By the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management
A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for Santa Barbara County effective at 9 AM Tuesday, March 14th through 5 AM Wednesday, March 15th. Avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, areas with standing water, and areas near creeks or streams. If you are in one of these areas be prepared to go to higher ground. Visit www.weather.gov/lox for more information.
Another rain system is expected to arrive in Santa Barbara County on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Rainfall is predicted to start Tuesday morning and remain consistent through Wednesday morning.
Current forecasts indicate this storm is likely to cause excessive runoff which may result in dangerous flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low lying and flood prone areas.
Residents should take steps to prepare ahead of the storm. https://www.countyofsb.org/576/Storm-Readiness
If you are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your home, leave the area before rain starts. Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave.
If you feel unsafe during the rainfall, shelter in place in your home by gathering your family and pets in the inner most room of your house, preferably on the top floor if you live in a multi-story home.
Do not attempt to drive at night or while it is raining, as roads may be damaged and your car may be swept away by moving water or debris.
Public safety officials are keeping a close eye on the incoming storm. Officials will continue to work together to further assess if emergency protective actions are necessary, such as an evacuation warning, evacuation order, or shelter in place.
Other Information Resources:
- Visit the following CalTrans website to check the status of highways: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php
- Visit the following County Public Works website to check the status of local roadways: https://www.countyofsb.org/2116/Road-Closures
With every storm there has been a ground water seep on upper Garden Street coming off the old St. Anthony Seminary property. When it started at the beginning of the storms I thought it was a water line break, but it always subsides.
There’s a lot of ground water movement going on. The sump pump under my house didn’t go off for two years during the drought, but it has been going off many times per day since January.
Perhaps you meant your sump pump is now going on?
Yes, going on.
🙂
🙂
Nothing new here about ground water seepage in wet years in your neighborhood.
Sorry for my previous comment…been gone all day…all schools are closed.
What river is that in the lead photo? Santa Ynez?
I heard Montecito schools, will be closed?
I was a little surprised to see the evac orders & closures. Reading up, I saw that NWS had changed our rain timing and intensity forecast from Heavy to Very Heavy in the noon to 6 p.m. block.
I like their new forecasting chart.