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Santa Barbara County, California
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1977 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
6
Tornado reports
6
Hail reports
86
Floods since 1996
162
All events
29
Deaths
$629.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Santa Barbara County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 6 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Heavy rainfall generated flash flooding from Maria Ygnacio Creek. One man was swept down the creek and drowned. His body was found in the creek near the intersection of San Marcos Road and Via Parva.
Intense rainfall generated a large and deadly mud and debris flow in the community of Montecito, around the burn scar of the Thomas fire. Automated rain gauges in the area indicated very intense rainfall, reaching as high as 0.54 inches in 5 minutes. The intense rainfall resulted…
Heavy rain over the Santa Ynez Mountains caused flash flooding and mudslides near the community of Gaviota. Flash flood waters flowing across Highway 101 swept a SUV into a swollen Gaviota Creek. Both people in the SUV were killed.
Two men who were fishing along Guadalupe Beach were swept out to sea by a large wave. Both men were presumed dead.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 65 MPH, were reported at the Point Conception Lighthouse.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 61 MPH, were reported at the Midway sensor near Santa Maria.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 59 MPH, were reported at the Refugio RAWS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 59 MPH, were reported at the La Cumbre Peak sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 60 MPH, were reported at the Shepard Mesa Road sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 58 MPH, were reported at the Santa Cruz Island Reservoir.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 58 MPH, were reported at the Santa Rosa Island RAWS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts up to 62 MPH were reported at the De La Concepcion sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts up to 58 MPH were reported at the Refugio RAWS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts up to 61 MPH were reported at the Elwood Ridge sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a large tree branch across the number 1 and 2 lanes of Highway 101.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall produced a mud and debris flow that resulted in the closure of all lanes of Highway 166 near the intersection with Black Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall generated flash flooding and a mudslide across all lanes of Highway 101, near Gaviota State Park.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of all lanes of Highway 101 due to flash flooding and mudflows from the intersection of Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway to Winchester Road in Goleta.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall generated flash flooding and debris flows at the intersection of Refugio Road and Calle Real. One vehicle was caught in the flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall forced the closure of Santa Barbara International Airport. All flights were cancelled.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall generated flash flooding and debris flows that resulted in an 8 mile closure of Highway 135, from Los Alamos to the Harris Grade.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorms generated very gusty winds. A large tree was blown down across Highway 101.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorms generated gusty winds. In the community of Santa Barbara, a large tree was knocked down, striking a vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A thunderstorm wind gust, estimated to be 60 MPH, impacted the USFS Fire Station on Figueroa Road. The thunderstorm gust knocked out a window in the engine bay.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Strong thunderstorms generated torrential rainfall across the Cuyama Valley, producing flash flooding across Highway 166 near Wasioja Road. Twenty three vehicles were stuck in the flood waters and debris on Highway 166.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter near Montecito reported downed trees due to gusty thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter in the foothills north of Summerland reported downed trees and powerlines due to gusty thunderstorm winds.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding of Highway 101 at San Ysidro Road. Five cars were submerged in flood waters.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
California Highway Patrol reported a large boulder across Highway 154 near Painted Cave Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding on Highway 101 at Sheffield. Per officer reports, six inches of water was observed across the southbound lanes of Highway 101.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding on Highway 101 between San Ysidro Road and Olive Mill Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter near Montecito reported downed powerlines due to gusty thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter near Summerland reported downed powerlines due to gusty thunderstorm winds.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall resulted in a mudslide across Turnpike Road near Cathedral Oaks Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall generated flash flooding that resulted in the closure of Highway 144 near Milpas Street.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall resulted in several large boulders (about half the size of a car) blocking Gibraltar Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding forced the closure of Highway 246.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of the Carpinteria off ramp along Highway 101.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding resulted in the closure of Santa Barbara Airport.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall generated a mudslide across Sycamore Canyon Road near the intersection with Coyote Road.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall generated a significant mudslide at the intersection of Highway 101 and State Route 154.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding resulted in the closure of Harris Grade Road from Rucker to Highway 135.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding was reported on the Refugio Road offramp along Highway 101. Several vehicles were stuck in the flooded roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding resulted in the closure of Penman Springs Road between Union Road and Linne Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Significant flooding closed Highway 1 between Black Road and Soloman Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An automated sensor at De La Concepcion reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 MPH.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 28 | 0 |
| 2023 | 21 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 1 |
| 2005 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 1 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Santa Barbara County, measured to its path.
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