The city of Santa Barbara is seeing “extremely high winds” and some flooding as a storm system makes its way through the area, resulting in some fallen trees, Santa Barbara Police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale told CNN on Sunday.
A large eucalyptus tree fell over in the middle of a road, taking down power lines and damaging a condominium complex, in one incident posted on X by police. Ragsdale said there are no injuries, but the tree is blocking a cul-de-sac and preventing residents from leaving the area by car.
Loma Alta Drive between Cliff Drive and Shoreline Drive is closed to vehicles and pedestrians as trees fell in the area, Ragsdale said.Â
The area was experiencing high winds Sunday morning into the afternoon, Ragsdale said, but the wind is now dying down and being replaced with heavier rains.Â
Flash flood warning: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning that covers more than 1 million people in communities northwest of Los Angeles, including Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.
The warning lasts until midnight local time (3 a.m. Monday ET).
Residents received an alert on their phone telling them this is a “dangerous and life-threatening situation” and not to attempt travel unless they are fleeing an area that is flooding or under evacuation orders.
