A wind advisory will be in effect for southern Santa Barbara County from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday, with sundowner wind gusts expected to reach up to 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
The advisory covers the southwestern coastline, including El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Gaviota Coast and the western Santa Ynez Mountains. Sustained winds between 20 and 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 45 mph in some areas.
“These are typical sundowner winds for this time of year,” said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the NWS’s Oxnard office. “They’re not a particularly strong event, but we could see gusts in the 40-to-45-mph range tonight.”
Lewis explained that sundowner winds are downslope winds flowing off the Santa Ynez Mountains, often warming and drying coastal areas due to pressure differences. While these winds can sometimes increase fire danger, Lewis said this event is expected to carry enough moisture to avoid red flag warnings.
Another round of winds is possible Thursday night, though it may be weaker and not require an advisory, Lewis said.
“Watch for gusty cross winds on Highway 101 along the South Coast!” the NWS warned in a social media post Wednesday afternoon.
Santa Barbara County will also experience warmer-than-normal temperatures this week, the NWS said.
Check the latest forecast and weather advisories from the NWS here.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs Considered
As of Wednesday, Southern California Edison was considering public safety power shutoffs for some areas, including the Gaviota Coast, El Capitán, Refugio, the Highway 154 corridor, and some foothill neighborhoods of Santa Barbara. About 3,168 customers could be affected by these shutoffs, according to SCE.
Residents are encouraged to check SCE’s outage map for the latest status and potential impacts.
Small Craft Advisory
A small craft advisory is in effect through early Friday for offshore waters of Santa Barbara County, including the Santa Barbara Channel. Mariners are advised to use caution due to hazardous sea conditions, the NWS said.