Blustery and chilly end to the week
A weak and mostly dry cold front will sweep through the region late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Wednesday morning and early afternoon was mostly sunny, but clouds will increase later in the day ahead of the low pressure system. There is a chance of light, spotty showers, but the main impacts will be the blustery winds and cooler than average temperatures it will leave behind.
The cold air will cause several inches of snow to accumulate and winds will be particularly gusty, causing travel conditions very dangerous. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 12pm Thursday afternoon for Northern Ventura County Mountains.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 6pm Wednesday for all of Santa Barbara County, along with most of San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. The North to Northwesterly winds will be between 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. The Advisory will then expire and be upgraded to a High Wind Warning that will be in effect until noon Thursday. During this time period, powerful and potentially damaging gusts are expected. Wind speeds will be between 30-40 mph, with gusts between 60-70 mph, and potentially up to 80 mph for isolated, wind-prone areas. The High Wind Warning is for Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains and Southwestern Coast, along with Ventura County Mountains.
The High Surf Advisory remains in place until 9am Friday for Central Coast Beaches and until 3am Friday for Ventura County Beaches. Additionally, a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect until 12pm Thursday for Central Coast Beaches. It will be in effect from 4am until 12pm Thursday for Ventura County Beaches. Powerful waves and flooding of low-lying areas are possible, especially during high tide for West-facing beaches. It is best to avoid getting into the water or being near the immediate coastline for the time being to avoid drowning or other injuries.
Skies clear up nicely after the quick sprinkle of rain Thursday, with sunny and cool conditions on tap into the weekend. Temperatures remain below average and overnight conditions will fall to sub-freezing for some inland communities.
