(National weather service map)
Cloudy skies didn’t drop much rain in Santa Barbara County on Saturday, as the first of three storms blew through the region.
As of Saturday, 4 p.m., the Public Works Department’s rainfall meter showed that most county areas had received less than 0.3 inches in the past 24 hours.
“The first of a series of three storm systems will continue to move through the region tonight, then a stronger storm system is expected from Sunday afternoon through Monday with better chances of rain and mountain snow,” the National Weather Service said in its forecast. discussion.
There were reports of snow dusting at higher elevations, and several locations reported hail accumulation.
A colder storm is expected to pull into the county Sunday evening and Monday, and local daytime temperatures will drop into the 1950s early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow levels from that storm are expected to be 3,500 feet to 4,000 feet on Sunday evening and up to 1,500 feet to 2,500 feet on Monday.
On Saturday morning, a rainbow shines in the sky over Milpas Street in Santa Barbara. (Brooke Holland / Noozhawk photo)
Windy weather is also in the forecast, with gusts of wind up to 20 mph on Sunday evening and 30 mph on Monday evening.
The possibility of snow at lower elevations and gusty winds means there is a winter storm watch in effect Sunday evening through Monday evening for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles County Mountains, including San Marcos Pass, San Rafael Wilderness and the Dick Smith Wilderness Area.
One person paddles an outrigger canoe along the waves on Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara on Saturday as the storm clouds gather. (Mike Eliason photo)
The third storm, which will hit Santa Barbara County Wednesday through Friday, is expected to drop significant amounts of rain and snow. According to the National Weather Service, forecasts will become more detailed in the coming days.
Santa Barbara County recently updated its risk map for floods and debris flows under the Thomas Fire combustion area, in Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. That can be viewed online by clicking here, and the county has more storm preparedness resources available at readysbc.org/storm-ready/.
Click here for the latest Santa Barbara weather forecast.
Click here for the latest weather forecast from Santa Maria.
Click here for the latest weather forecast from Lompoc.
Click here for the latest Santa Ynez Valley weather forecast.
– Noozhawk editor-in-chief Giana Magnoli can be reached at . (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @Newsurvey and @RTLnews. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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