Santa Barbara County Mountains storm history
Storm events recorded in Santa Barbara County Mountains, California between 1950 and 2025.
108
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
0
Floods
1
Deaths
$17.0M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
The Thomas Fire ignited in early December in the coastal valleys of Ventura county, near Thomas Aquinas College. At the time of ignition, fuel conditions were at record dry levels for early December. The combination of gusty Santa Ana winds and the dry fuel conditions allowed the…
The Jesusita Wildfire burned 8,733 acres of land in the hills above the city of Santa Barbara. The fire was driven by a combination of a large dead fuel bed and gusty Sundowner winds. Automated sensors in the vicinity of the fire reported northerly wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH …
The Zaca Wildfire was fully contained on the evening of September 2nd. The total acreage burned by the fire was 240,207 acres, making the Zaca Fire the second largest wildfire in California history. The total cost of suppression was over $119 million. No significant structures we…
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly wind impacted the Santa Ynez Mountains in southern Santa Barbara county. Peak wind gusts, up to 76 MPH, were reported at the Montecito Hills RAWS.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty Sundowner winds impacted the area between Gaviota and Refugio. The local mesonet observations indicated very strong sustained winds including Gaviota (45-52 MPH) and Refugio (40-42 MPH).
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty Sundowner winds impacted the area between Gaviota and Refugio. Some wind reports from the local mesonet include: Gaviota (gust 60 MPH) and Refugio (gust 59 MPH).
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty Sundowner winds impacted the Santa Ynez Mountains in southern Santa Barbara county. Some peak wind reports from the local mesonet inlcude: Montecito Hills (gust 68 MPH), Gaviota (gust 65 MPH) and Refugio (gust 58 MPH).
High Wind High Wind
Gusty Sundowner winds impacted the Santa Ynez Mountain Range in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported northerly wind gusts up to 67 MPH.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter storm conditions impacted the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Snowfall totals of 4 to 8 inches (above 5000 feet) and southerly winds, gusting to 70 MPH, produced hazardous winter weather conditions.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter storm conditions impacted the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Snowfall totals of 1 to 3 inches combined with southerly winds, gusting up to 67 MPH, to produce hazardous winter weather conditions.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly winds impacted the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported a wind gust of 81 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly winds impacted the Santa Ynez mountain range in Santa Barbara county. Wind gusts near 60 MPH were observed with the Montecito Hills RAWS reporting a peak gust of 58 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty Sundowner winds impacted the Santa Ynez Mountains. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported north winds gusting up to 63 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly winds impacted the Santa Ynez Mountains as well as the South Coast of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts up to 81 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty north winds impacted the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Some peak wind reports include Montecito (gusts to 81 MPH) and La Cumbre Peak (gusts to 63 MPH).
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly winds impacted the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Some peak wind gusts reported include Montecito (gusts to 70 MPH) and Tepusquet (gusts to 64 MPH).
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A strong winter storm brought winter storm conditions to the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Estimated snowfall totals ranged between 6 and 18 inches with the highest totals above 5000 feet. Additionally, strong winds with gusts to 55 MPH were reported.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Heavy snowfall and gusty winds impacted the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Snow levels dropped to between 2000 and 3000 feet. Estimated snowfall totals ranged between 6 and 16 inches. Additionally, gusty winds in excess of 50 MPH were reported.
High Wind High Wind
Strong and gusty northerly winds developed across the mountains of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts between 69 and 82 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Gaviota reported north winds gusting between 61 and 67 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported northerly winds gusting to 60 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong Sundowner winds developed across the Santa Ynez Mountain range in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported north to northeast winds gusting up to 65 MPH.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Whittier Fire burned 18,470 acres in southern Santa Barbara county. The fire destroyed 16 homes and damaged one other.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Alamo Fire burned 28,687 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. One home was destroyed by the fire.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across the Santa Ynez mountains in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported northerly wind gusts to 64 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across the mountains of Santa Barbara county. Some peak wind gusts from the local RAWS network include: Montecito (gust 62 MPH) and Tepusquet (gust 59 MPH).
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Tepusquet reported southerly winds with gusts to 63 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong southerly winds developed across the mountains of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Tepusquet reported a wind gust of 67 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Montecito Hills reported southerly wind gusts to 58 MPH.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Rey Fire, in northern San Luis Obispo county, was finally contained in early September. In total, the fire burned 33,606 acres.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Rey Fire ignited in southern Santa Barbara county, in the Santa Ynez Mountains. . Due to hot and dry conditions, as well as historically dry vegetation, the fire grew very quickly. The fire burned into early September, before containment and scorched 33,606 acres.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Sherpa Fire, which started in mid June, was finally contained in early July. In total, the fire burned 7,474 acres in the mountains of Santa Barbara county.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Pine Fire, which started in late June, was finally contained in mid July. In total, the fire burned 2,304 acres in the mountains of Ventura county.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Sherpa Fire burned 7,474 acres in the mountains of Santa Barbara county.
High Wind High Wind
The Montecito RAWS sensor reported northerly wind gusts between 59 and 62 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The Montecito RAWS sensor reported northerly wind gusts up to 75 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at the Botanical Gardens in Santa Barbara reported a wind gust of 58 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported a wind gust of 60 MPH while the sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported sustained winds of 43 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Montecito Hills reported northerly winds, gusting between 60 and 65 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong north winds developed across southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts between 62 and 65 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across the south coast of Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported wind gusts between 60 and 80 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong southerly winds developed in the mountains of Santa Barbara county. The sensor at La Cumbre Peak reported wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH. The sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported sustained winds between 40 and 42 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed through the Santa Ynez mountains in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported northerly wind gusts as high as 60 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Montecito reported sustained winds between 40 and 51 MPH with gusts between 59 and 66 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed across the Santa Ynez Mountains in southern Santa Barbara county. The RAWS sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported several hours of sustained winds between 40 and 52 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Montecito Hills reported northerly wind gusts to 64 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds were reported across southern Santa Barbara county. The sensor at Gaviota reported sustained winds between 45 and 49 MPH. The sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported sustained winds of 41 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
A sensor at La Cumbre Peak reported a sustained southerly wind of 42 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Strong northerly winds developed through the Santa Ynez Range. The Montecito RAWS sensor reported sustained winds between 40 and 48 MPH with gusts between 59 and 72 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
The RAWS sensor at Las Flores Canyon reported north winds with a sustained speed of 40 MPH.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 |