Violent ‘weather anomaly’ descends on California community. What could it have been?

A “weather anomaly” uprooted trees and damaged property in Santa Barbara as storms lashed Southern California on Christmas Day, fire officials said.

Neighbors reported “tornado-like” conditions in Goleta Valley damaged car ports and cars, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The storm also caused a power outage.

A track and field shed at a high school near Camino del Remedio was blown two blocks away just before 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 25, KSBY reported.

Tom Fisher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, told Noozhawk the high winds swept in as a “very strong band” of rainfall moved through the area.

A water spout reported in the area may have moved inland, causing the damage, Fisher told the publication.

Photos posted by firefighters show fallen trees and damaged carports.

This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 8:20 AM.