Record rains to kick off 2026 continue to hit Santa Barbara County, with reports of more than an inch of rain per hour falling in the county and flooding on Highway 101 – closing it in both directions – midday Saturday.
“US 101 is closed in both directions near Goleta due to a series of mudslides,” Caltrans warned on social media at 10:35 a.m. Saturday. “Southbound travelers on US 101 are being directed off at the junction with Hwy. 1 north of Gaviota. Northbound travelers are being directed off at Winchester. Crews on site. No estimate for reopening.”
Flash flood warnings continue through the area and National Weather Service officials warn that the current storm conditions are expected to continue until about 2 p.m. for the Santa Barbara County towns of Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Goleta and Carpinteria.
A person walks along a flooded street during a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm on Feb. 4, 2024, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“I just received word from the field and there has been no change on the status of the road and the closures,” Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski told SFGATE Saturday via text. “And we still do not have an estimate for reopening.”
In the northern part of the county, Highway 1 near Orcutt is also closed in both directions, Caltrans officials said.
“Highway 1 near Orcutt is closed in both directions due to flooding between Solomon Rd. and Black Rd.,” Caltrans posted on social media at 10:05 a.m. on Saturday. “No estimate for reopening. Please remember to adjust your driving for weather conditions, slow down, and maintain space between vehicles in front of you.”
An aerial view of downtown Santa Barbara, Calif. (Getty Images)
Caltrans’ Drabinski confirmed two closures of Highway 1 in the northern part of Santa Barbara County: “Highway 1 near Orcutt by the golf course, and the closure of 1 north of Guadalupe where it runs under the railroad track,” he texted. “… We usually have to wait on those two until the rain stops and the waters subside. Luckily we have good alternate routes for those two closures so essentially minimal traffic impact.”
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This article originally published at ‘No estimate for reopening’: Two major California highways close down due to flooding.