Steady rains and gusty winds hit Santa Barbara for much of the day on Christmas Eve, but that didn’t stop holiday shoppers from braving the streets to finish some last-minute errands. Despite the closure of a few low-lying surface streets, and a few minor accidents, the storm passed through the Central Coast without causing any major damage.
Creeks and storm drains were flowing with rainwater after a wet morning, with meters registering between three and seven inches of rain across Santa Barbara. A Flash Flood Warning issued for Southern Santa Barbara County during the early morning was lifted at noon.
Flooding near Calle Cesar Chavez and the Santa Barbara waterfront forced a temporary shutdown of the street, and at least one boat washed ashore on East Beach due to windy and choppy conditions…