After concerns that Highway 101 construction near Montecito could worsen El Niño-related weather risks, Caltrans office chief Joe Erwin said the freeway has as much drainage as possible, but major “50-year” storms could overwhelm the region.
El Niño involves unusual warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific surface waters and can bring increased rainfall, flood risk and heavy storms to the US, the article says. Montecito also faces winter mudslides and summer wildfires; two temporary firefighter housing sites, funded by the local fire department and water district, were recently installed for use when fire danger rises.