Santa Barbara County will continue to get more rain Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, and another storm system is expected for early next week.
Roadway flooding and road closures were widespread in the county, but no major incidents were reported as of Friday afternoon.
Caltrans closed Highway 135 between Bell Street in Los Alamos and Highway 1 near Orcutt on Friday, and closed Highway 1 in Santa Maria between Black Road and Solomon Road due to flooding.
Rose Schoenfeld with the National Weather Service told Noozhawk that moderate to heavy rain is expected to continue through Friday night, and another ¾-inch of rain is expected after 10 p.m.
According to the county’s hydrology website, in the 24 hours ending 2 p.m. Friday, rainfall totals were 1.79 inches in Santa Barbara, 1.87 inches at the Goleta Fire Station, 1.69 inches in Carpinteria, 1.82 inches in Montecito, 0.29 inches in Buellton, 1.58 inches in Los Alamos, 0.89 inches in Lompoc, 0.92 inches in Orcutt, and 1.19 inches in Santa Maria.
A flood advisory is in effect in the county through 7 p.m. Friday and potential impacts could include significant road flooding, but Schoenfeld said there’s generally a low threat of river flooding at this time.
There’s also a slight chance of thunderstorms through 9 p.m. Friday, and a flood watch is in effect until early Saturday morning.
Schoenfeld added that Saturday morning looks to be light rain, and it should be dry until the next system comes in Monday afternoon.
“We’re currently expecting that (storm) to run in Santa Barbara from Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning,” Schoenfeld said. “But it may continue to be a little showery after.”
She said that this storm will likely be longer than the current system, but with less intense rainfall rates.
Storm impacts are much greater to the north, including in neighboring San Luis Obispo County. That county had multiple flash flood warnings and evacuation warnings in effect Friday, The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported, and public school districts canceled class.
President Joe Biden approved California’s request for a storm-related emergency declaration on Friday, which will make more federal response and recovery resources available.
Nancy Ward, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, said the state plans to pursue a major disaster declaration from the federal government, but hasn’t yet.
Counties responding to storm impacts don’t have resources available to accumulate damage estimates right now, she said.
“FEMA’s policies for California, our costs have to exceed more than $70 million. Do we think we’ll get there? We think we will – but right now we’re concentrating on those essential, critical, lifesaving, life-sustaining issues,” Ward said Friday.
“We’ll deal with the major disaster declaration, which we anticipate to request when we can get to it, after we do our critical response.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency last week in 13 counties, including Santa Barbara, due to winter storms. He also activated the California National Guard.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story and continued storm coverage.
Click here for the latest Santa Barbara weather forecast.
Click here for the latest Santa Ynez Valley weather forecast.
Click here for the latest Lompoc weather forecast.
Click here for the latest Santa Maria weather forecast.
Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli contributed reporting to this story.