(Map of the National Meteorological Service)
The cloudy sky did not drop much in Santa Barbara County on Saturday, when the first of three storms swept the region.
As of 4 pm on Saturday, the Public Works Department’s rain tracker showed that most areas of the county had received less than 0.3 inches in the previous 24 hours.
“The first in a series of three storm systems will continue to move through the region tonight, so a stronger storm system is expected from Sunday afternoon to Monday, with better chances of rain and snow in the mountains,” he said. the National Meteorological Service in its forecast discussion.
There have been reports of snow spraying at higher altitudes, and several locations have reported hail accumulations.
A colder storm is expected to hit the county on Sunday and Monday night, and local daytime temperatures are expected to drop to 50 degrees early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow levels in that storm are expected to be 3,500 feet to 4,000 feet on Sunday night and up to 1,500 feet to 2,500 feet on Monday.
A rainbow shines in the sky above Rua Milpas in Santa Bárbara on Saturday morning. (Photo by Brooke Holland / Noozhawk)
Windy weather is also forecast, with gusts of up to 20 mph on Sunday night and 30 mph on Monday night.
The possibility of snow at lower altitudes and gusts of wind means that there is a winter storm in effect from Sunday night to Monday night in the mountains of Santa Barbara County, Ventura and Los Angeles, including San Marcos Pass, San Rafael Wilderness and Dick Smith Wilderness Area.
A person paddles in an outrigger canoe passing the waves at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara on Saturday, while storm clouds accumulate. (Photo by Mike Eliason)
The third storm, expected to hit Santa Barbara County from Wednesday to Friday, is expected to cause significant rainfall and snowfall. The forecasts will be detailed in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service.
Santa Barbara County recently updated its flood risk and debris flow map below the Thomas Fire burning area in Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. This can be seen online by clicking here, and the county has more storm preparedness resources available at readysbc.org/storm-ready/.
Click here for the latest weather forecasts for Santa Bárbara.
Click here for the latest weather forecasts for Santa Maria.
Click here for the latest Lompoc weather forecasts.
Click here for the latest weather forecasts for the Santa Ynez Valley.
– Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at . (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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