12/31/22
Good morning New Year’s Eve day,
Rain, what a wonderful 4 letter word for California to have.
Looking back I can not remember the last time that we had 3 weeks of rain straight with just some short breaks.
Well, that’s what it is looking like, with rain all this next week and the week following. We will start out with the present and work from there.
This morning 12/31/22 the prefrontal showers began last night. We have seen steady light rain all night amounting to .15 to .20 for most locations, however, the heavies rain is still 8 hours away. Here is zoom earth to show you from the sky https://zoom.earth/
The heavy rain is just north of the Bay Area right now, for us Today we will see the light rain continue this morning, then gradually pick up as we get into the afternoon. this is a cool graphic showing the heavy rain moving down the coast of California https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EOM980NrNw4
The bulk of this storm will arrive around 5 pm to midnight for Santa Barbara, with a few hours earlier to the north and later for the south. This has good south winds and good subtropical moisture support, which all spell a heavy rain event. Rainfall rates will be .50 to .75 inches per hour at their peak. Rainfall will be 1 to 3 inches coastal with 3 inches in Montecito and up to 4 inches in the hills. All in all just what the doctor ordered to help our drought. Winds in the mountains will be 40 to 60 miles an hour on south faces which will enhance rainfall.
Sunday and New Year’s Day, the sun will shine. It will be quite chilly but a nice day to welcome 2023.
Sunday night will be quite chilly with the 30s and 40s for all.
Monday if you are attending the Rose parade, dress warm because it will be in the 30s to start the parade.
The good news is it should be dry, as that tradition continues.
On a side note :
Do you know how many people have moved to California after attending a rose bowl game? I really don’t know the numbers, but I was one of those back in 1981 when it was 89 degrees on Jan 1st. “That was a life-changing call for me “
Now back to the weather.
Monday for us will start out fine, but more rain will arrive in the afternoon. This is not a big system, but it will keep us all wet.
Tuesday is another dry day then look out for Wednesday. If the midrange models are correct this will be the biggest system of all. At this point 2 to 4 inches and double that in the mountains. We could go on with the extended forecast, but it is controlled by computer models at this point so we will save that for another forecast . Just a hint, if the models are right, we still have another week of rain into the 10th of January.
In the meantime, Happy New Year in 17 hours and enjoy the rain.
Jack Martin
12/30/22
Good Friday morning,
2022 is almost behind us and more rain is on its way. I thought I would start with lake levels.
They are on the rise ever so slowly but look out next week as all the rain starts to flow into our lakes.
Here are the current numbers as of 8 am yesterday https://files.countyofsb.org/pwd/hydrology/Rainfall%20Reports/rainfallreport.pdf
We are at 146% county-wide for the rain of normal to this time of year. we have received around 40% rainfall for the year.
This is all a good start, but the real fun is still to come as we have a series of rain systems coming in the next 2 weeks.
Now let’s talk about the current forecast.
Today, not many action clouds will lead to less rain than we had Thursday, which really did not amount to anything.
It was a Seattle-like day, just damp and cloudy. Today will be one more of these, but even less rain or dampness today.
Tonight the low to the North will move in. We will see some lighter rain prefrontal through Saturday morning.
Saturday afternoon the real rain moves in and lasts through midnight. It will be a good storm for Santa Barbara with more rain here and good rain everywhere.
This will bring heavier rain rates of .50 to .75 per hour. all in all 1 to 2 inches coastal 3 inches south foothills in Montecito and 4 inches in the mountains.
New year’s day, is chilly and sunny. Highs will be in the 50s. Overnight Sunday into Monday 30s in the valleys and 40s coastal (cold)
Next week will be very interesting, Monday night we are looking at some more rain, but there will be an extremely strong system Wednesday into Friday.
if all plays out according to the models next week it will be wild with lots of rainfall, and the better news we have another week of rain after that.
Wet through the 10th of January with storm after storm and the atmospheric river combining with all the systems.
This is going to be a great start to 2023!
Enjoy 🙂
Jack Martin
12/27/22
Good Tuesday Morning,
I hope everyone had a great holiday, If you are at home in Santa Barbara, we are looking at rain today. If you are at an airport, you have a different storm of your own. Southwest is a huge mess with 71% of its flights canceled. I am more than happy to be in my house typing on my computer.
Monday was a tropical day with a high of 75 with high clouds. The views from the pass looking out over the ocean were fantastic. Today we are looking at a storm system bringing rain to us around noon. You can see it on zoom earth with some subtropical support, which will bring us good rain, starting around noon in SB and it will be over by midnight https://zoom.earth/ .
Rain is starting in far north SLO right now and will drop south arriving in Santa Ynez around 10 am. This will bring 1 to 2 inches for us, and 3 inches in the mountain. Rain rates will be 1/4 to 1/2 inch. light to moderate event.
Wednesday morning will bring in the cold air, with lots of clouds over the hills that may spill some showers into the area. For the most part, it will be mostly dry.
Thursday will bring another plume of moisture with rain chances increasing again. Friday looks to be dry, but we will see another stronger system on new year’s eve (Saturday). This one will drop another 1 to 3 inches with better south winds, so the mountains are looking at better rainfall.
Rain Sunday and it looks like the pattern of wetness will continue into the first week of 2023 with another system Tuesday. This is still too far out to call, but we will be in a wet pattern for the next week. which is great news to me, because the rain needs to fill our lakes.
Enjoy the rain, I know I will!
Jack Martin
12/26/22
What an amazing Christmas day, I spent most of my day in Santa Ynez and went for a bike ride.
The unofficial high was 85 to 89 degrees in my truck. Regardless it was an Epic warm day on December 25th
Driving back to SB early this morning it was still 64 on the pass, but 52 in SB. https://zoom.earth/
Today will be overall nice, with high clouds starting the stream ahead of the storm system that will arrive Tuesday.
Today’s highs will be in the low 70s, cooling off from Christmas day. Tonight some cooling but no rain until Tuesday
Tuesday rain will start up North to south. It now looks like the rain will be delayed until later in the afternoon for Santa Barbara.
Rain will start up in SLO Monday morning, then work its way into Santa Ynez Tuesday afternoon, then to SB late afternoon.
This system has a weak atmospheric river with it, but more of a west–north flow. what does this mean?
More rain to the north in SLO and to Santa Ynez, and less rain as it goes around point conception. Don’t be discouraged it will still be a pretty good storm
SLO and northern Santa Barbara county will see 1 to 3 inches of rain. west-facing mountains up to 5 inches. SB will see 1 to 2 inches and up to 3 inches in the mountains
LA .5 to 1.5 inches overnight Tuesday. Wednesday maybe some showers, but for the most part dry. Thursday and Friday the pattern continues for a chance of rain.
it will be showery with some sun at the time. looking into the weekend it looks like a stronger system will move down the coast, bringing us another good system.
The bottom line we are moving into a wet pattern with on-and-off rain all week, turn off the sprinklers and enjoy the wet.
Enjoy the 70s today, they go away for a while.
Jack Martin
12/24/22 Christmas Eve
From Santa village good Saturday morning,
If you are one of the lucky ones to be waking up in Southern California, break out your bathing suits and suntan lotion. It is going to be the finest next 3 days that the rest of the country wishes they had. This will be one of those weekends that reminds us that we truly live in paradise.
Highs through Monday will be in the 70s, with 80s sprinkled in on Saturday and Christmas 🤶 Day.
It is absolutely freezing in the rest of the country. C
https://zoom.earth/#view=26.4,-126,3.45z/map=live
Simple weather summary
Today: the 70s
Christmas Day: 70s and 80s
Monday: 70s
Tuesday: rain
Yes, let’s back up to the Tuesday part. First, the good part, is we have great weather though the holiday.
Tuesday a storm system rolls in and rain is in the forecast. This system is shaping up to bring us good rain. Mainly SLO and Santa Barbara county, but we are in the bullseye.
Rain is looking better with totals of 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches and up to 4 inches in the mountains.
Rain will linger into Wednesday with another shot of rain at the end of the week.
Yes, we do need the rain, and a post-Christmas present will be loved.
Check out my view of Santa Workshop village below my house or at least the lights make it look like it is.
I love a California Christmas, it took 21 years to figure it out, but I am never leaving.
Enjoy the holiday, California style, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah to some of my good friends.
Jack Martin
12/19/22
Good Monday morning,
Waking up in Santa Barbara it is 43 degrees, Here is Cabo 65, and in Seattle Washington it is snowing. https://zoom.earth/#view=35.7,-121.9,4z/map=live
This week with Christmas approaches and the last day of Hannukah it will start out chilly, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s in the valleys and coastal areas 40s.
The good news is by mid-week we are starting a warming trend through Christmas. It looks like Friday through Christmas there will be a Santa Ana event with the 70s for all. And some locations in LA hitting the 80 mark.
After Wednesday and through the rest of the week we will be around 70 degrees and climbing.
Where we won’t see a white Christmas unless you go to the mountains. it will be a great Sunday to walk on the Beach.
enjoy the warming temps, I get back Tuesday afternoon.
Jack Martin
12/15/22
Good Thursday morning,
Starting our day we are slightly warmer. 45 at my house, 37 in Santa Ynez.
Looking around the country, it is mostly sunny and cold weather. Except for the East coast where they have 1 more day of heavy rain and snow in the mountains
https://zoom.earth/
Flying back home, we are looking at dry weather for the foreseeable future.
There is no rain in the forecast until after Christmas, which is a far cry from last year when we had lots of rain during the holiday.
As much as we need more rain, it will be nice to have the sun 🌞.
For the short term, it is pretty easy. Temps will rise a few degrees today and we might even hit 60 degrees. Tonight is another chilly one.
Friday we are looking at some offshore Santa Ana winds, these will be mild and only warm us slightly to almost normal temps for this time of year. Still cold in Southern California.
Jack Martin
12/14/22
Good Wednesday morning,
Dry – Cold weather is all about our forecast for the rest of the week.
The storm system that gave us all our weather last weekend is pounding the east coast now https://zoom.earth/
The days seem to be quite short as we are 7 days till winter solstice. Sunrise 6:55 am and sunset 4:51 pm 9 hours and 55 minutes of daylight today
https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/santa-barbara-ca.
It could be worse because Seattle WA 7:48 am and 4:19 pm 8hr and 31 minutes https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/seattle-wa
Anchorage Alaska sunrise 10:04 am and sunset 3:44 pm 5 hours 39 minutes https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/anchorage-ak
with a high of 24 degrees and 17 degrees right now.
I guess we have nothing to complain about, even if it is really cold to me here in Santa Barbara.
Today is a chilly start with 41 degrees at my house and frost on many roofs, and 34 in Santa Ynez. Highs today will remain in the 50s.
The rest of the week will be dry and cool. We will see low 60s as we get into the weekend. We are looking for a dry period with no rain in sight.
The extended forecast is looking dry through most of next week.
Where we are at 172% of average rainfall for the season, so we can take a week off, but we don’t want this to go on for too long.
Enjoy the cool dry weather, Christmas is 11 days away and Cabo is 2 days for me.
Jack Martin
12/13/22
Good Tuesday morning,
Take a look at all the blue across the country, that is snow ⛄️.
https://zoom.earth/#view=37.4,-114.7,5.89z/map=live
The weather system that has affected our weather is moving across the country, bringing lots of snow.
The snow is still lingering in our mountains today, then moving East.
Today is quite a chilly start to the day, with frost on many roofs this morning.
Today will only rise into the 50s for highs, a good 8 to 12 degrees below normal.
Great news with the recent rains, our lake levels have all started to rise and we are county-wide 172% of normal for this time of year.
We just need to keep it coming! https://files.countyofsb.org/pwd/hydrology/Rainfall%20Reports/rainfallreport.pdf
Unfortunately, it will not be this week, we are looking at dry conditions through the 22nd of December, but that’s ok.
We have had 2 wet weekends; a break will be nice this week. If you still shop in person, this will be a good weekend to do it.
Temps will rise very slowly this week, a few degrees each day. The once-wet weekend is now dry.
We can all dry out from the wet weather the past 2 weeks. Regarding the lake levels, the rise was best at Nacimiento moving from 18 to 25%.
locally Gibraltar is up to 58% and Cachuma is up less than 1%. Once Gibraltar spills all the mountain water will flow into Cachuma.
Enjoy the dry cold weather this week, it might be time for a Cabo run, soon 😊
Jack Martin
12/12/2022
Good Monday morning,
The rain is still falling and will continue till around noon. The center of the low-pressure system will be right over us around 10 am. https://zoom.earth/#view=34.28,-119.55,6z/map=live
The rain totals for this system have been fantastic, especially in the mountains. We are down to just some additional showers with not a lot more additional rain.
The rain total is looking great for the year to date, we are 165% of normal county-wide. Here is the complete list of the totals of the local lakes and rain to date.
https://files.countyofsb.org/pwd/hydrology/Rainfall%20Reports/rainfallreport.pdf
We will see how the lake levels have risen after the update reported today at 8 am.
Right now we are looking for more showers to start up shortly. https://radar.weather.gov/station/KVBX/standard.
The snow level is also down to 3500 feet, and it is quite chilly out there this morning at 43 at my house right now.
41 in Santa Ynez and big Pine 24 degrees with snow. The Santa Ynez mountains are getting snow right now. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?x=187&y=100&site=lox&zmx=&zmy=&map_x=186&map_y=100
The rain totals have not changed that much since the heavy rain fell overnight Saturday, but Rocky Butte is SLO is at 9 inches with the lead for the most rain https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/scripts/getlocal.php?prod=LAXRRMSBA
In the afternoon today, we are looking at dry conditions and chilly temps all week long. It looks like dry conditions the rest of the week with chilly nights and highs only in the 50s.
Next weekend we are looking at a chance for another system, but models have lowered the rain strength and rain totals. We will see how this plays out as the week continues.
In the meantime, it is wet and muddy out there, bring your rain gear, jacket, and galoshes.
Love the rain, keep it coming ….
Jack Martin
12/11/22
Good Sunday morning,
What a marvelous start to the day. The rain has been falling most of the nights and the south-facing mountains have been the big winners.
Just look at some of these rain totals in the past 24 hours. San Marcos Pass is almost 7 inches, Ojai 7.12 inches, and the Santa Ynez mountains 4 to 7 inches (which flows into lake Cachuma ). The coastal valleys have seen much less, But who cares since it’s the mountains that flow into our reservoirs . https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/scripts/getlocal.php?prod=LAXRRMSBA
Down along the coast we also had lots of winds, but in the mountains, the winds blew 60 to 80 miles an hour. This system has overperformed, and we love it …..
The main part of the storm is now over LA bringing heavy rain there for the next 4 to 7 hours https://zoom.earth/#view=44.7,-145.3,4z/map=live
The rain will continue here until 10 am then taper off for the middle of the day, bringing even a few peaks of the sun.
12/10/22
Good Saturday morning,
Rain is arriving, it has started falling in SLO and is near Santa Maria. It looks like light rain will work its way down to LA and through Santa Barbara. This is pre-frontal rain which will be on the lighter side throughout the day.
The heavier rain arrives from north to south. Heavy rain starts in SLO this afternoon and goes on till midnight. In Santa Barbara heavy rain arrives early evening and will fall into Sunday morning.
https://zoom.earth/#view=35.7,-124.7,4.52z/map=live
Sunday will also be a very wet day with numerous showers throughout the day and into Monday. Monday the rain will move out.
How much rain are we looking at? well, it should be the best storm of the season to date.
Jack Martin
12/9/22
Good Friday Morning,
Another work week is coming to a close, and a rainy weekend is getting closer.
Today a weak front will bring us some high clouds, but no rain except for extreme northern SLO county.
Tonight will be cooler with the 30s in the valleys and 40s along the coast it will just cool and dry.
Saturday is when it all begins to happen. Rain will start up for some Saturday around noon with rain mainly over the hills ahead of the front.
Saturday night the real rain comes in. This is going to give us a 4-to-6-hour period of heavier rain, followed by showers all day Sunday.
This system has been looking stronger all week. The forecast now calls for a total of 1 to 2 inches coastal and 2 to 5 inches in the mountains. This system has good uplift, so mountain rain totals will be higher.
This is going to help our rain total for December bring us well above normal.
Next week we dry out Monday with a few lingering showers possible, but likely just in the hills to the south.
Tuesday and Wednesday will be dry and cool.
Then Thursday lookout again, the long-term models are calling for another stronger system by the end of next week.
All good news to me. Bring on the rain, even if the Action team will be working this weekend.
Enjoy the rainy Sunday, Saturday should be mostly dry in SB.
Jack Martin
12/8/22
Good Thursday morning,
What a fantastic cooler day we had yesterday. The views we have in Santa Barbara area are so fantastic. Every day seems to be a photo memory from the beach to the mountains. I got to visit both yesterday; from Miramar beach to Lake Cachuma. I have a great job at times.
Today the changes will start with low pressure systems affecting our weather through Sunday. Starting the day it is 45 degrees at my house right now.Tonight a weak low will work its way through with only chances of rain in SLO County. Just cold everywhere else. https://zoom.earth/
Friday will be a cool day and night with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s in the valleys and 40s in SB.
Saturday through Sunday night we are looking at another wet weekend. Rain will start north to south Saturday afternoon then drift towards us Saturday night.
Sunday we are looking at a 4-to-8-hour period of rain, with showers after. Rain rates at around ½ inch per hour.
This will be a good rain maker for this time of year. It looks like coastal areas and valleys will see 1 inch or more with the mountains and hills seeing more rain with good uplift. 1 to 3 inches is likely.
Next week we are looking to be dry and quite chilly for our area.
Enjoy another rainy weekend, we love and need the rain.
Jack Martin
12/7/22
Good Wednesday morning,
Days and nights are zipping by these days as Christmas is fast approaching in 18 days.
Yesterday the weak system that was going to bring minimal rain never dropped any rain in Santa Barbara county, but SLO received 1/10 to 2/3 of an inch of rain. https://zoom.earth/#view=38,-113.7,4z/map=live
Today and Thursday cool weather with temps 6 to 12 degrees below normal. Starting your day it is 37 in Santa Ynez and 47 in Santa Barbara.
Highs today will not get out of the 50s and tonight it gets chillier in the valley with 32 degrees and low 40s in SB. Thursday is another chilly day.
Thursday night a weak system can drop a little rain in SLO, but there is no chance for rain further south. Just cooler weather on tap for all.
The weekend will provide a stronger system with rain for all at some point. At this point, it looks like rain to the north starting Friday night into Saturday, then dropping over Santa Barbara county Saturday late in the day and Saturday night.
Sunday looks to be wet for all with the rain total still not 100%, but expect around 1/2 to 1 inch and double that in the mountains.
Starting the new work week we are looking at dry conditions.
Winter has arrived and the cooler weather shows that.
Jack Martin
12/1/22
Welcome to December,
This week has been a moving target for a weather person because there have been numerous changes to the rain.
I promise it will rain, but when it will start and how much will fall have changed with the 2 next systems.
let’s start with today:
If you look at zoom earth you can see the rain is still to the north, in the Bay area https://zoom.earth/#view=29.9,-135.6,4z/map=live
The rain will drift south towards us, but we will stay dry into the afternoon. Only a few prefrontal showers are possible this morning.
Rain after lunch will start up on the central coast then work its way south to Santa Ynez around 2 pm and Santa Barbara from 3 pm to 4 pm.
The rain tonight will be fairly heavy, but the south component has been removed and we will see less rain from this first system. Coastal ½ to 1 inch, mountains 1 to 2 inches overnight.
Friday will be dry, with just an uneventful day.
Friday night the next system will descend toward us. This system now looks to be stronger than yesterday with rain starting on the central coast overnight Friday.
On Saturday it will arrive in our area with rain starting up Saturday morning. It has been difficult to make calls on timing and rain total this entire week as the models have changed daily. This also remains in place for the second system. we might still see rain into Sunday, as a second wave moves in.
overall we are looking at another inch with the second system, more to the north and less in LA.
next week we are looking to be dry, with no rain. Only cooler sweatshirt weather, it must be time for a Cabo trip.
Enjoy the rain, it is still coming just a little later.
Jack Martin