Update from meteorologist Dave Hovde at 6:05pm: The severe thunderstorm in the Cuyama area has dissipated. The severe thunderstorm warning was cancelled and flash flood warning was also cancelled. A flash flood watch is in place until 8pm but that will also be allowed to expire.
The following is from the prior weather article with more of the upcoming forecast just after the severe updates we had issued:
KSBY – A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for north…
A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for north central Santa Barbara County and southeastern San Luis Obispo County due to thunderstorms in the area.
Dave Hovde-KSBY
The thunhderstorm we have been watching is now severe. A warning has been issued for both severe lightning, hail and rainfall but also flash flood warning as well as rain rates and total rain can…
Dave Hovde-KSBY
The storm near #Cuyama could be producing 1″ hail according to Doppler radar.
Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area in SE San Luis Obispo County and NW Santa Barbara County. Radar estimated rainfall rates are up to 1.5 inches per hour. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.
Some locations that will experience flooding include Cuyama and portions of Highway 166.
Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, highways and country roads, and other low lying spots. Flooding may occur in previously dry washes.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in place until 4:45 p.m. and a flash flood warning until 7:30 p.m.
At 415 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located in the northern Santa Barbara County Mountains, near Cuyama. The storm was nearly stationary.
Wind gusts 60 mph or greater and quarter size hail, heavy rain and flooding with potential flash flooding are possible.
This storm was producing doppler indicated large hail. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees, and flooding.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Where storms form there could be little motion of the storms leading to localized flash flood potential and a watch is in place until 8 p.m.
After a couple of very hot days inland, relief will come over the next few days in the interior as a trough of low pressure digs into the West. It’ll weaken the high pressure over the region allowing more height of the marine layer and it’ll also promote the stronger onshore winds it’ll take to bring cool coastal air inland.
Initially, the marine clouds will reform along the coast overnight into early Thursday. The clouds will burn off and mix out early Thursday afternoon. Inland areas will be cooler, but certainly not “cold”. I am still expecting high temps Thursday in the upper 80s and lower to mid-80s Friday.
At coastal and beach locations the change in the weather will not be as pronounced: mid-60s at beaches the next couple days and lower 70s in the coastal valleys with the Santa Ynez Valley in the upper 70s. The Santa Barbara South Coast can expect highs in the lower 70s.
The extended forecast looks warm again as a ridge of high-pressure re-builds. It is a slam dunk inland temps get back into the 90s, perhaps as early as Saturday but certainly Sunday into next week. The coastal valleys should get into the 80s for the weekend and could push 90 Sunday. Cooler coastal valley temps return Tuesday and Wednesday when the marine layer forms back up. I think beaches look good over the weekend with mid to upper 70s possible. Those are grade A conditions for the generally cool beaches of June.
