Boats Hit the Shore but Weak Weather Disappoints Santa Barbara Again
Despite some shifting winds, and damaged boats, the latest round of weather has been disappointing in drought dry Santa Barbara.
Barely a spritzer of rain came down in the early morning hours and by mid morning, it was just a split day of clouds and sun.
Most people slept through whatever trace amount of rain came through, at a time when Santa Barbara County remains in a critical drought mode.
Cachuma Lake is now about 28 percent of its capacity, and dropping.
Along East Beach, one sailboat owner and his friends tried to salvage belongings from a vessel that was beached, damaged and drenched. The Harbor Patrol was checking for any fuel impacts or environmental concerns.
Another vessel, on the coast by UC Santa Barbara, was crushed by a Marborg crew at low tide and hauled out. The boat was beached more than a week ago.
Many visitors from other areas, especially the midwest and east were well aware of the cold blast that’s roaring through other parts of the country. As for reasons why Santa Barbara has been spared, it was a puzzling question.
“It’s very strange, the global warming thing. Where I grew up in Iowa they are seeing snow already. I think that’s somewhat early for the mid west,” said resident Mark Legg.
Visitors from colder areas were thawing out along the Santa Barbara waterfront.
“Tourists like the sun and the sun seems to like the tourists. I don’t see any complaints there . We obviously we could use the water
and use the rain,” said David Zeff who has made tourist maps for 30 years in Santa Barbara.
Packing for a long trip that included California was a little confusing for one visitor.
“I have never lived here and thought it was going to be a little colder so I brought my sweater but I got hot!,” laughed Erika Batbayar from Korea.
Forecasters say another day of broken weather systems will be passing through the area before several more dry days leading up to the Thanksgiving weekend.
Slideshow: Boat Beached in Santa Barbara