Tuesday evening forecast
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Christmas Eve was a quiet and beautiful day for the California Central Coast and South Coast as high clouds began to stream over the state ahead of our next storm system. We will have a chance for rain early Christmas morning, but the amounts will be fairly light, and more rain will be coming. Lows Wednesday morning will be in the 40s.
A storm will move over California on Christmas Day, and it will come in two waves. The first chance for rain will be early, followed by heavier rain late Wednesday through early Thursday. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for our area mountains. Lower elevations can expect 0.50" to 1.50" of rain. We'll have fewer clouds after Thursday, and dry weather into next week.
Overnight lows will begin seasonably but will cool quickly this weekend. Valleys: 40s cooling to the lower and mid 30s. Coasts: upper 40s to near 50, cooling to the lower 40s. Daytime highs will warm modestly from Wednesday through early next week, staying below average for almost everyone. Valleys: mainly 50s. Coasts: mid and upper 50s to lower 60s.
