File rains to kick off 2026 proceed to hit Santa Barbara County, with stories of greater than an inch of rain per hour falling within the county and flooding on Freeway 101 – closing it in each instructions – noon Saturday.
“US 101 is closed in each instructions close to Goleta attributable to a sequence of mudslides,” Caltrans warned on social media at 10:35 a.m. Saturday. “Southbound vacationers on US 101 are being directed off on the junction with Hwy. 1 north of Gaviota. Northbound vacationers are being directed off at Winchester. Crews on web site. No estimate for reopening.”
Flash flood warnings proceed by way of the world and Nationwide Climate Service officers warn that the present storm situations are anticipated to proceed till about 2 p.m. for the Santa Barbara County cities of Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Goleta and Carpinteria.
An individual walks alongside a flooded avenue throughout a strong long-duration atmospheric river storm on Feb. 4, 2024, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Pictures)
“I simply obtained phrase from the sector and there was no change on the standing of the highway and the closures,” Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski informed SFGATE Saturday by way of textual content. “And we nonetheless don’t have an estimate for reopening.”
Within the northern a part of the county, Freeway 1 close to Orcutt can also be closed in each instructions, Caltrans officers mentioned.
“Freeway 1 close to Orcutt is closed in each instructions attributable to flooding between Solomon Rd. and Black Rd.,” Caltrans posted on social media at 10:05 a.m. on Saturday. “No estimate for reopening. Please bear in mind to regulate your driving for climate situations, decelerate, and preserve area between automobiles in entrance of you.”
An aerial view of downtown Santa Barbara, Calif. (Getty Pictures)
Caltrans’ Drabinski confirmed two closures of Freeway 1 within the northern a part of Santa Barbara County: “Freeway 1 close to Orcutt by the golf course, and the closure of 1 north of Guadalupe the place it runs underneath the railroad observe,” he texted. “… We normally have to attend on these two till the rain stops and the waters subside. Fortunately we now have good alternate routes for these two closures so basically minimal visitors impression.”
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This text initially printed at ‘No estimate for reopening’: Two main California highways shut down attributable to flooding.