Rain and Snow

Snow on San Marcos Pass and in the mountains and wilderness areas of Santa Barbara County and heavy rain and winds have prompted the Office of Emergency Services to issue a winter storm warning. The storm sweeping into Santa Barbara this evening, Friday, February 18, is expected to last through Saturday night, with the warning in effect until 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

The snow will stay at around 5,500 feet through this afternoon, dropping as low as 3,500 feet by Saturday. Four to eight inches of snow are expected above 4,000 feet (the height of La Cumbre Peak) and 12 to 18 inches at elevations above 5,500 feet (Mt. Piños is almost 9,000 feet tall).

The “combination of snow and blowing snow will cause near zero visibilities” in the mountains at times, making conditions dangerous for anyone traveling or hiking, according to the Office of Emergency Services, which suggests that those who must travel keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicles.