USGS-landslides.20060718T213923 cannon@usgs.gov 20060718T213923.000Z Actual Alert Public en-US Geo Flash Flood and Debris Flow Watch for Recently Burned Areas in Southern California Future Unknown Possible Joseph Gartner Flash Flood and Debris Flow Watch for Recently Burned Areas in Southern California At 2:08 pm on Tuesday July 18, 2006 the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for portions of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Of particular concern is the Perkins burn area in Santa Barbara County that would be prone to mud and debris flows if heavy showers develop over the region. A moist, tropical airmass over the region today has produced the potential for thunderstorms with heavy downpours that could produce flash flooding. This threat will develop as the afternoon progresses and will continue through the early evening hours until 8:00 pm. Thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening have the potential for producing heavy downpours with flash flooding. Flash flooding could result in flooded rural roadways and debris flows near and downstream of the Perkins burn area. Residents or persons with interests near and especially downstream of the burned areas should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take protective action should flash flood warnings be issued. For more information on what to do if you live near a recently burned area, and more information on post-fire debris flow flows: http://landslides.usgs.gov/research/wildfire jegartner@usgs.gov Southwestern California; Portions of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties