A major winter storm hitting the Central and South Coasts that’s prompted some evacuations in Santa Barbara County is expected to hit in force Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Evacuation orders for high debris flow risk areas of the Thomas, Sherpa, and Whittier brush fire burn areas went into effect at four Tuesday afternoon. A link to the evacuation areas is available here.
The Goleta Valley Community Center is once again serving as a Red Cross shelter for evacuees.
Evacuees can tak their pets to Santa Barbara County Animal Control or the Santa Barbara Humane Society.
The forecast calls for one to three inches of rain on the coast and inland, and three to five inches in the region’s mountains. Meteorologists say the rain will decrease in intensity Wednesday, but we could see showers through the rest of the work week.