The major storm system hitting the Central and South Coast is moving slower than expected through the region, and the heaviest rain may come around when we were expecting it to be leaving the region.
Forecasters say the rain we’ve had Tuesday night and Wednesday is a prelude for what’s to come.
We had some bursts of moderate to heavy rainfall Wednesday morning and midday. We can expect light to moderate rain on and off for the rest of Wednesday, with potentially the heaviest rainfall Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Rainfall totals as of 1 p.m. Wednesday in Santa Barbara County include 1.9” of rain at KCLU-FM's transmitter on Gibraltar Peak above Montecito, 1.7 “ in Santa Barbara, 1.5” in Carpinteria and six tenths of an inch in Santa Ynez.
In Ventura County, North Fork Matilija, which is under a mandatory evacuation order, had 1.6” of rain, while Ojai had eight-tenths of an inch. Oxnard had 1.3” of rain, while Ventura and 1.1”.
The overall rainfall totals could be less than expected, with the meteorologists saying the mountains might peak at eight inches of rain, and not the 10 originally predicted.
Highway 101 is open between Ventura and Santa Barbara, but the CHP cautions if there’s a threat to public safety, the highway could be closed with little or no notice. Highway 33 has been closed north of Ojai.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for tens of thousands of people in the Thomas, Whittier, and Sherpa brush fire burn zones. There’s no word yet on when people may return home, with that dependent on the movement of the storm.
