A flood advisory has been issued for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties as heavy storms are bringing up to 0.64 inches in just 30 minutes.
A flash flood watch for the recent burn areas of Southwestern California has been issued, including the HIll and the Woolsey Fire burn areas. The flash flood watch remains in effect through 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
An urban and small stream flood advisory will remain in effect until 7:30 Saturday night for both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Floods will be likely across portions of the roads in the advisory areas through the evening. There is also a threat of rockslides and mudslides on canyon roadways along Highway 101 and 154.
The heaviest line of storms was observed west of Gaviota, with 0.59 inches within 15 minutes.
At 3:10pm an automated rain gauge west of Gaviota reported 0.59 inches in 15 minutes! The Urban and Small Streams Flood Advisory will be in effect through 5 pm this afternoon! #SoCal #CAwx
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 5, 2019
Storms will continue to spread eastward across the Santa Ynez mountains and Santa Barbara south coast through the afternoon. Peak rainfall rates of around 0.30 to 0.50 inches per hour will be common, with rates up to 0.75 inches per hour in isolated areas.
There’s a chance of thunderstorms, which has the capability of bringing brief, heavy rain bursts and hail.
Urban and Small Streams Flood Advisory has been issued for #SLO County through 5:00pm! Peak rainfall rates between 0.25 and 0.50 inches per hour are possible across the area! #SoCal #CAwx pic.twitter.com/Zy71ziW9Yy
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 5, 2019
Peak rainfall rates for the Thomas Fire burn area is sometimes between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. Peak rainfall will hit the Woolsey Fire burn area sometime between 8:00 p.m. and midnight.
The #ECMWF model is predicting a cumulative rainfall total ranging between 4 and 8 inches today (Jan. 5) through next Monday (Jan. 14) for most of the Central Coast. It looks like rain or showers will occur every day as a series of storms march across the Pacific Ocean. #CaWx pic.twitter.com/Em41arQic0
— John Lindsey (@PGE_John) January 5, 2019
A wind advisory remains in effect for the Santa Barbara County mountains with south winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph.
