Brief communication: Meteorological and climatological conditions associated with the 9 January 2018 post-fire debris flows in Montecito and Carpinteria, California, USA

摘要

The Thomas Fire burned 114078ha in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,southern California, during December 2017–January 2018. On 9 January 2018,high-intensity rainfall occurred over the Thomas Fire burn area in themountains above the communities of Montecito and Carpinteria, initiatingmultiple devastating debris flows. The highest rainfall intensities occurredwith the passage of a narrow rainband along a cold front oriented north to south. Orographic enhancement associated with moist southerly flowimmediately ahead of the cold front also played a role. We provide anexplanation of the meteorological characteristics of the event and place itin historic context.