Despite a sunny, warm start to the week, a strong storm is expected to hit Santa Barbara County on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm is forecast to peak Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, with rain totals expected to exceed 1 inch in some parts of the county, including Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez.
“I would say for this time of year, you probably could characterize it more as a strong storm for October,” meteorologist Robbie Munroe said.
But compared to possible winter storms, this is still considered moderate, he added.
There is up to a 40% chance of thunderstorms, along with the potential for heavy downpours, gusty winds and waterspouts over the water, according to Munroe.
There is also a possibility of periods of heavy rain and minor flooding, he said.
A flood watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon for the South Coast, Santa Ynez Valley and interior mountains.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible, with rainfall rates up to 1 inch per hour in the forecast, the National Weather Service said.
“Be prepared for possible flooding along creeks and rivers, streets, and low-lying areas, thunderstorms, and minor debris flows, including within and below recent burn areas,” the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management wrote in an emergency alert sent out Tuesday afternoon.
“Evacuations are not being issued at this time. If you are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your home, leave the area before rain starts. Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave,” the message said.
Despite the rain, temperatures are not expected to drop significantly.
“It’s not going to feel like a cold storm necessarily,” Munroe said. “All the rain and cloud cover and everything will keep the temperatures much more moderated than we have been used to with all these heat waves.”
High humidity is possible even with the forecast’s “modest” temperatures, he said.
It is also unlikely the rainfall continues past Thursday, but the weather might still be a little cloudy and breezy, according to Munroe.
Munroe said the El Niño weather phenomenon could be influencing the midweek storms.
“Those warmer waters to our south can help to energize the storms a little bit more,” he said. “A little extra moisture and energy can make them a bit stronger.”
The rainstorm started somewhere off the Pacific Northwest and has been moving south, according to Munroe.
“It’s coming effectively from out north and then moving along the West Coast, offshore enough that we don’t see huge impacts,” he added.
Munroe advised residents to prepare their homes for rainfall, including gutter and roof maintenance.
He also warned residents of possible high tides and impacts to beaches from the storm.
Check the latest weather forecast and National Weather Service alerts.
