Snow, Wind, and Cold Temps Across Santa Barbara County
Strong winds, snow, light rain, and dropping temperatures. It’s all part of a cold winter storm, originating from Canada, affecting Santa Barbara County.
Montecito and the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden are seeing wind gusts of at least 40 MPH. Fire crews have been busy responding to reports of fallen trees blocking streets and other roadways. A fallen tree on Brenner Drive in Santa Barbara has already closed down part of that street until crews can clear the tree.
The Cuyama Valley and parts of Camino Cielo and Gibraltar Road have seen falling snow. Viewers have sent in photos and video into our newsroom that shows moderate to light snow fall.
In Cuyama, light snow continued through the evening. Residents there estimate about eight inches of snow that started to fall since about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Our Keith Carls reports that Highway 166 has been shut down in both directions at Cuyama due to the heavy snowfall and out of safety concerns for vehicles driving on the icy road.
As the year draws to a close, The National Weather Service (NWS) anticipates New Years Eve to be the coldest night of the season with the potential for widespread freeze conditions.
“A period of dangerous hard freeze conditions (with temperatures at or below 28 degrees) will be likely across the Santa Ynez Valley, Ojai Valley, Antelope Valley, Cuyama Valley, and interior valleys of San Luis Obispo County,” writes the NWS in a statement.
Freeze warnings remain in effect for the next couple of days across all of Santa Barbara County.
30466050Video by Merrilee Miller
Slideshow: Snow, Wind, and Cold Across Santa Barbara County