 near Orcutt and Foothill Road in the Santa Barbara foothills were also closed due to flooding and rockslides. Old Town Goleta was particularly hard hit.
Officials urged residents in flood-prone and burn areas to take shelter as creeks surged and roads submerged.
By Jan. 5, the storm was a thing of the past, with sunshine and dry, blustery conditions the rest of the week.
According to the weather service, the county is expected to be basking in daytime high temperatures in the upper 70s most of next week.
Click here for the complete weather service forecast.
3. Santa Barbara Airport Reopens After Flooding Closure
For the second time in less than two weeks, the Santa Barbara Airport was forced to close Jan. 3 because of flooding, grounding all flights as heavy rain inundated runways.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, all commercial and fixed-wing aircraft flights were halted for most of the day, with the airport reopening around 10:20 a.m. Jan. 4.
Seaplanes not being available, airport officials said several afternoon and nighttime flights were canceled.
Roadway flooding was also widely reported near the airport, including along Fairview and Hollister avenues in Old Town Goleta.
The airport previously closed Dec. 25 because of runway flooding and reopened the following day after numerous delays and cancellations, highlighting the impact of repeated winter storms on local air travel.
4. BizHawk: Raising Cane’s to Take Over Kyle’s Kitchen Spot in Goleta
It looks like South Coast Caniacs may soon be getting their hands on the famed chicken fingers of Raising Cane’s, which reportedly is planning to move into Goleta’s Hollister Village Plaza.
As our Pricila Flores reported, the popular fast-food chain — known for its combo meals featuring fried chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and the very best ice around — will be taking over the space currently occupied by Kyle’s Kitchen at 7000 Hollister Ave.
For its part, Kyle’s Kitchen is moving a few blocks away into a newly renovated space near Target in Storke Plaza at 6831 Hollister Ave.
Owner Jay Ferro expects to open in the new location early this year.
5. How Much Rain Did Storms Drop on Santa Barbara County?
Now that we’ve all had a few days to dry out, how much rain did Santa Barbara County get if Santa Barbara County could get rain?
A lot.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, the county is experiencing the wettest start to a water year on record, with rainfall now at 106% of our annual average.
Santa Barbara alone has recorded 21.84 inches of rain since Sept. 1, the start of the rainy season, surpassing its typical yearly average of 18½ inches.
More than 10 inches of rain fell over the past two weeks in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Solvang, with even higher totals in mountain areas.
The National Weather Service said the Santa Ynez Mountains and other transverse ranges received the heaviest rainfall during recent storms.
For the season, San Marcos Pass alone has logged just under 3½ feet of rain. That’s just unbelievable.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories:
» Melodee Buzzard’s Mother Makes Court Appearance on Charges in Girl’s Death — North County editor Janene Scully is in Lompoc Superior Court for a brief appearane by the mother of a missing 9-year-old girl found murdered and dumped along a remote Utah roadway.
» Biologists Find Only 2 Butterflies in Late-Season Count at Ellwood Mesa — Staff writer Pricila Flores finds the Ellwood Mesa butterfly monarchy in dire straits.
» Vandenberg Space Force Base Could Become New Home for Heavy-Rocket Launch Facility — Janene shares a Vandenberg Space Force Base proposal currently in orbit.
» Former UCSB Student President Sues UCSB, Alleging Antisemitic Treatment — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway is following a lawsuit over alleged antisemitism at UC Santa Barbara.
» 17 Locals Named to Inaugural Noozhawk All-South Coast Flag Football Team — Having tackled Noozhawk’s All-South Coast Football Team last week, Sports editor Diego Sandoval also assembled a powerhouse All-South Coast Flag Football Team.
» Mark Patton: Will Gabe Vincent Remain a Lakers’ Sidekick … or Get Kicked to the Side? — Sports columnist Mark Patton has even this estranged Los Angeles Lakers fan on the edge of his seat waiting to see what happens with former UC Santa Barbara star Gabe Vincent.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Goleta Pedestrian Dies After Vehicle Collision in Old Town.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Feb. 5 — Noozhawk is partnering with Spotlight Santa Barbara on a 2026 speaker series and I’ll be moderating a Q&A with Dan Walters, the legendary gold standard of California political writers. His topic at the Lobero Theatre? California politics — past, present and future. Click here to purchase tickets online.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Midnight at the oasis: Mojave Desert Town Sports a Dive Bar and a 50-Foot Tall Lighthouse.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Sunsets and some lost luggage are in my Instagram feed this past week.
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Watch It
In one of the most exciting runs at one of the most thrilling Sugar Bowls ever, Laura Rutledge … could … go … all … the … way!
