Steady rainfall has caused flooded roadways and mudslides across Santa Barbara County, with widespread street and highway closures reported.
The county issued evacuation orders Monday midday due to a Flash Flood Warning in effect.
Highway 101 and State Route 154 were both closed north of Santa Barbara due to mudslides and rocks in the roadway from the storm, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Northbound Highway 101 is closed between Mariposa Reina on the Gaviota Coast, near the landfill and state beaches, and Highway 1 due to a debris flow, Caltrans said.
State Route 154 is closed between State Route 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley and State Route 192 in Santa Barbara because of multiple rock slides, the CHP said at 10:30 a.m.
Interstate 5 is the only alternate route for Santa Barbara-area drivers to get north, which drivers would have to access from Ventura County.
Then, officials closed Highway 101 between State Route 150 in Carpinteria and Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara due to flooding. That means there is no way out of the Santa Barbara area on local highways as of Monday afternoon.
The CHP and Caltarns asked people to avoid time on the roads as much as possible Monday due to the storm conditions.
Highway 135 was closed between Los Alamos and Harris Grade Road, and Highway 1 was closed between Black Road and Solomon in Santa Maria due to flooding.
Check Caltrans’ Quickmap for highway closures here.
Check Santa Barbara County road closures on the Public Works map here.
The wet weather likely contributed to the many vehicle collisions, spinouts, rollovers and over-the-side incidents reported Monday morning.
Moderate to heavy rainfall rates prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Flood Advisory through 8 p.m., warning of flooding and potential shallow debris flows.
Shortly before 10 a.m., a WEA alert was issued for the Refugio Canyon area to shelter in place due to flooding and mud flows.
The Alisal Reservoir in the Santa Ynez Valley had received 7.3 inches of rain in the 12-hour period ending at 10:50 a.m.
Other rainfall totals were: 1.8 inches in Santa Maria; 2.6 inches in Lompoc; 2.8 inches in Solvang; 2.5 inches in Goleta; 2.7 inches in Santa Barbara; 1.2 inches in Montecito; 1.3 inches in Carpinteria.
There was already a Flood Watch in effect for Santa Barbara County through 11 a.m. Tuesday warning that excessive rainfall and runoff could cause street flooding, creek flooding, rock slides and mud slides, and debris flows in recent wildfire burn areas.
“In addition, the Sisquoc River at Garey is expected to exceed monitor stage by 9 p.m. (Monday), peaking at around 11.5 feet late this evening,” the NWS said in its Flood Watch.
County emergency management officials announced evacuation warnings for South Coast communities near or within areas that burned in recent wildfires and were expected to order mandatory evacuations on Monday.
Click here for evacuation information from ReadySBC.
Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor warned last week that the conditions were similar to the 1969 storm with heavy rainfall causing “saturation event” debris flows that killed several people and destroyed homes.
That storm was five years after the Coyote Fire, just as these storms come five years after the Thomas Fire, he said.
Last week’s storms dropped less rainfall than expected.
The rainfall caused roadway flooding and the high surf caused damage along the coastline, including at the Santa Barbara Harbor and Goleta Beach Park restaurant building.
Storm Preparedness Resources
Resources for Santa Barbara County residents include the 2-1-1 information hotline, as well as readysbc.org, where residents can register for emergency alerts, view evacuation maps and emergency preparedness information, and where emergency notifications will be posted.
Sandbag collection areas are available across the county, and a full list of locations can be found here.
Power outages are possible because of the heavy rain and high winds in the storm, and Southern California Edison said customers can report or inquire about power outages at 800.611.1911 and get the latest outage information at sce.com/outages.
The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management is posting storm-related updates on its readysbc.org website.
Check the weather forecast and for local hazard notices at weather.gov.
Click here for the latest Santa Barbara weather forecast.
Freedom Warming Centers Opening
People needing shelter from the inclement weather can go to the county’s Freedom Warming Centers on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The centers will be open each day from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
They are located at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave. in Santa Barbara; Carpinteria Community Church, 1111 Vallecito Road in Carpinteria; Peace Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Ocean Ave. in Lompoc; and Cornerstone Church of the Navarene at 1026 Sierra Madre Ave. in Santa Maria.
The Warming Center Hotline is 805.324.2372.