Live updates: Mud covers Highway 126, more
FOR UPDATES: Find Tuesday's updates on the storm, closures and evacuation orders here.
Rainfall totals updated
The National Weather Service issued updated two-day rainfall totals as of 10 p.m. Monday, with Nordhoff Ridge topping the region — which also includes Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo counties — with more than 15 inches:
- Nordhoff Ridge, 15.47
- San Marcos Pass (Santa Barbara County), 15. 41
- Matilija Dam, 14.76
- Rose Valley, 13.7
- Matilija Canyon, 10.94
- Lake Piru, 7.84
- Ojai, 5.74
- Santa Paula, 4.8
- Fillmore, 4.71
- Saticoy, 4.18
- Piru, 3.89
- Thousand Oaks, 3.79
- Moorpark, 3.52
- Ventura, 3.5
- La Conchita, 3.19
- Oxnard Civic Center, 2.22
- Camarillo, 2.2
- Simi Valley, 1.87
- CSU Channel Islands, 1.65
- Newbury Park, 1.57
A second wave of the powerful storm could bring thunderstorms and strong wind gusts overnight into Tuesday, the weather service said in a tweet, along with possible hail, waterspouts and small tornadoes.
Stay up on evacuation warnings
10 p.m.: As rain continues overnight Monday, you can keep up with evacuation warnings, orders and other information at vcemergency.com, the Ventura County Office of Emergency Service's site for major incidents.
Some counties to the north, including San Luis Obispo County, saw roads reopen and floodwaters recede Monday night as the storm pushed through Ventura County and beyond.
As of 10 p.m., numerous streets and highways around Ventura County remained impacted by flooding, mud, rocks and fallen trees. Closures include:
- Highway 101 northbound remained closed in Ventura starting around Highway 33.
- Highway 126 remained closed from Central Avenue in Fillmore to Hopper Canyon Road, east of the city.
- Highway 150 was closed from the Santa Paula area to the Ventura/Santa Barbara county line.
- Highway 33 was closed above Ojai from around Fairview Road.
- Southbound Highway 101 in Ventura had lanes closed around the State Beaches area.
- Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County remained closed roughly from Carpinteria into Santa Barbara.
Also around 10 p.m., radio traffic indicated firefighters weren't able to drive on Creek Road near Oak View for a water rescue due to multiple mud slides. Crews were staging on other nearby streets.
Mud, rocks cover Highway 126
9 p.m.: About 3 feet of mud and rocks have covered lanes of Highway 126 east of Fillmore, California Highway Patrol officials said in a tweet.
The agency posted a photo of a big rig stuck in the mess, noting CHP and Caltrans crews were "working hard" to reach stranded motorists.
"Those were the 126 traffic lanes," the CHP's tweet said. "Now it's 3 feet deep with mud and rocks. No ETA on reopening."
Scanner traffic indicated emergency crews in numerous locations were having difficulty responding to calls as roads had became impassable due to a variety of hazards.
A separate blockage on the 126 near Wells Road had been cleared around 9 p.m. Monday, Caltrans officials said in a tweet.
Nordhoff Ridge tops rain charts
Nordhoff Ridge in Ventura County saw 14.13 inches of rain as of 8 p.m. Monday, topping the National Weather Service list of two-day storm totals for the region.
San Marcos Pass in Santa Barbara County posted the next highest total, with just over 14 inches.
Matilija Dam measured just over 13 inches during the same period.
In Ventura County's coastal areas, Saticoy topped the list with 4.17 inches. Ventura and La Conchita got more than 3 inches, parts of Oxnard received nearly 2.5 inches, the Camarillo Airport had just over 2 inches, and Silver Strand Beach had about 1.75 inches.
In coastal valleys, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks both had more than 3 inches and Simi Valley had just over 1.75.
For interior valleys, Sulphur Mountain recorded more than 8 inches, Lake Piru 7.5 inches, Ojai had nearly 5.5 inches, Santa Paula saw about 4.75, Fillmore about 4.5 and Piru about 3.5 inches, according to the weather agency's tally.
Highway 150 closes across the county
Highway 150 has been closed in both directions from north of Santa Paula to the Ventura/Santa Barbara county line near Carpinteria due to flooding and mudslides, Caltrans tweeted around 8:30 p.m.
Portions of the highway had already been closed earlier in the day.
Separately, firefighters have been dispatched to numerous swiftwater rescues after heavy rain moved into the county, including on Willard Road east of Santa Paula, where about 12 people were reportedly assisted, and on southbound Highway 101 near the State Beaches ramp.
Floodwaters breach Highway 101
8:20 p.m.: Emergency radio traffic indicated water had breached northbound lanes of Highway 101 near the junction with Highway 33.
The highway had been closed for traffic but the flooding has made it more difficult for emergency crews to respond to incidents.
Classes still on tap in Ventura County
8:15 p.m.: Although public schools in Santa Barbara County cancelled classes on Tuesday, no closures have been announced in Ventura County.
Ojai Unified School District Superintendent Tiffany Morse said the district would evaluate road closures Tuesday morning before making any decision about canceling classes. A spokesperson for Ventura Unified School District said the district anticipates all schools to open for regular business. Both districts said they would notify parents via the app Parent Square if plans change.
Students in Santa Paula are not scheduled to be back in class until Wednesday.
Flooding closes airport
Officials announced Monday that the Santa Barbara Airport was closed due to flooding. Commercial flights were cancelled until further notice.
More information: flysba.santabarbaraca.gov/.
Ventura pier, roads close
7:45 p.m.: The city of Ventura released this list of updated closures Monday. Road closures included:
- Vista Del Mar under the 101 Freeway
- Main Street Bridge - W. Main Street at Peking Street
- Harbor Boulevard is closed in both directions between San Pedro and the Ventura Pier.
- Thompson Boulevard at Junipero Street
- Greenock Laneat Pierpont Boulevard
- The Ventura Pier also remained closed
Crews help with sinkhole rescue
7:45 p.m.: Ventura County firefighters were assisting with a rescue involving a sinkhole along Iverson Road, off Highway 118 in Los Angeles County, as of 7:25 p.m. The area is east of Simi Valley.
Radio traffic from the scene indicated two or three vehicles may be stuck in the sinkhole.
Mud flows close Highway 33
7:15 p.m.: The Ventura County Fire Department responded to a minor mud flow on Casitas Vista Road and Highway 33. Mud has closed the road and vehicles were stuck, the department tweeted. No injuries were reported.
The fire department was fielding storm-related calls throughout the county Monday evening, including reports of stranded motorists and homes affected by flooding and mud flows.
Weather Service warns of thunderstorms
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement advising strong thunderstorms may hit southern Ventura County through 7 p.m.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph and heavy downpours are expected.
Vehicles stuck on Highway 126
6:40 p.m.: Highway 126 is closed from Fillmore to Fairview Canyon because of mud flows across all lanes.
The California Highway Patrol said in a tweet that several vehicles were stuck in the mud, and officers were working to rescue the stranded drivers.
Authorities said to use Interstate 5 as a detour.
Closures on highways 101, 150
6:30 p.m.: Several closures are in place on local highways. This is only a partial list as incidents are evolving quickly on the roadways.
- A hard closure is in place on northbound Highway 101 at Highway 33 in Ventura, according to the California Highway Patrol. There is no estimated time to reopen.
- Highway 126 is closed at Hopper Canyon Road, west of Piru, the CHP posted at 6:15 p.m.
- Lanes of Highway 150 are closed near Thomas Aquinas College outside Santa Paula, the CHP said, with no estimated duration.
- Elsewhere on Highway 150, lanes are closed near Santa Ana Road.
- Casitas Vista Road was closed at North Ventura Avenue, CHP officials posted shortly after 6:15 p.m.
- Other roads around the county are also having lanes blocked by flooding, rocks, mud and trees.
- The closures are in addition to the full closure of Highway 101 from near Carpinteria to Padaro Lane in Santa Barbara.
- Offramp from Highway 33 to West Main Street in Ventura is closed.
Evacuation orders expand in Ventura County
6:30 p.m.: Several evacuation and shelter-in-place orders are in effect in Ventura County.
Evacuation orders:
- The Ventura Beach RV Resort in Ventura.
- La Conchita off Highway 101 near the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line.
- Homes on the south side of Creek Road from Camp Comfort to Highway 33.
Shelter-in-place orders:
- Homes along the north side of Creek Road from Camp Comfort to Highway 33.
- Camp Chaffee neighborhood north of Ventura.
Overnight shelter:
- The small gym at Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road in Ventura.
Sisar Creek levels rise near Santa Paula
Santa Paula resident Catharine Reznicek posted a video she recorded Monday evening of Sisar Creek flowing swiftly near the Santa Barbara Orthodox Monastery, 15799 Ojai Road.
She reported the creek has never been this full in the past few years she's lived in the area, and that it was a sharp contrast from the creek's typical stream, which barely moves at times.
Matilija Dam records more than 11 inches of rain
5:45 p.m.: Ventura County continues to get pummeled by Monday's storm with 24-hour rainfall totals in the mountains exceeding 11 inches in spots.
The heaviest rain reached the county Monday afternoon and will continue through the evening, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The storm was expected to taper off around midnight, but light to moderate rainfall would continue overnight, he said. Then, another storm front is expected to push through the area Tuesday morning bringing more moderate to heavy rainfall.
Rainfall totals as of 5:45 p.m.:
- Camarillo - 1.47 inches
- Fillmore - 4.18 inches
- Matilija Dam - 11.5 inches
- Moorpark - 2.94 inches
- Ojai - 4.86 inches
- Oxnard - 1.99 inches
- Port Hueneme - 1.28 inches
- Santa Paula - 4.3 inches
- Simi Valley - 1 inch
- Thousand Oaks - 1.6 inches
- Ventura - 3.17 inches
Ventura County's foothill and mountain areas could see another 3 to 6 inches before the storm moves out of the area Tuesday. Coastal areas could get an additional 1.5 to 3 inches of rain.
Camp Chaffee neighborhood told to shelter in place
5:20 p.m.: Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order for the Camp Chaffee neighborhood north of Ventura because of hazardous road conditions.
Sheriff's Capt. Steve Michalec said debris flows had blocked roads in the area, and it was unclear when they could be cleared.
"We're getting inundated with calls for trees down and roads blocked," Michalec said. "We're just triaging at this point."
Flash flood warning issued for Ventura, Oxnard, T.O., Simi
5:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for much of Ventura County.
That means those areas could have major flooding on roads as well as around creeks, streams and rivers. People are advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and not to drive through any flooded areas.
The warning includes areas in Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Somis, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley and is expected to remain in effect until midnight.
River flooding leads to more rescues
5 p.m.: Authorities have rescued 11 additional people stranded on an island in the Ventura River near Main and Peking streets. Earlier in the day, seven others were rescued from the spot in the city of Ventura.
Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath said rescue teams had cleared the island by 4:30 p.m. One individual required minor medical treatment, he said.
In a tweet, the department said seven individuals were rescued by air, seven via ladder and four were able to walk out.
Evacuation ordered in La Conchita
4:45 p.m.: Authorities have issued an evacuation order in La Conchita, a beachside community near the Ventura-Santa Barbara county.
The spot was site of major landslides in 1995 and 2005. No landslide was reported on Monday, but debris started coming down hillsides during the storm. As a precaution, authorities ordered an evacuation around 3:30 p.m., said Sheriff's Capt. Steve Michalec.
An evacuation order also remains in effect for the Ventura RV Beach Resort near the Ventura River. An overnight shelter is scheduled to open at 5 p.m. in the small gym at Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road in Ventura.
For more information, go to vcemergency.com. To sign up for emergency alerts, go to readyventuracounty.org/vc-alert/.
Closures on highways 101, 150
3:45 p.m.: Several closures are in place on local highways.
- A hard closure is in place on northbound Highway 101 at Highway 33 in Ventura, according to the California Highway Patrol. There is no estimated time to reopen. An alternate route is Highway 126 to Interstate 5.
- Lanes of Highway 150 are closed near Thomas Aquinas College outside Santa Paula, the CHP said, with no estimated duration.
- Southbound Highway 101 has been reduced to a single lane south of Mussel Shoals toward near Ventura, Caltrans said in a tweet around 3:15 p.m. Flooding has closed the right lane of a construction bypass that splits lanes for about 4 miles from Mussel Shoals toward Ventura. The closure could be lifted around 4:30 p.m., but timing is subject to change.
Other roads around the county are also having lanes blocked by rocks, mud and trees.
The closures are in addition to the full closure of Highway 101 from near Carpinteria through Montecito, to the Cabrillo Boulevard area in Santa Barbara.
Flash flood warning issued for Ojai, Santa Paula, Piru
3:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for an area that includes Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru in Ventura County.
The agency issues such a warning when there could be major flooding on roads as well as around creeks, streams and rivers. People are advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and not to drive through any flooded areas.
The warning was issued shortly before 3:30 p.m. and is set to remain in effect through 9 p.m. Monday. It also includes the Castaic and Green Valley areas in Los Angeles County.
7 rescued from Ventura River flooding
3 p.m.: Authorities rescued seven people who were stranded as water levels rose in the Ventura River Monday afternoon.
Initial reports said as many as a dozen were trapped on an island in the river near Main and Peking streets in the city of Ventura. Shortly before 3 p.m., the Ventura County Fire Department said in a tweet that seven victims had been rescued.
An additional seven were being evaluated to see if they also needed to be rescued. No injuries were reported.
Highway 101 closed at Carpinteria
2:45 p.m.: The California Highway Patrol announced Highway 101 was closed just north of La Conchita around 2:30 p.m. because of flooding and weather conditions.
The closure starts at Highway 150 and goes to Cabrillo Boulevard near Montecito, according to a CHP tweet. There was no an estimated time to reopen the highway.
Santa Barbara County evacuation orders expand
2:30 p.m.: The Santa Barbara County's Office of Emergency Management expanded evacuation orders around 2 p.m. to include the Serena Park area in Carpinteria due to flooding. Earlier, the county issued an order for all of Montecito to evacuate.
Authorities said an evacuation center is available at SBCC Wake Center, 300 N. Turnpike Rd.
Reports of falling rocks at La Conchita
2:20 p.m.: Authorities responded to La Conchita shortly before 2 p.m. after reports of some rocks coming down the hillside in the beachside community.
The spot near the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line is the site of major landslides in 1995 and 2005.
By 2:15 p.m., personnel from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and the Ventura County Fire Department reported no landslide in the area as crews continued to investigate.
Patrick Maynard, director of the Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services, said there was no significant failure but "a small outpouching" had occurred.
"The geologist is on his way up there to look at it, at which point we'll decide what our next steps are," he said.
Evacuation ordered in Montecito
Santa Barbara County's Office of Emergency Management issued an order for all of Montecito to evacuate around 12:30 p.m. The order was issued for the unincorporated seaside enclave, Toro Canyon, Sycamore Canyon and Padaro Lane.
Residents were advised to "leave now," a tweet from the agency said. An evacuation center had been opened at the Wake Center, 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara.
Roads, highways close from storm's effects
By noon, Highway 33 from Ojai to the Lockwood Valley has been closed because of the torrential rain, according to the California Department of Transportation.
In Santa Barbara County, a number of highways have also been closed off for safety reasons, Caltrans said. Northbound Highway 101 is closed at Mariposa Reina in Gaviota because of debris flow to the north. Additionally, Route 154 is closed between Routes 246 and 192 because of multiple rock slides, according to Caltrans.
Heaviest downpour to come
As of about 11:30 a.m., the National Weather Service is sticking with its forecast of 2 to 4 inches of rain with the heaviest downpour expected between 4 and 8 p.m. in Ventura County.
A flood watch is on for the entire county. Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that means small rivers could be reaching capacity.
"Right now we have the Ventura River getting to above flood stage early this evening," he said.
Local take on state of emergency
Based on conditions as of about 10 a.m., Ventura County officials have no plans to declare an emergency for the region.
“As of right now, we do not anticipate proclaiming a local state of emergency,” said Patrick Maynard, director of the Ventura County sheriff's Office of Emergency Services.
If an incident did happen or the situation changes, the county likely would declare an emergency and then seek reimbursement. As of Monday morning, however, Maynard said local authorities were in a monitoring stage.
Emergency operations center up, running
The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services activated an emergency operations center around 7 a.m. The worst of storm was on track to hit the county between noon and 6 p.m. Monday, OES Director Patrick Maynard said.
Heavy rainfall could lead to some flooding along the Ventura River near the Ventura Beach RV Park.
“We've had a lot of rain recently, so we know that there's going to be less absorption and more runoff into the river,” Maynard said Monday.
That could bring some higher flows and flooding in the area. An evacuation warning is in effect for the Ventura-area RV park through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
A close eye on La Conchita
Authorities were keeping a close eye on the beachside community of La Conchita during the storm, because of concerns about debris flows and slides. The spot near the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line is the site of major slides in 1995 and 2005.
The Sheriff's Office went to the area over the weekend to talk to residents about the potential danger. Officials say complex geologic hazards in the area make it challenging to predict when a failure may occur, but projected rainfall could reach thresholds of past slides.
Emergency declared
A state of emergency in California was declared late Sunday night by President Joe Biden at the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"This approval will allow for the rapid deployment of federal resources & personnel to protect Californians," the state's Office of Emergency Services tweeted Monday morning.
The declaration lists 17 counties, including Ventura, and means the state can marshal federal resources from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide aid.
Today's forecast
The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rainfall Monday as a storm moves in following a respite of light showers Sunday.
Although forecasters have backed slightly off their earlier prediction of 3 to 4 inches, reducing the range to 2 to 4 inches, it is "still looking like a very intense storm," meteorologist David Sweet said Sunday afternoon. Sweet said both flooding and damaging winds are possible.
High surf will likely extend through Saturday, he said.
Meteorologist Kristen Stewart said earlier that south-facing slopes including the Lake Casitas area, Ojai and hills around Fillmore could get pummeled with as much as 4 to 8 inches before the system moves on. The hot spot for the most rain runs roughly along the line between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, she said.