The big storm hitting the Central Coast Wednesday is now shifting south into Southern Santa Barbara County and Ventura County Thursday.  Santa Barbara County could see some its heaviest rainfall Thursday morning, with the focus moving to Ventura County by Thursday afternoon. 

Rainfall amounts could be astronomical is some places.  Some of the mountains in extreme northern San Luis Obispo County topped ten inches of rain Wednesday night.

The number of coronavirus related deaths on the Central and South Coasts now tops the one thousand mark.  22 additional deaths were reported in the region Wednesday, pushing the overall total to 1004.

Ventura County had 18 new deaths, pushing its total to 564.  Santa Barbara County had four new deaths, for a total of 279.  And, San Luis Obispo County has had 161 deaths.

Some new tax figures show the continuing devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry on the Central and South Coasts. 

The City of Santa Barbara is reporting that its transient occupancy tax collected in December was down 65% from the year before.  The tax is the one collected on hotel room stays, and is a good indicator if how busy motels, and hotels are in the community.

The third, and most powerful in a string of storms during the last week has arrived on the Central and South Coasts, dropping rainfall and causing some street flooding in areas.

So far, the heaviest rainfall has been on the Central Coast, in San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County.

Detectives are trying to figure out what led to a fatal shooting on the South Coast Tuesday night.

Oxnard police were called to the 800 block of Hobson Way at about 8 p.m. by reports of a shooting.  That's where the Oxnard Performing Arts Center is located.  They found a man in the street with multiple gunshot wounds.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.