Santa Barbara County canceled its storm-related evacuation orders as of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, but advised returning residents to expect wet roads and debris from the heavy rain.
The orders went into effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday for South Coast properties near the Thomas Fire, Cave Fire and Alisal Fire burn areas because of concerns of post-fire flooding and debris flows.
The storm had dropped 1 to 3 inches of rain on most county areas as of 5:30 p.m., and no major incidents or damage have been reported.
“There was less rain than expected and we didn’t see any significant impacts in the evacuation zones, and that’s why they wanted to lift evacuation orders,” said Kelly Hubbard, director of the Office of Emergency Management.
“We want residents to remain vigilant, be watchful if they live near a creek,” she told Noozhawk.
There were still road closures in effect due to flooding and fallen trees on Tuesday night.
The localized flooding could take a while for flooding to recede since the ground is so saturated from back-to-back storms, Hubbard said.
She also noted that even though the rain is expected to end Tuesday, impacts to creek and river flows will stretch into Wednesday.
“There are still concerns for river flows, it does take time for all of that water to come down the hills and mountains,” Hubbard said Tuesday night.
“The Sisquoc, which flows into the Santa Maria River, and then the Santa Ynez River, their flows are estimated to peak (Wednesday) morning at 6 a.m., they’ll continue to rise through the night.”
The evacuation warning for the Pioneer Street area of Guadalupe will stay in effect through at least Wednesday morning because of that, she added.
Emergency response officials had their eyes on local creeks and rivers all day, since the heavy rain on top of recent storms caused potential for major flooding.
A flood watch remained in effect countywide until 5 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
View photos from Tuesday’s storm in the gallery below.
California Conservation Corps members fill sandbags Tuesday at Lower Manning Park in Montecito. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo 
A large tree falls across Calle Real in Goleta between North Kellogg Avenue and the Maravilla senior living community on Tuesday. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Rocks tumble onto Mountain Drive in Santa Barbara Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Rain runoff swells Mission Creek near Oak Park in Santa Barbara Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo 
Montecito Creek flows through the community during a rain storm Tuesday afternoon. Emergency response officials have their eyes on this and other local creeks for potential flooding. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo 
Driver travel through flooded roadways Tuesday. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Flood control workers check out San Antonio Creek as it overflows a road crossing at Tuckers Grove Park near Goleta Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo 
Water crosses the roadway at Tucker’s Grove Park near Goleta. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Jason Orr surveys the damage from a fallen eucalyptus tree onto a bridge that crosses Tecolote Creek, near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara hotel, in Goleta Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo 
Less traffic than usual on Highway 101 through Montecito on Tuesday with part of the community under an evacuation order. Credit: Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department 
Black Road was closed in western Santa Maria Tuesday due to flooding. Credit: City of Santa Maria photo
South Coast school districts that canceled classes on Tuesday planned to return as usual Wednesday.
“We know that there’s still potential for another storm next week, so we’re encouraging residents to refresh their emergency kits and supplies and if they need to check their sandbags and such, a good time to do that is between storms,” Hubbard said.