The current storm system brought heavy rain and flooding to Santa Barbara, which has received over 4 inches of rain in the last 24 hours and has more still on the way.
According to the Santa Barbara County Public Works website, 4.73 inches of rain were recorded at Santa Barbara City College in the last 24 hours as of about 3:25 p.m. Thursday.
Santa Barbara set a rainfall record for the day with 2.54 inches recorded at the Santa Barbara Airport. That breaks the mark of 2.51 inches set in 1945.
The National Weather Service said that rainy weather is going to continue through Santa Barbara County throughout the day Thursday, gradually tapering off during the day Friday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson said that by Friday evening, the storm system should be east of the county, with dry weather through the weekend and Christmas Day.
He added that most areas of the county can expect to see about 1 to 2 more inches of rain through Friday, with the foothills and Santa Ynez Valley mountains looking at the possibility of 2 to 5 more inches of rain.
“Still a lot of rain headed to Santa Barbara County today and tonight,” Thompson said Thursday afternoon. “(Southern Santa Barbara County and the Santa Ynez Valley range) are getting hit the hardest as far as totals and intensity, and that will be the case through tomorrow.”
A Flood Watch from the National Weather Service is in effect in Santa Barbara County through 4 a.m. Friday, and a Flash Flood Warning was in effect in the Santa Barbara area until 4 p.m. Thursday.
Rain Causes Widespread Flooding, Road Closures
The heavy rain, which came down at a high rate earlier Thursday morning, caused flooding and road closures in several areas throughout the city of Santa Barbara.
According to city spokesperson Bryan Latchford, the following roads were closed due to flooding as midday Thursday:
- 0 block of South Calle Cesar Chavez
- 0 – 100 block of Anacapa Street
- 600 block of West Canon Perdido Street
- 800 block of San Andres Street
- 1100 block of Shoreline Drive
- Gutierrez Street from Milpas Street to Garden Street
- 800 – 900 block of East Ortega Street
- Mission Street underpass
- Highway 101 Northbound Laguna Street off-ramp
“We do have streets and public works crews out in the community checking on everyone,” Latchford told Noozhawk. “Caltrans is working around the clock to get some of the lane closures opened up.”
Several Highway 101 freeway off-ramps into town were also closed due to flooded intersections near overpasses.
Santa Barbara City Fire Department staff said that underpasses and low lying areas — the usual suspects for flooding in heavy rain — have been flooded. About a dozen people have had to be rescued from their cars stuck in flooded areas.
There were no injuries, they added, just people stranded after driving into deep water. Most of the people who got stuck had driven around or through barricades blocking flooded streets.
The Santa Barbara Police Department said fire and police staffing increased Thursday to provide rescue services.
“For your safety, please stay away from flooded areas,” police said. “Stay off roads if possible.”
A spill of at least 9,000 gallons of untreated sewage from a manhole prompted the closure of West Beach in Santa Barbara, city officials announced Thursday evening.
The area closed to recreational water contact is from the Santa Barbara Harbor to a quarter mile east of Mission Creek, and signed have been posted warning the public.
The Residence Inn by Marriott & Courtyard by Marriott in Santa Barbara and Goleta are offering special reduced rates for first-responders affected by the storms, according to sales executive Diana V. Wickline.
The FEMA flood map is here, which shows areas at-risk of flooding.
Check Caltrans’ Quickmap for highway and state route closures here.
Check Santa Barbara County road status and closures on the Public Works map here.
Find sandbag filling stations here.
Click here to view the latest Santa Barbara weather forecast.
Check back with Noozhawk for more storm updates.