First rain of the season will drastically change this week’s forecast
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Central Coast shot back up into the 90's this week, but that will be the last time it will heat up like that for awhile. A new, colder and wet weather pattern is arriving.
Forecasters say the daytime temperatures will drop into the 50's and 60's over the weekend, with a slight recovery next week.
There will also be the season's first rain. It will arrive in the overnight hours, early Saturday morning and ease off by the middle of the day.
Amounts will be under an inch but it will be enough to clean the remaining smoke filled air in some areas and make the streets and highways slick, especially in notoriously dangerous locations such as the Gaviota pass.
Recently in a minor shot of rain, more than 10 vehicles were involved in a wreck zone at Gaviota causing a major delay.
This rain will be far from anything that could cause a mud or rock slide. It does not have harsh intensities.
The early season rain is the beginning of saturation, and when the hills are soaked, the risk of slides will go up.
A resident hearing into a Santa Barbara grocery store, Bobbi Younce said even when winter rain isn't present she is ready for an emergency.  "I carry an emergency kit in  my car always, a 24-hour kit," she said. That included a blanket, radio, medicine, water and food.
A former Florida resident said, "pay attention  take it more seriously."Greg Hinsdale said, "I lived in Florida a  long time,   just be aware and be prepared."
Creeks and debris basins have been cleared out of rocks, boulders and runoff sediment. "I think that the county has done a very good job of taking care of the hazard, I think they've done an excellent job" said Younce.
It's still to be seen if the hills will hold, but they have shown, when fully saturated and hit with hard rains, there are problems.
Court Cutting was in the area during the Montecito mudflow in 2018.
"I think most of the relatively loose stuff came down with the last big mudslide. On the other hand it took down whatever vegetation there was so there has been some regrowth."
In areas where we have seen new parklets and patios outside, business owners will get their test against windy, wet and gloomy weather to see if they are braced enough and also if the customers feel comfortable eating outside in the fall conditions.
The rain will calm fire risks but not eliminate them. Two inches of rain over a short period of time is usually the benchmark to bring down the fire activity levels.
