Safer rain arrives again in burn areas for the last week of the year

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The last week of the year will have weather that should help the burn areas of the South Coast and not cause too many worries for the Santa Barbara County Flood Control Department or Public Works crews.

The week will start off with about six hours of light rain on top of the solid rain before and on Christmas that fell.

Already in the last week, rain guages are showing roughly from 3.5 inches of rain in Carpinteria to 8 inches of rain on San Marcos Pass. The Alisal fire zone from the October blaze has had about 4 inches of rain. Roads remain open.

Forecasters says today and Wednesday will have wet weather systems, with something left over on Thursday.

Two more days of rain starting next Tuesday are already in the advanced forecast.

Some of the areas known for street flooding such as the Funk Zone have barricades and flooding signs ready.

Over the weekend, a storm Saturday had a Christmas surprise to it.

At 8:45 in an area east of Turnpike near Goleta, a powerful wind event came though. It damaged several car ports. and some structures. No one was hurt.

Some metal items from the San Marcos High field were tossed in to the air and ended up off campus in a neighborhood.

Other pieces went into the hills and on to roof tops.

Overall, there have been no storm cells that lead to catastrophic slides.

This holiday week brings out some of the biggest crowds of the year.   

Some knew it was going to rain but stayed the course.

Yang Fan was visiting the Santa Barbara Mission and said, "yea but the trip was already booked so there's no turning back."

 Many people took it in stride without having it soak their spirits.

Yves de Saint Hareouin and his family are visiting from France. "It's raining too much," he laughed. But it was not really a problem. "That's ok,  that's ok,  that's ok. " He has already been in the Bay area, Carmel, Monterey and San Luis Obispo this week with his family.

Visiting Santa Barbara is a must for many people despite the weather.

Alex Markovich is here from Orange County. He said, "well we expected the rain, it's so nice to be here. There's no city like this."

Normally after Christmas shopping is very busy for the entire week   but not when it is raining,  a lot of people apparently will be waiting for a sunnier day. That will be Tuesday."

Until the rain lets up,   ducking into a theatre became a good  option, along with something warm.

"I just put on my blanket and went out.  I love it," said Gvantsa Gasviai.

A former resident visiting his dad said, even in the rain, shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt was his look.

Tim Howarth said, "shorts and a T  that's even when I was living here  that's what I wear.  I still wear it up there in Northern California."

More information can be found in the First Alert Weather App or on the Newschannel 3-12 web page.