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Montecito Fire and MERRAG are preparing for isolated and scattered thunderstorms that may produce dry lightening in our area.
Local conditions are dry, and fuel moistures are low. These conditions combined with the predicted dry lightening event are recipe for wildland fires.
Are you prepared?
Given that this is a predictable event, please take the time to review your emergency plans with your family members. Here are a few things to remember:
• Review your emergency plan with your family members.
• Ensure that you have your emergency kit on hand that includes necessary items, such as a battery powered radio, spare batteries, emergency contact numbers, and ample drinking water.
• Take a walk through of your residence with family members and discuss items you’d take if you needed to evacuate.
• Review your evacuation routes with your family members.
• Stay tuned to your TV or the National Weather Service for weather updates.
• If an event occurs, tune to Montecito Community Radio Station 1610 AM or other local radio stations for emergency information.
• Remain close to your house, and keep an eye on your family and pets
• Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (e.g., patio furniture, children’s toys, doormats, etc.)
• Turn off outdoor propane tanks.
• Connect garden hoses to outside taps.
• Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running - they can waste critical water pressure in the event of a fire.
• Leave exterior lights on.
• Back your car into the garage. Shut doors and roll up windows.
For more information regarding preparedness, go to our website at www.montecitofire.com
For weather information, go to the National Weather Service/NOAA at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/
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From the Santa Barbara County of Emergency Management:
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Advisory: Potential Dry Lightning T-storms and Red Flag Warning
***Red Flag Warning in Effect for Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles County Mountains, Valleys, and Deserts Tonight Through Wednesday Afternoon***
SYNOPSIS: potential for dry lightning, or thunderstorms that contain little or no rainfall, across much of southwest California from about the San Luis Obispo County Mountains south and east across most of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Fire weather concerns are high given the very dry fuel conditions and recent above normal temperatures.
IMPACTS: Dry lightning could result in fire ignitions and gusty outflow winds from collapsing thunderstorms would help spread fire rapidly. The recent heat wave has primed dry vegetation across the entire region with most areas reporting critical fuel moisture levels. Boaters should be aware that thunderstorms could bring dangerous lightning, shifting winds, and choppy seas.
TIMING: The main dry lightning threat will develop after midnight with thunderstorms likely to form over the coastal waters then move inland overnight and early Wednesday morning. Storm movement will generally be from southwest to northeast. Thunderstorms will likely shift to the mountains and deserts and away from the coast and valley areas by midday Wednesday, continuing through Wednesday afternoon. All storm activity should wind down by early Wednesday evening.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High confidence for dry lightning to develop across the region tonight and Wednesday, but low confidence for the overall amount of thunderstorm activity.
