Santa Barbara County started drying out Friday after back-to-back rain storms.
Skies should be mostly sunny through the weekend, but a stronger and potentially dangerous storm is on the way to Santa Barbara County next week, the National Weather Service says.
Meteorologist Ryan Kittell said more forecast models are showing growing potential for heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday. One scenario has high rainfall amounts and high rainfall rates for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
“If this plays out then we’re looking at totals very close to and approaching Jan. 9, 2023,” Kittell said. “If you were in any of these counties, the date stands out.”
The Jan. 9, 2023 storm caused massive damage, flash flood warnings and evacuations in Santa Barbara County.
Next week’s storm is expected to be the strongest one of the season so far, and the most significant impacts are forecast for Wednesday night through Thursday night as of now, Kittell said.
This has been a drier winter than that winter, but people should start preparing now for the worst-case scenario, he said.
Heavy rain could cause widespread flooding on roads and near creeks, and debris flows in recent burn areas like the Lake Fire in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley.
The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management sent out emergency messages Friday afternoon warning people that flooding and hazardous road conditions are expected in next week’s storm.
“This storm also poses a potential risk for debris flows and significant flooding to residents and businesses within and surrounding the Lake Fire burn scar, ” the message says.
“Evacuations are NOT being issued at this time. If you live in or near the Lake Fire Burn Area and are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your local roads and home, leave the area before rain starts. Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave.
“Public safety officials are keeping a close eye on the incoming storm and working with the National Weather Service. Officials will continue to work together to further assess if protective actions, such as an evacuation warning, evacuation order, or shelter in place, are necessary. More information is available at www.ReadySBC.org.”
The Jan. 9, 2023 Storm
That storm dropped historic levels of rainfall on the county. (View photos and videos here).
The Santa Maria River breached its banks and flooded a Guadalupe neighborhood. It also washed out the entrance road to Rancho Guadalupe Dunes county park.
A sinkhole caused major damage to homes in Orcutt.
Highways, local roads and parks were closed because of sinkholes, mudslides and flooding.
In Santa Barbara, manhole covers on the street were blown off because of the huge amount of pressure in the overloaded stormwater system.
Neighborhoods near creeks and the coast were inundated with water, mud and debris.
Rainfall Totals From This Week’s Storms
San Marcos Pass received 6.09 inches of rain this week, according to county Public Works monitoring. Santa Barbara had 2.67 inches of rain; Goleta had 2.36 inches of rain; and Carpinteria had 2.01 inches of rain.
North County areas had less than 2 inches overall, but the soaking boosted the region’s rainfall to 28% of normal to date.
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