Flood watch for New Year’s, rainy first week of 2026

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Rain returns Wednesday morning and peaks overnight between New Year's Eve and Day with thunderstorm chances and gusty winds.

Flood watches are in effect Wednesday night through Thursday night in southern Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

Showers linger Friday bringing rainfall forecasts between 1 and 3 inches near the coast, 2 to 6 inches inland from storm number 1 that is moving north from the south.

Multiple pulses of more rain are expected to arrive this weekend through next week from another storm brewing out of the northwest.

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