Sandbag Stations and Free Emergency Parking Opens
A powerful winter storm is set to arrive on the Central Coast and across Southern California on Sunday, with the most significant impacts expected Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The City of Santa Barbara and the City of Goleta are taking proactive safety measures ahead of the Santa Barbara County Major February Storm, including activating self-serve sandbag stations and offering free emergency storm parking. There is no evacuation in effect at this time.
What to expect
- Timing: After a dry, seasonable weekend with increasing clouds, rain and wind arrive late Sunday into Monday. The highest-impact window is Monday.
- Hazards Monday: Severe thunderstorms are possible, with brief intense downpours, strong wind gusts, small hail, isolated waterspouts, and a brief weak tornado not ruled out. Additional threats include burn-scar debris flows; flash flooding with rock and mud slides; damaging gradient winds; heavy mountain snow; and very high surf with coastal flooding.
- Watches/Advisories: A Flood Watch is in effect Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Additional High Wind Watches, Wind Advisories, and Winter Storm Watches are posted for parts of the region, including the mountains.
- Storm character: Forecasters highlight a low-instability, high-wind-shear environment that can produce rapid, localized extremes with low predictability right up to onset. Not all locations will see dangerous weather, but some spots could experience severe or even destructive impacts.
Day-by-day outlook
- Saturday–Sunday: Dry, seasonable to slightly above-normal temperatures; clouds increase as the storm approaches. Use Sunday to prepare.
- Late Sunday night–Monday: Peak impacts. Expect periods of heavy rain, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding, and heavy mountain snow. Thunderstorms may trigger brief, intense hazards (downpours, small hail, isolated waterspouts, or a brief weak tornado). Flood Watch in effect 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday.
- Tuesday: Colder and blustery with scattered, diurnally driven showers and upslope-enhanced precipitation under a very cold upper low (around -20°C at 500 mb). Highs mostly at or below the 50s. High-elevation snow may briefly taper, but blowing/drifting snow and reduced visibility remain concerns. Winter Storm Watches continue for the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and northern Ventura County Mountains.
- Tuesday night–Wednesday and midweek: An even colder system renews precipitation, with additional rounds of rain, mountain snow, and coastal flooding concerns persisting into midweek.
Emergency Storm Parking Now Activated
The City of Santa Barbara has activated free Emergency Storm Parking for residents in flood-prone areas at City Lot 2, located at Canon Perdido Street and Chapala Street.
Residents must register for storm parking through this portal during the specified storm registry period. Unregistered vehicles will be charged at the standard hourly parking rate. Registered license plate must match the vehicle to receive validation…