Major winter storm could threaten burn areas of California

LOS ANGELES » A powerful winter storm was bearing down Wednesday on California and forecasters warned of heavy snowfall in the northern mountains while predictions of widespread rainfall elsewhere raised concern about flash flooding near wildfire burn scars.

Santa Barbara County issued a recommended evacuation warning for south coast communities including Montecito, where a storm dropped an enormous amount of rain In the early morning hours of Jan. 9.

Flash floods carrying huge boulders blasted through Montecito, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes. Twenty-one people were killed and two remain missing.

The county is following a rigorous new system of alerts that emphasizes evacuations well in advance of storms rather than suggesting residents can use their discretion.

Officials hoped to decide later Wednesday whether to issue a mandatory evacuation order before the storm reaches the southern half of the state late Thursday or early Friday.

“Today is the day to prepare and have everything ready to go,” said Suzanne Grimmesey, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Emergency Operations Center. “For people that have functional needs or large animals, we recommend that now is probably a good time and not to wait.”

She did not know how many people may have left the area.

Montecito and neighboring communities on the coastal foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains lie below slopes burned bare by the largest wildfire in recorded California history as well as other fires in recent years.

Evacuation fatigue for some residents is a factor. Some evacuated multiple times during the wildfires, and then again when the mudslides hit.

Geologists estimate that the scorched earth won’t grow vegetation for three to five years, meaning every time a major storm moves into the area, residents may be asked or ordered to evacuate.

“It’s kind of our way of life until the land grows back,” Grimmesey said.

The latest storm was expected to begin in the far northern portion of the state Wednesday afternoon then ramp up on Thursday, when a blizzard warning goes into effect in much of the Sierra Nevada.

The National Weather Service said northern mountains were expected to receive 3 feet (0.9 meter) to 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow, and up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) in localized areas.

The dump would be a boon to the Sierra snowpack, which is vital to the state’s water supply but is only about a quarter its normal size for this time of winter.