The town in California where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their home is under evacuation orders as a severe storm threatens to cause mudslides and flash floods.
Montecito was among a number of towns and cities placed under evacuation orders on Monday.
Prince Harry and Meghan's home was the site of their bombshell interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
The town in Santa Barbara County is about 148km north-west of Los Angeles and is home to other celebrities including the Kardashians.
The area has recorded more than 20cm of rain in the past 12 hours and was forecast to be hit by an additional 20cm into Tuesday, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor said.
Officials had placed Montecito under a shelter-in-place order on Monday morning but upgraded it to an evacuation order as the weather worsened.
Residents of Los Angeles County were advised to gather their pets, important information and other necessities in the event of an evacuation order.
More than 100,000 customers in the state were without power on Monday, according to power tracker PowerOutage.
The National Weather Service warned of a series of “atmospheric rivers” — storms that dump a significant amount of rainfall that could cause mudslides and flash flooding. Similar storms last week cut off power and inundated streets.
President Joe Biden on Sunday night approved an emergency declaration for the state that would provide federal assistance for disaster relief efforts.
Montecito deadly flood in 2018 — in pictures
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Emergency personnel carry a woman rescued from a collapsed house after the 2018 mudslide. Photo: Santa Barbara News-Press -
A member of the Fresno Fire Department searches homes in Montecito, California, following a deadly mudslide that occurred in January 2018. AP -
A man walks through his Montecito home that was damaged by storms. AP -
An aerial photo taken by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department shows the aftermath of the mudslide in Montecito. AP -
Emergency personnel evacuate local residents and their dogs after the deadly mudslide. Reuters -
The posh Montecito Inn was flooded after the mudslide. Reuters -
A vehicle lies tangled in a tree on Hot Springs Road following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA -
The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass was flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek and blocked by mudflow and debris. EPA -
A Mercedes-Benz hood ornament covered in runoff mud after the vehicle was moved by floodwaters. EPA -
A car is trapped in mud following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA -
Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow on to the US 101 Freeway. EPA -
A rainbow forms above Montecito while law enforcement and others survey the damage to Hot Springs Road. EPA -
A wrecked car lies amid debris after the mudslide. EPA -
Rescue workers enter properties to look for missing people after the mudslide. Reuters -
A lorry sits stuck in mud on US Highway 101 following heavy rains in Montecito. EPA -
Boulders block a road after the mudslide. Reuters -
An area damaged by the mudslide in Montecito. Reuters -
Outside the gate of Prince Harry and wife Meghan's home in Montecito. AFP
California Governor Gavin Newsom said 12 people had died due to the violent weather in the past 10 days and warned the coming storm could become more dangerous.
Monday marked the fifth anniversary of a mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes in Montecito.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their $14.6 million, 18,000-square-foot home in August 2020.
In an interview with ITV to promote his book Spare, Prince Harry said he and his family had left the UK for California “fearing for our lives”, as they left royal life behind.
The couple's Archewell Foundation did not immediately return The National's request for comment.
Montecito real estate — in pictures
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Located at 888 Lilac Drive in Montecito, this home is currently listed at $33.5 million. All photos: Zillow -
888 Lilac Drive is located close enough to Prince Harry and wife Meghan to borrow sugar -
Montecito, California, home for sale -
888 Lilac Drive has stunning ocean views from most of its rooms -
Montecito, California, home for sale -
888 Lilac Drive has a pool and lush gardens -
888 Lilac Drive has a private screening room, six bedrooms and eight baths -
Solar, a generator, greywater irrigation system, private well, organic vegetable beds and citrus orchards, chicken coops and secret gardens at 888 Lilac make it possible to live off the grid -
Fruit trees in the garden -
670 Hot Springs Road in the Montecito/Santa Barbara area is listed for $68 million -
670 Hot Springs has seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, so everyone gets a spare -
670 Hot Springs was nicknamed Far Afield by the previous owner and is one of two significant historic estates remaining in the prime Montecito Golden Quadrangle -
670 Hot Springs went through an exhaustive 15-year restoration -
The home was restored with hand-crafted custom details using reclaimed 17th and 18th century building materials curated throughout Europe -
751 Buena Vista Drive is listed for $18.9 million and has five bedrooms and eight baths -
751 Buena Vista Drive is also located in the posh Golden Quadrangle of Montecito -
The massive home is surprisingly warm -
One of the five suites at 751 Buena Vista Drive -
751 Buena Vista Drive was built in 1930 -
751 Buena Vista Drive has its own entertainment area -
751 Buena Vista Drive also has a tennis court, pool, terraces, pavilions, an attached apartment, an ocean-view cottage, an art studio with a kitchen and bath and two three-car garages
