The Latest: Southern California flash-flood watches cancelled | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Southern California flash-flood watches cancelled

Original Publication Date March 13, 2018 - 8:01 AM

MONTECITO, Calif. - The Latest on a rainstorm that has triggered evacuation warnings in Southern California (all times local):

10:39 a.m.

Santa Barbara County has cancelled all evacuation orders for south coast communities because the storm moving across Southern California has not dropped rain at critical rates.

The cancellation late Tuesday morning was effective immediately. The mandatory and recommended evacuation orders had been in effect since late Monday.

The move came as the National Weather Service cancelled flash-flood watches for communities near wildfire burn scars. Forecasters say light to moderate rain will continue but at rates well below thresholds for debris flows.

Tuesday's storm is the first of several expected this week. County officials say none of the coming systems appear to be capable of causing debris flows, but each will be evaluated.

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7:56 a.m.

Rain is falling on the south coast of Santa Barbara County where some residents have been urged to leave due to potential for debris flows.

KEYT-TV reports from Montecito that rain has been light early Tuesday but heavier rainfall is expected at late morning.

Montecito was hit hard in January when a downpour over a wildfire burn scar unleashed flash floods laden with huge boulders that destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes, killed 21 people and left two others missing.

On Monday, Santa Barbara County officials issued an evacuation order for areas designated as being at extreme risk and recommended evacuations for other areas. A voluntary evacuation is in effect in neighbouring Ventura County for areas north of Ojai Valley.

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6:54 a.m.

Evacuations have been ordered or recommended in two Southern California counties due to an approaching storm that could bring enough rain to trigger debris flows.

The National Weather Service says rain falling early Tuesday on the Central Coast is expected to move south through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and then into Los Angeles County.

Santa Barbara County authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for designated "extreme risk" areas along its south coast and recommended evacuations for adjacent "high risk" areas.

The warnings follow the disaster that struck Montecito in January, when a storm unleashed debris flows that destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and killed nearly two-dozen residents.

A voluntary evacuation order is in effect in neighbouring Ventura County for areas north of Ojai Valley.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018
The Associated Press

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