The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North County Wednesday night, in addition to other storm-related advisories for the region.
The Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect from 8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night for Santa Maria, Lompoc, Los Alamos, the Santa Ynez Valley and Gaviota areas. Heavy rain, strong winds and hail were possible, forecasters said.
The storm could damage roofs, siding and trees, the NWS said.
County officials advised residents near the Lake Fire burn area to shelter in place late Wednesday night due to potential flooding and debris flows from thunderstorms. “Go to innermost room or higher ground such as a second floor,” they said in a 9 p.m. social media message.
A Flood Watch is in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Thursday for South County areas including Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria.
The storm is expected to drop 1-2 inches of rain on coastal areas and valleys, and 2-4 inches in the foothills and mountains, the NWS said.
The most intense rain is expected overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Thunderstorms, hail and even weak/brief tornados are possible, forecasters said.
Santa Barbara is offering free emergency parking and sandbag stations ahead of the rain storm expected to hit the region Wednesday night.
Santa Barbara has two sandbag filling stations open until 5 p.m. Wednesday: at the Annex Yard (401 East Yanonali St.) and Fire Station 7 (2411 Stanwood Dr.).
The city activated its emergency parking program, where residents in flood-prone areas can register to park their vehicles in public lots for free during the storm.
Goleta has two self-service sandbag stations open.
More locations to fill up sandbags for free: https://www.countyofsb.org/2219/Sandbags
The most likely scenario is minor flooding, water pooling on roadways, and shallow debris flows, but people should prepare for significant impacts, meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said during a Wednesday afternoon briefing.
There’s a possibility of rainfall rates of 1 inch per hour or more, which can trigger significant flooding, especially in recent burn areas, weather officials said.
County emergency managers ordered evacuations for communities in the Lake Fire burn areas during an earlier winter storm, but had not issued warnings for this week’s storm as of Wednesday afternoon.
Most widespread rain will be out of the area by the Thursday morning commute, Schoenfeld said.
Emergency alerts and more information are available on the county page at readysbc.org.
Check local rainfall totals here.
Weather Warnings for Wind, Surf and Snow
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday for Cuyama, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and the Gaviota Coast, with gusts up to 55 mph possible, the NWS said.
Strong winds could cause power outages.
- Santa Barbara County: What to do before, during and after a power outage
- Prepare for a Southern California Edison power outage
- Check Edison’s Outage Center
- Prepare for a PG&E power outage
- Check PG&E’s Outage Center
West-facing beaches have a High Surf Advisory from 9 p.m. Wednesday through 9 p.m. Friday. Large breaking waves of 10-13 feet and dangerous rip currents are expected, the NWS said.
There’s a Winter Storm Warning from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday morning for Santa Barbara County interior mountains due to cold temperatures, winds and snowy conditions. The storm could drop 2 feet of snow on higher elevations and up to an inch as low as 3,000 feet, the NWS said.
Daytime temperatures will be in the 50s during this storm, and nighttime temperatures will dip into the 40s and 30s, according to the NWS.
Freedom Warming Shelters will be open countywide on Wednesday and Thursday night for unhoused people, organizers said.