More showers and thunderstorms are in store for Santa Barbara County this weekend, as well as potentially strong north winds on Sunday.
John Dumas with the National Weather Service told Noozhawk that this is the “second phase” of the storm that brought some rain to the area earlier in the week. This phase is different in that it will be “quite conductive,” bringing the potential for thunderstorms.
Dumas said that the thunderstorms can be expected in the Central Coast around 8 p.m. Friday night, moving across the county between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Coming with the thunderstorms is the possibility of strong winds and small hail.
While there is a less than 2% chance, Dumas said a weak tornado can’t be ruled out of the forecast for Santa Barbara County. If there is one, it would likely be a weak waterspout, he added.
Dumas said the rain is expected to be wrapped up by noon Saturday, although some light showers may linger.
Areas along the mountains may see up to 2 inches of rain while most of the county is expected to see lower rain amounts in the 0.25-1-inch range.
There is also a chance of potentially damaging north winds in the mountains and southern Santa Barbara County on Sunday. The NWS forecasts widespread winds of 25 to 40 mph, and gusts up to 40 to 60 mph in the Santa Barbara County mountains.
The NWS said that “north winds like this tend to impact the entire Santa Ynez range.”
The agency advised people to keep an eye on the forecast, especially if they live in a wind prone area.
Daytime high temperatures throughout the county are forecasted in the upper-60s on Friday, mid- to upper-60s on Saturday, and upper-60s to 70s on Sunday.
Overnight lows will be in the 50s Friday and in the upper-40s to 50s on Saturday. Sunday night will bring “below normal temperatures,” Dumas said, with lows in the 40s to low-50s. The Santa Ynez Valley has a forecasted low of 37 degrees Sunday night.
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