Evacuation Orders Lifted Sunday Morning
All Evacuation Orders Lifted for Santa Barbara County, Effective 9 a.m. February 3, 2019
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, in consultation with fire agencies and other public safety officials, has announced that effective at 9 a.m., February 3, Evacuation Orders are lifted for all areas in Santa Barbara County.
The National Weather Service has advised that critical rain rates did not materialize over the area as expected. Showers are expected through Tuesday, February 5, but rainfall is not anticipated to reach critical levels to cause debris flows. Residents are advised to stay alert to their surroundings and changing conditions.
Many roads may be impassable or have standing water and mud. Use caution when returning home and navigating these areas.
The evacuation center at Goleta Valley Community Center will be closed.
For questions concerning animal sheltering, please call (805) 681-4332.
If evacuated residents who are returning to their residences have a need for wheelchair or other specialized transport needs, call the County’s Emergency Call Center at (833) 688-5551.
Register for emergency alerts from Aware and Prepare at www.ReadySBC.org. En español: https://readysbc.org/es/.
Update by edhat staff
Evacuation Order Extended Through Sunday Morning
Update by Office of Emergency Management
Flash Flood Warning Issued for Santa Barbara County
Update by Office of Emergency Management
Evacuation Order: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER due to heavy rain arriving late tonight, February 1, 2019 for the Thomas/Whittier/Sherpa fire burn areas. If you are in a Debris Flow Risk Area you are ORDERED to evacuate by 8 PM. If you live adjacent to the evacuation order areas, these areas may become isolated following a debris flow. Residents in these adjacent areas should be prepared and consider leaving the area during the evacuation.
Red Cross Evacuation Center will be located at Goleta Valley Community Center at 5679 Hollister Ave in Goleta, CA. People who need assistance evacuating animals should contact the Animal Hotline: 805-681-4332 If you feel threatened at any time, leave immediately; do not wait for an alert. For more information and to check if your home is in the debris flow risk area, go to www.readysbc.org. If you have questions, please call our Emergency Call Center at 833-688-5551
Orden de Evacuación: La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Santa Bárbara emitió una ORDEN DE EVACUACIÓN debido a la fuerte lluvia que llega esta noche, 1 de febrero de 2019 para las áreas quemadas por los Incendios Thomas/Whittier/Sherpa. Si se encuentra en un área de riesgo de flujo de escombros, se le ORDENA evacuar a las 8 PM. Si vive cerca de las áreas bajo una orden de evacuación, estas áreas pueden aislarse después de un flujo de escombros. Los residentes en estas áreas deben estar preparados y considerar irse del área durante la evacuación.
El Centro de Evacuación de la Cruz Roja estará ubicado en el Centro Comunitario de Goleta Valley en 5679 Hollister Ave., Goleta, CA. Las personas que necesiten asistencia para evacuar animales deben comunicarse con la línea directa para animales: 805-681-4332. Si se siente amenazado en cualquier momento, desaloje de inmediato; no esperes una alerta. Para obtener más información y para verificar si su hogar se encuentra en el área de riesgo de flujo de escombros, visite www.readysbc.org/es. Si tiene preguntas, llame a nuestro Centro de Llamadas de Emergencia al 833-688-5551
Update by National Weather Service (NWS)
EVACUATION WARNING: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION WARNING due to heavy rain arriving tomorrow night for the Thomas/Whittier/Sherpa fire burn areas. If the forecast does not change, an Evacuation Order will be issued tomorrow. Get SET now. Remain alert and prepare essential personal items and pets; be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If you feel threatened at any time, leave immediately; do not wait for an alert. For more information and to check if your home is in the debris flow risk area, go to www.readysbc.org.
ADVERTENCIA DE EVACUACIÓN: La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Santa Bárbara ha emitido una ADVERTENCIA DE EVACUACIÓN debido a la fuerte lluvia que llegará mañana por la noche para las áreas quemadas por los Incendios Thomas/Whittier/Sherpa. Si el pronóstico no cambia, se emitirá una Orden de Evacuación mañana. Manténgase alerta y prepare sus artículos personales esenciales y las mascotas; esté listo para irse en cualquier momento. Si se siente amenazado en cualquier momento, desaloje de inmediato. No es necesario esperar una alerta. Para obtener más información y para verificar si su hogar está en el área de riesgo de flujo de escombros, visite readysbc.org/es.
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
WEATHER ADVISORY: Areas below the Sherpa, Whittier and Thomas Burn Areas are now under a Weather Advisory due to a strong storm forecast for late Friday night and early Saturday morning on February 1 & 2, 2019.
An Evacuation Warning or Order may be issued Friday. Get Ready now.
Please remain alert and prepare so that you can be ready to leave. If you feel threatened at any time, leave immediately. Updates will be provided tomorrow.
# # #
AVISO METEOROLÓGICO: Las áreas quemadas debajo de los Incendios Sherpa, Whittier y Thomas están bajo un Aviso Meteorológico debido a una fuerte tormenta pronosticada para el viernes por la tarde y sábado por la manana el 1 y 2 de febrero de 2019. Una Advertencia o Orden de Evacuación puede ser emitida el viernes. Prepárase ahora. Por favor, manténgase alerta y prepárese para que pueda estar listo para irse. Si se siente amenazado en cualquier momento, desaloje de inmediato. Las actualizaciones serán proporcionadas mañana. ReadySBC.org/es
The NWS forecasts that a storm is going to arrive in Santa Barbara County tomorrow night (Wednesday, 30 Jan 2019). Rainfall rates are forecast to be below the thresholds required to cause debris flows. Please stay alert for changing conditions. OEM and the NWS continue to monitor this storm and will notify you if any further action is required.
El pronostico del Servicio Metereologico (NWS) pronostica que una tormenta arribara al Condado de Santa Barbara manana por la noche (miercoles, 30 de enero de 2019). Los promedios de lluvia que se pronostican seran menores a los limites de flujos de arrastre con escombros. Mantengase alerta los cambios climaticos. OEM y NWS continuara observando la tormenta y le avisaran si se necesitan tomar otras medidas.
76 Comments
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Feb 07, 2019 08:00 AMRainfall records for SB going back to 1899 can be found here. http://countyofsb.org/pwd/water/downloads/hydro/234mdd.pdf this is a table of the monthly totals. The highest precipitation totals were all in the 1990s. Most in a year: 46.97” in 1997-1998. Highest total in January: 21.94” in 1994-1995. Highest total in Feb: 21.36” in 1997-1998. You just need to scroll down the Jan & Feb columns to seen the extreme precip events. Jan in 1968-1969 had 15.55” which is on of the higher totals which might have caused flooding if it fell in a short period of time. This is on of the many resources that can be found at Rain.cosbpw.net if you follow the links to the historical records
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Feb 04, 2019 06:45 AM6:40am:
SB COUNTY OEM: NWS indicates heavy rain approaching SB Co Burn Areas. Stay alert for changing conditions. Take action to stay safe if you feel threatened
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Feb 04, 2019 07:02 AMThanks Socalswag. Here’s more info. Pay attention
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service OXNARD CA
641 AM PST MON FEB 4 2019
CAZ036-039-052-041530-
Santa Ynez Valley CA-Santa Barbara County South Coast CA-
Santa Barbara County Mountains CA-
641 AM PST MON FEB 4 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
UNTIL 730 AM PST...
At 637 AM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a a couple of rotating
storms in the Santa Barbara Channel that will bring brief periods of
heavy rain, small hail, and the possibility of funnel clouds or weak
tornados between Refugio State Beach and Goleta.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
El Capitan State Beach...Refugio State Beach...Isla Vista...
Summerland...Goleta.
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Feb 02, 2019 08:02 PMHighway 101 now open in both directions...
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Feb 02, 2019 08:59 AMWell that was an impressive squall that worked it's way through SB starting around 8:00am. Very prominent line on all the radar sites. Weather Underground seemed to have the least real-time delay. 2" in my gauge.
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Feb 02, 2019 07:44 AM1.26”/hr accumulation at Refugio pass. Approaching 1”/hr at many locations on Rain.cosbpw.net . Really bad driving conditions to Ventura, but I made it ahead of the really nasty storm band.
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Feb 02, 2019 10:46 AMI’m still in Camarillo waiting for our student to finish her test. We strart back around noon. Google maps is showing that the closures are gone. I’m hoping to get independent confirmation.
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Feb 02, 2019 10:39 AMSo didja make it back before the 101 closed?
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Feb 02, 2019 08:29 AMAbout 0735 we got 1.02" in fifteen minutes with 60+ mph winds near Refugio Pass. Pretty intense, barely able to hear the alert tones for the Flash Flood Warnings over the storm noise.
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Feb 02, 2019 07:37 AM80mph wind gusts near Gaviota reported, coming this way to S.B. next few hours, until 10 a.m.
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Feb 02, 2019 07:28 AMNational Weather Service updates, current, here: https://twitter.com/NWSLosAngeles
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Feb 02, 2019 07:27 AMNWS: Mud and debris flows expected shortly in the #WhittierFire and #SherpaFire areas due to very heavy rain in 15 minutes or less. Shelter in place and stay away from canyon drainages. #CAwx. Flash Flood Warning including Santa Barbara County, CA until 8:45 AM PST
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Feb 02, 2019 07:26 AMOn a lighter note, I was in the T-Mobile store yesterday when the alert went out. At least 40 display phones all started honking at once. An employee had to hit OK on each one to return it back to demo mode.
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Feb 02, 2019 07:14 AM(until 8am) 709 AM PST SAT FEB 2 2019...."SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SANTA BARBARA AND SOUTH CENTRAL SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM PST...At 704 AM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong storms from south to north moving through central Santa Barbara County. This line will produce very heavy rain and strong winds possibly over 50 mph. A funnel cloud or weak tornado are also possible. This line is moving to the east at 25 mph. Locations impacted include...Santa Maria...Santa Barbara...Santa Ynez...Isla Vista...Goleta."
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Feb 02, 2019 06:41 AM..SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS
OBISPO COUNTIES UNTIL 700 AM PST...
"At 554 AM PST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong line of storms
from south to north ready to move onshore across San Luis Obispo and
Santa Barbara Counties. This squall line will be capable of
producing very heavy rain, strong winds over 55 mph, and possible
funnel clouds or weak tornadoes. This line of cells was moving west
to east at 45 mph."
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Feb 01, 2019 06:10 PMIt’s definitely shaping up to be a wild one. I wish I didn’t have to be in Ventura tomorrow by 8:00am for our exchange student’s college entrance exam. I envision getting down there, but afterwards 101 closing and I-5 closing at the grapevine due to snow hindering our return trip.
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Feb 02, 2019 09:32 PMYou were so right! Did you get home okay? Bet you need a good rest from today!
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Feb 01, 2019 05:49 PM...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST. SATURDAY. COASTAL FLOODING...Large south to southeast wind waves will result in coastal flooding of sea water around the 745 am high tide on Saturday over vulnerable south facing coastal and harbor areas...including Santa Barbara Harbor and Goleta. Impacts possibly include coastal walkways and access roads, as well as
unprotected structures on the immediate coast."
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Feb 01, 2019 03:01 PMHigh winds, lots of rain = power out. If power out, gas stations can't pump gas, and grocery stores can't check your groceries. Get gas and food now, just in case.
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Feb 01, 2019 10:45 AMRead the first two sentences of the warning. The Evac Order is a done deal later today. The only scenario preventing it from being issued is a miraculous/ last minute change the storm trajectory. If you are in a vulnerable location, this is your time to prepare yourself, family, and pets. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
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Feb 01, 2019 02:08 PMthey technically didnt wait till 12:59 to put out the order, there was a "warning" yesterday that this could be coming. and to be prepared.
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Feb 01, 2019 01:42 PMI realize that. I am not at all vulnerable, but was surprised that OEM waited til 12:59 to put out the order. Yes, that it's a done deal is clear to us, but it needs to be stated clearly, as OEM did.
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Feb 01, 2019 10:21 AMSB Count OEM has not yet put out the Evac Order...
I wouldn't need it if I lived in a risk area, but they may as well get it out there!
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Feb 01, 2019 10:16 AMEASTBEACH. Thanks for link. Complicated/interesting. Need (I do) more instructions, step-by-step on any part of it. What one shows predicated amounts of rain for Sat. early a.m.?
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Feb 01, 2019 10:57 AM@Scoops, that link should cause two things to show on your screen - a map at the top and a graphical box that shows an hour-by-hour and day-by-day timeline across the lower half of the screen. That box at the bottom will have a big maroon X at it's upper-left corner - don't click that or the box will disappear. The map at the top has icons at the far right - click them to show different things (Radar, Wind, Rain, etc.). Things like wind and waves are animated in the map so you can visualize directions. To move the map around, click your left mouse and hold it down while dragging across the screen - or just type a new city into the white search box at upper-left of the map. For the big graphical box at the bottom, there's a horizontal strip of buttons you can click to control what shows in the box. That link should have caused "Meteogram" and "ECMWF" to be selected (has a maroon color). ECMWF is the name of the weather forecast model that's generating all the forecast information in the graphical box. You can choose any of the others like "NAM" by clicking their buttons. For any given day in the timeline, there is a vertical column of data (temp, wind, gusts, pressure, air convection, etc.). The legend for that data is displayed at the far left of the graphical box. Some of that data appears as text (e.g. a number) while other data appears as a visualization (e.g. a colored bar). That's the basics, experiment and have fun!
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Feb 01, 2019 09:57 AMSecure outdoor items (garbage cans, umbrellas, chairs, toys, anything that can be a flying danger).
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Feb 01, 2019 09:54 AMThis is neat ... Windy.com users can enable a "meteogram" at the bottom of the screen to visualize forecast info from any of the weather models you select (e.g. ECMWF). I don't know how to enable the meteogram from the GUI but you can insert it into your link, like this ........ https://www.windy.com/34.420/-119.700/meteogram?radar,33.704,-119.702,8,m:eCxacPF
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Feb 01, 2019 06:43 PMWindy.com GOES West and Weather underground, Lompoc Doppler Radar
NEXRAD Station VBX to make ( accurate ) long range and up to the minute forecasts and observations. Forget about all that sensationalist hype on TV. lol
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Feb 01, 2019 09:21 AMDo your batteries work in radio? These radio stations have generators and will broadcast emergency information if power goes out: FM Stations: 88.3 KCLU NPR (South Coast). 89.7 KCLU NPR (Santa Maria). 90.9 KCBX (Santa Ynez Valley). 92.1 KCLU NPR (Santa Maria). 94.1 KOSJ (South Coast). 94.5 KSPE SPANISH (Countywide). 95.1 KCBX (Lompoc). 96.7 (Santa Ynez Valley/Solvang). 99.5 KCBX (Santa Maria). 99.9 KTYD (South Coast). 101.7 KLITE/KSBL (South Coast & Santa Ynez). 102.3 KCLU NPR (South Coast). 105.9 KRAZ (Santa Ynez/Solvang). 107.77 KIST SPANISH (Countywide).
AM Stations: 990 KTMA (Santa Maria). 1440 KUHL (Santa Maria). 1490 KOSJ (South Coast). 1290 KZSB (South Coast). 1340 KCLU NPR (South Coast).
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Feb 01, 2019 09:05 AMTechnology Edhat, Doplar here: "Though we are potentially seeing our most impressive rain/wind event of the season so far over this weekend. A much more amplified wet signal is developing just outside or on the fringes of the 10-day forecast & it may become more alarming as each day goes on. " -- https://twitter.com/805Weather
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Feb 01, 2019 10:15 AMAnd thank you for all the info.
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Feb 01, 2019 09:58 AMFYI, it's "Doppler." I can't understand what you wrote before the colon.
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Feb 01, 2019 08:36 AMFeb.1: "High Wind Warning, which is in effect from 3 AM to 3 PM PST, Saturday. Southeast winds increasing to 25 to 40 mph with damaging gusts to 60 mph possible. Strongest winds Saturday--Santa Ynez Valley-Santa Barbara County South Coast-Including Solvang, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara,
Montecito, and Carpinteria."
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Feb 01, 2019 04:28 AM10:47 and all - Yes, it was pretty incredible. I've lived here over 50 years; I know how rare lightning is here. I didn't go to bed til around 2 a.m. What time did it start?
=================================
Yes, I slept late.
What I told out of town friends: "Hella storm! It was after 2 am.; I never turned on light or looked at clock. Thunderstorm! They're rare here. I was in bathroom, which faces S., saw a flash. It seemed far away, over the ocean. Well, it came for us. No HUGE booms that made me jump out of my skin, but thunder shook the window frames, the walls. Each clap was symphonic; different rumbles and tones and loudness, bouncing off the mountains and back -- you could hear it swaying like liquid in a bowl as the sound traveled back and forth. It was amazing. And yes, some short intense downpours.
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Jan 31, 2019 06:45 PMHydrologic Outlook
Hydrologic Outlook
CAC037-079-083-111-020200-
Hydrologic Outlook
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
533 PM PST Thu Jan 31 2019
...STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL
WITH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW CONCERNS TO SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA
FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...
.Today`s storm system brought widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches
across Southwest California, with local amounts up to 2.50 inches
across the foothills and coastal slopes of Ventura and southern
Santa Barbara counties. A more powerful and longer duration storm
system is expected to affect Southwest California Friday night
through Saturday night. This storm will likely have a strong and
damaging south orographic wind component which will increase
rainfall amounts and intensities across south facing foothills
and coastal slopes.
Light to moderate pre-frontal rainfall is expected to develop
across much of the region on Friday night. The heaviest rainfall
is expected to be on Saturday, when rainfall rates between 0.50
and 1.00 inch per hour will be common, except rates up to 1.25
inches per hour possible across south facing foothills and coastal
slopes. Additional rainfall is likely on Saturday night, possibly
heavy at times. Rainfall estimates with this storm from Friday
night through Saturday night are expected to range between 1.50
and 3.00 inches for coastal and valley areas, with between 4.00
and 7.00 inches across south facing foothills and mountains...
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Feb 01, 2019 08:20 AMLooks like bulk of moisture from a tropical storm that was SE of Hawaii has been sucked into the massive cold front heading our way. Lots of wet stuff :)
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Jan 31, 2019 06:14 PMA Hydrologic Outlook was just issued at 5:33pm for the coming storm. This could be the most serious storm of the season.
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Jan 31, 2019 08:45 PMThanks!
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Jan 31, 2019 06:48 PMI just pasted most of the statement. Note the potential precipitation rates of up to 1.25”/hr on south facing slopes.
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Jan 31, 2019 06:26 PMWhat does that mean?
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Jan 31, 2019 01:04 PMDON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR ON BALD OR BAD TIRES! You are risking your life and the lives of others that share the road with you! BUY NEW TIRES -
Can anyone translate this into SPANISH...?
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Jan 31, 2019 04:53 PM¡NO CONDUZCA SU COCHE EN LLANTAS CALDAS O EN LLANTAS MALAS! ¡Estás arriesgando tu vida y la de las personas que comparten el camino contigo. Comprar nuevos llantas!
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Jan 31, 2019 10:47 AM6:07 AM thunder boomed so loudly and intensely on Lower Riv, we thought one of our large trees had crashed on or near our house. Quasi-earthquake sensation. Don't think we've ever before heard or felt thunder like that in SB. And the word is spelled "lightning," not lightening.
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Jan 31, 2019 08:57 PMOnec the Sun rose, it was lightening.
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Jan 31, 2019 02:28 PMbut it is kind of a cute misspelling, doncha think?
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Jan 31, 2019 09:45 AM"At 930 AM PST, Doppler radar indicated moderate rain and isolated
thunderstorms moving across the advisory area. Rainfall rates
between 0.25 and 0.50 inches per hour with local rates up to 0.75
inches per hour are expected to continue through the morning.
With these rainfall rates, nuisance flooding will continue with
flooding of roadways and low-lying areas. Additionally, there
may be minor mud and debris flows in and around the recent burn
areas, including the Sherpa, Whittier and Thomas burn scars.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Santa Barbara...Montecito...Carpinteria...El Capitan State Beach...
Summerland...Cuyama...Rincon Point...Refugio State Beach...
Isla Vista...Ventura County Thomas Fire Zone 1...
Ventura County Thomas Fire Zone 9...Goleta...Cuyama Valley"
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Jan 31, 2019 09:38 AMUpdate, 9:34a.m. NWS: Santa Barbara CA-
934 AM PST THU JAN 31 2019
* Flood Advisory for...North central Santa Barbara County in southwestern California...
* Until 1230 PM PST.
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Jan 31, 2019 09:18 AMThunder and lightening started awhile before the rain in Carp, near the beach (mountains can have a different story). Rain started about 6 or 6:30 and we had an inch by 7:30.
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Feb 02, 2019 09:35 PMThanks Flicka & East Beach. I finally found the thread I wanted to post this on:
===============================
Lightning strike map: ==================================
https://twitter.com/SBPDPIO/status/1090978286044237824
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Jan 31, 2019 11:27 AMThe thunder & lightning appeared to start @5:00a on the Riviera. Initially the cells were too far away to hear any thunder but by 6:00a the thunder was the loudest I've heard here in many years with 1 to 2 seconds between the flash and sound (so definitely less than a mile away).
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