Mountain areas of Santa Barbara County are under a Red Flag Warning again this week with dry and windy weather expected.
The National Weather Service says the warning, which indicates fire risk weather, will be in effect from 10 p.m. Monday to noon Wednesday for the Santa Ynez Mountains and interior mountains of Santa Barbara County.
Southern California Edison says more public safety power shutoffs are possible for the area this week.
Edison had implemented shutoffs impacting 60 customers as of midday Monday, with more being considered in Montecito and the Carpinteria Valley. Check the Outage Map here.
Santa Barbara County will see gusty winds of 30-50 mph in the mountains and 20-30 mph in coastal areas and valleys, the NWS said.
There could be lulls between windy periods, but residents should stay vigilant all the way through Wednesday, NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell said Monday afternoon.
All areas in the Red Flag Warning have a high risk for rapid fire growth if a fire starts, the NWS said.
“Do not do anything that could spark a fire,” officials said.
Red Flag Warnings indicate weather conditions with a high risk for large fires with rapid spread, extreme fire behavior, and long-range spotting. This week, gusty winds combine with low humidity and dry vegetation to create the critical fire risk.
The Red Flag Warning conditions will rise to a “particularly dangerous situation” for Ventura and Los Angeles counties, which is an extreme version of a Red Flag Warning.
The gusty winds are not expected to be as strong and destructive as last week’s windstorm, which fueled the fast, devastating spread of the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, the NWS said.
However, winds this week could stir up some of the fires’ hot spots and reignite the blazes, which is another concern, Kittell said.
Abundant grasses and vegetation from a few wet years combined with a dry winter means there is a lot of dry “fuel” for wildfires; that makes the “worst recipe for fire weather,” he said.
Lower-than-average rainfall and low humidity has contributed to the fire danger, the NWS says.
Santa Barbara County areas have received virtually no rain in January (two sites have 0.01 inches recorded) and less than 1 inch of rain in December.
Santa Barbara County officials announced Monday afternoon on X that the Hot Springs Trailhead and parking lot will be close from dusk on Monday through Wednesday.
“The trailhead gate will be closed and locked,” the county said. “No trespassing.”
Anyone who sees or smells smoke is urged to cal 9-1-1.
Freeze Watch for North County
The Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc Valley and Santa Maria Valley are not part of the Red Flag Warning but do have a freeze watch in effect from midnight to 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Temperatures in the low 30s are expected in Santa Maria, and three-to-five hours of below-freezing temperatures are forecast for the Lompoc and Santa Ynez valleys Monday night.
The frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, the NWS warned.
A Freedom Warming Center will open Monday night in Santa Maria due to the low temperatures. The activation hotline, with location information, is available at 805.203.3666.
Check the latest forecast, weather advisories and warnings from the National Weather Service here.