SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

SpaceX is set to launch a batch of Starlink satellites from California on Friday afternoon.

A series of atmospheric rivers are responsible for the storms which have battered California since late December.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Storm-battered California got more wind, rain and snow on Saturday, raising flooding concerns, causing power outages and making travel dangerous. Flood warnings were issued for the region north of San Francisco Bay, including Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. A backcountry avalanche warning was issued for the central Sierra, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. A series of atmospheric rivers has dumped rain and snow on California since late December, cutting power to thousands, swamping roads, unleashing debris flows, and triggering landslides. “Question will then become do we stay dry through the end of month?” the San Francisco Bay Area weather office wrote.

Recent rains have swollen the lake to about 9 feet below its spill level.

The lake level was rising by about one foot per hour on Tuesday.

The lake level was rising by about one foot per hour on Tuesday.

The mother and child were trapped in their vehicle near San Miguel as storms battered the area, sending devastating floods through the region.

Around 90% of Californians - some 34 million people - are under flood watches and advisories.

Dozens of flights were cancelled at the San Francisco International Airport, and South San Francisco schools preemptively cancelled Thursday classes. As the storm intensified, state officials warned residents in Northern California to stay off the roads. Officials asked drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary — and to stay informed by signing up for updates from emergency officials about downed trees and power lines, and flooding. In Southern California, the storm was expected to peak in intensity overnight, with Santa Barbara and Ventura counties likely to see the most rain, forecasters said. ___Associated Press writers Janie Har in San Francisco, Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Rick Callahan in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

A classified satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office has launched into orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket.

You don't have to drink beer if you prefer wine. It belongs just as much at your Super Bowl party.

California Storm Residents dig out from a mudslide covering part of Silverado Canyon Road in Silverado, located in eastern Orange County, Calif., as a winter storm brought heavy rain and flash flooding to Orange County and Southern California on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. By Tuesday afternoon, 8.1 inches (20 centimeters) of rain had fallen in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles. Firefighters searched the surging Los Angeles River on Tuesday after discovering two submerged vehicles wedged against a bridge pillar south of downtown LA and learning that a third vehicle had been swept past the bridge. Similar orders were issued for people living near burn scars in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, where rockslides were reported. The system built on the progress of a massive rain storm in October, particularly in Northern California, said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist.

California Storm A local resident surveys the damage to a washed-out road in Silverado Canyon, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. By Tuesday afternoon, 8.1 inches (20 centimeters) of rain had fallen in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles. Similar orders were issued for people living near burn scars in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, where rockslides were reported. The system built on the progress of a massive rain storm in October, particularly in Northern California, said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. If storms don’t continue through the winter, the effect of this storm on the drought will be “muted,” Anderson said.

California Storm A pedestrian fends off wind and rain while walking along Second Street in Sausalito, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Motorists spun out on whitened mountain passes and residents wielded umbrellas that flopped in the face of fierce winds as Northern California absorbed even more rain and snow Monday. Light rain and snow that started falling over the weekend was turning heavier on Monday. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal via AP) (Alan Dep)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Rain drenched Southern California on Tuesday as a powerful storm slid down the state, snarling traffic as vehicles spun out and raising the threat of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires. Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles and Associated Press writer Terence Chea contributed from Oakland, California.

Rain is drenching Southern California as a blustery storm charged down the state, triggering river rescue efforts and raising the threat of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires.

Rain drenched Southern California on Tuesday as a powerful storm slid down the drought-stricken state, snarling traffic as vehicles spun out and raising the threat of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires. Nearly 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell before dawn in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles, the National Weather Service said. Residents of communities near the Alisal Fire burn scar in Santa Barbara County were ordered Monday to evacuate over concerns that heavy rains might cause flooding and debris flows that could inundate hillside homes. A similar order was issued for people living in several communities near another burn scar in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles.

Farther north, the 123-mile (198 kilometer) Plains pipeline travels along the coastline near Santa Barbara before turning inland. His office declined to comment on the Plains project, noting it was under review by government agencies. California is known as a birthplace of the modern environmental movement, and a watershed event was a massive 1969 spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. A key step in the review of the proposed pipeline — a complex environmental study conducted by Santa Barbara County — is expected by spring. In a divided vote in early November, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission urged county supervisors to deny the company’s proposal.

The Alisal Fire covered more than 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. Chiu)SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — (AP) — Shifting winds posed new challenges for firefighters battling a blaze in Southern California coastal mountains that threatened ranches and rural homes and kept a major highway shut down for days. The Alisal Fire charred more than 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) of dense chaparral in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. Forecasters also planned to issue a fire weather watch Friday in parts of Southern California because of the predicted development of Santa Ana winds. California wildfires have scorched nearly 3,900 square miles (10,101 square kilometers) this year and destroyed more than 3,600 homes, businesses and other structures, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Alisal Fire covered more than 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. Chiu)SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — (AP) — Shifting winds posed new challenges for firefighters battling a blaze in Southern California coastal mountains that threatened ranches and rural homes and kept a major highway shut down for days. The Alisal Fire charred more than 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) of dense chaparral in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. Forecasters also planned to issue a fire weather watch Friday in parts of Southern California because of the predicted development of Santa Ana winds. California wildfires have scorched nearly 3,900 square miles (10,101 square kilometers) this year and destroyed more than 3,600 homes, businesses and other structures, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The wildfire was 14,500 acres and 5% contained as of Wednesday morning.

California Wildfires In this photo provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Alisal Fire continues to burn the dry vegetation in Refugio Canyon on Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, 2021, in Santa Barbara County, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire via AP) (Mike Eliason)SOLVANG, Calif. — (AP) — A major highway in Southern California coastal mountains remained closed Wednesday and evacuation orders were in place as a growing wildfire chewed through dry vegetation in the region. More than 760 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire, which covered 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) along the south Santa Barbara County coast and was only 5% contained, county fire officials said. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency on Tuesday and asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency to free up more state resources for firefighters and evacuees. PG&E equipment was blamed for a 2018 fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise in Butte County.

More than 200 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire, which covered 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) along coastal Santa Barbara County and was only 5% contained, county fire officials said. The fire erupted Monday on a ridge and swept toward the ocean, forcing the closure of U.S. 101, the only major highway on that section of the coast. Evacuation orders and warnings were in place for ranches and several rural communities of the lightly populated region. While the area was lightly populated, the blaze threatened more than 100 homes, ranches and other buildings, fire officials said. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared a local emergency and asked Gov.

At least 200 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire, which had scorched 12.5 square miles (31 square kilometers) along coastal Santa Barbara County and remained completely uncontained. The fire erupted Monday on a ridge and blasted toward the ocean, forcing closure of U.S. 101, the only major highway on that section of the coast. In Northern California, fire crews increased containment of a blaze that destroyed 25 mobile homes, 16 RVs and a park building at the Rancho Marina RV Park in Sacramento County. Red flag warnings for critical fire danger remained in effect Tuesday for much of the interior of Northern California, with lesser wind advisories continuing in Santa Barbara County. PG&E equipment was blamed for a 2018 fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise in Butte County.

Evacuation orders have been expanded for a growing wildfire driven by intense winds that has shut down a key Southern California highway for more than a day.

The Vandenberg Space Force Base, from where the rocket launched, warned there may be "unsafe" rocket debris in the area and said residents should stay away from it.

Patches a calico was brought in as a stray last month and a microchip scan revealed her identity. (Jillian Title/Animal Shelter Assistance Program via AP)SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A pet cat believed killed along with her owner in a huge mudslide has been found three years later. The Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Santa Barbara County says the calico named Patches was brought in as a stray last month and a microchip scan revealed her identity. Twenty-three people were killed, including cat owner Josie Gower. The ASAP shelter says Patches was found less than a quarter-mile from where her Montecito home stood.

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)PASADENA, Calif. – A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a lawsuit filed by the Michael Jackson estate over an HBO documentary about two of the late pop star's sex abuse accusers can go forward in private arbitration. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with two lower courts and ruled in favor of the Jackson estate in its decision on “Leaving Neverland." Unless there are further appeals, the case will go to a private arbitrator, which the Jackson estate argued was required by the 1992 contract at the center of the lawsuit. HBO has also more generally defended “Leaving Neverland” as a valid and important piece of documentary journalism. “Leaving Neverland” director Dan Reed has been filming the hearings in those cases for a follow-up documentary.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Reuters) - Wind-driven flames raced down wooded hillsides toward Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday, sending around 5,500 residents fleeing as firefighters battled to save homes before expected relief from rain. The so-called Cave Fire started Monday afternoon in the tinder-dry Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County about 90 miles (145 km) northwest of Los Angeles. Its been quite the firefight, weve had winds moving up slope, down slope, across the slope, said Anthony Stornetta, of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD), praising residents for having created firebreaks around homes. Some 5,481 residents were forced to leave their homes according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, but some residents on the western flank of the fire were being allowed to return home by Tuesday afternoon. Around 128,285 acres (51,915 hectares) have been blackened by California wildfires from Jan. 1 to Nov. 24.

(Reuters) - Fire ripped through brush and woodland on hills above the Californian city of Santa Barbara early on Tuesday, forcing residents to leave their homes, authorities said. The Santa Barbara County declared a local emergency at 10:30 p.m (0630 GMT) on Monday night, after a fire broke out in Los Padres National Forest at about 4:15 p.m. The flames spread quickly to cover about 3,000 acres by the evening and have not yet been contained, Santa Barbara County said in a statement. The Cave Fire is advancing toward major population areas in the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, the county said. Firefighters from neighboring areas were rushing to Santa Barbara to help the local service control the blaze, authorities said.

A California dive-boat fire that killed dozens of people was a 'worst-case' scenario, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown. At least 25 bodies have been found, according to Coast Guard officials who spoke to the Los Angeles Times. A search and rescue effort for survivors will become a recovery mission Tuesday morning, Eliason told reporters Monday. A mayday call revealed one side of the harrowing discussion between a Coast Guard dispatcher and the Conception's captain. ... Roger, is the vessel fully engulfed right now ... Roger, and there's no escape hatch for any of the people on board?"

North of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County is under a state of emergency; The first family is spending the weekend drawing attention to America's National Park Service, which celebrates its 100th birthday this summer.

North of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County is under a state of emergency. The so-called Sherpa Fire has destroyed more than 7,600 acres. Teri Okita has more.

A fast-moving, massive wildfire in California that forced evacuations is still burning out of control and is expected to get worse. The fire in Santa Barbara County has consumed more than nine square miles of brush, putting about 270 homes and ranches at risk. The fire is only 20 percent contained. Firefighters are concerned about the threat of increasing winds this weekend and an extreme heatwave. Teri Okita reports from Goleta.

At least 4,000 acres have already gone up in flames due to the so-called "sherpa fire." California's Santa Barbara County is in a state of emergency due to the blaze. Teri Okita has more.

Sheriff: Elliot Rodger "timid" during earlier run-in with police Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown says the man suspected of killing six people in California on Saturday did not show any warning signs during earlier contact with law enforcement.