Edhat Staff
The rainstorm on Thursday has prompted a Flash Flood Warning by the National Weather Service (NWS) as up to five inches of rain or more are expected on Santa Barbara County’s south coast.
The flash flood warning will stay in effect through Thursday evening but NWS is also issuing special weather alerts that include a Marine Warning with alerts of hail, wind, steep waves, and water spouts.
Edhat readers and public agencies are sharing photos and videos of areas to avoid that are already flooded as of noon on Thursday.
See the photos and videos of Santa Barbara County flood areas below:
#Flooding in #SantaBarbara #California after near continuous rain the past 24 hours. @NWSLosAngeles has a flash flood warning out as rain continues. pic.twitter.com/p13ukwQtrl
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 21, 2023
Santa Barbara Firefighter said to turn around.
Garden St pic.twitter.com/4wfiTZ6pNb— Amie Zamudio (@amie_zamudio) December 21, 2023
Santa Barbara is draining off after some of the most intense rain and flooding it has seen in a long time. The 9 AM hour was a gusher. Multiple intersections, underpass, crossings, and streets that do not normally flood were under water. pic.twitter.com/f8fBEmGZ0J
— John Palminteri (@JohnPalminteri) December 21, 2023
Car Rescue – JWO Earl Warren Entrance – SBFD O/S of 1 vehicle in standing water on the roadway & 1 vehicle stalled out. Calle Real closed off at Earl Warren Entrance and US 101 NB Entrance. 📸: Ray Navarro/Noozhawk pic.twitter.com/E11G4ir4a5
— Ray Navarro (@805TowingPIO) December 21, 2023
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VIDEO: #US101 southbound off-ramp at Garden Street in #SantaBarbara. No estimate for opening. https://t.co/Aov6e5SHf4 pic.twitter.com/6AsuxqfAZa
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) December 21, 2023
UPDATE: The US 101 southbound off-ramp is closed at Garden Street in Santa Barbara. Video shows current conditions at Mission Street.
No estimate for opening.@CaltransHQ @PIOJimShivers https://t.co/QS1PXbDunE pic.twitter.com/73wNByeS9k— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) December 21, 2023
@NewsChannel312 storm coming through Santa Barbara(Pedregosa St) pic.twitter.com/4VeOblKSd8
— Daniel Torres, M.Ed. (@Daniel_TorresA) December 21, 2023
The northbound #US101 off-ramp at Laguna Street in #SantaBarbara is closed due to flooding. There is no estimate for re-opening. Drive carefully and be aware of all responders.@CaltransHQ
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) December 21, 2023
Current conditions on northbound #US101 just north of Olive Mill Road. A full closure of the northbound lanes occurred for approximately fifteen minutes this morning, but has since re-opened. Caltrans is working to clear mulch from drains in the area. CHP assisting.@CaltransHQ pic.twitter.com/HKFg6lcB3W
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) December 21, 2023
RT County of #SantaBarbara
⚠️TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN! Reports of flooded roads throughout Santa Barbara County are coming in. Stay off the roads and remain vigilant to changing conditions. Hours of rain are still on the way! https://t.co/cjm0ORNnWL (via @nextdoor ) pic.twitter.com/Xer4xP7VNC— Edible Santa Barbara (@EdibleSB) December 21, 2023
These are the same intersections that always flood. I’m pretty sure locals know to avoid all underpasses and areas near the beach that flood. Still a bummer for those that have flooding at their homes or businesses.
Hopefully there are not any roundabouts going in at any of these intersections.
That would be a nightmare.
You’d think you would see a City Public Works truck in any of these pictures.
Besides the cops, firetrucks and Cal Trans trucks?
Luckily, this only happens once every year or so, but it really does highlight the need for solid infrastructure in general.
I saw photos of City Public Works at Mission Canyon and Cabrillo clearing street drains, and at Mission Creek on De la Vina diverting storm water. There are other news sources around, no one site has the same photo selection.
It’s always funny to me, no matter how many times it happens, that each time it rains people drive into those intersections and get their cars flooded
People who lack empathy are often very easily amused by others’ misfortunes.
“Oh the poor people who drive into what is visibly multiple feet of water and then need rescue services while there are still actual emergencies happening”
Yeah, no.
Water doesn’t look very clear. Not everyone who drives around here even lives here to know the depth.
Good thing you’ve never made a mistake.
Never made a mistake that stops up public services.
Good thing you assumedly have if you’re so sympathetic?
You’re the type to drive right in and then be like “help, I made a mistake, waaahhh”
Believe it or not, being sympathetic to others whose days have been ruined, or injured or worse, doesn’t mean it’s happened to you. It just means your not a terrible person.
Note also, these are mostly at freeway underpasses so it’s possible people from out of town (we are a tourist destination) got on/off the freeway and unexpectedly got in too deep.
Good thing you don’t have family or friends who have died in floods or extreme weather events. Lucky you.
Is that a veiled pick me statement?
Sorry if you’ve lost friends or loved ones but that’s totally irrelevant to the subject.
There is a big difference between floods and driving into a flooded intersection.
Were you trying to pull rank or something? How distasteful.
Absolutely. The more we hand-hold grown adults, and kids for that matter (nanny state), the worse we get as a society. Think people! Don’t expect you can do whatever you want and be saved by someone automatically . Life’s not an internet video game, with two extra lives. Silly.
A few folks, especially the most vocal one here on Edhat, will never get that.
Some people just don’t understand civilization, and it’s not the people who see the value in helping others in the community.
Anon – thumbs up, bro.
That was a beautiful little philosophical piece right there.
True virtue signaling at its finest. We care about our actual community, not those detracting from it
The logorrheic con posters around here detract from this community with every comment they make.
Exactly, ANON.
They have no place in our community.
That “Salsipuedes and Cota Streets (Photo by John Finley)” shot is almost how deep it was a block away in the divot @ Bond and Quarantina (it was way deeper). Had a driver parked in the middle of the street for a good hour with hazards flashing. Was pretty entertaining watching people turn onto Quarantina only to pause realizing that making it to Cota was not in the cards, and yet others charged ahead only to stall out & float away…
The hypocrisy among you guys is mind blowing, and laughable. Where is your faux outrage over the horrible, cruel and racist comments from your pals? Crickets, always.
If you’re going to whine and cry about my comments but not your pals’, then your “concern” is meaningless.
WOW
Need to have location before publishing photos.
Most of the locations are under the photos or within the text/social media post.