Santa Barbara County, California
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 06083 · population 447,998 · 2,734 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 532 records for Santa Barbara County, California from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 293 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (188 records). 370 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the January 9, 2018 debris flow: 21 deaths, 168 injuries and $725 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 43 declarations naming the county since 1969, 41 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 13, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 532on 293 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 41244 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $825Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 43latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Santa Barbara County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 188 since 1996. The rank column places the county among California's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 188 | 101 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $22M | 35 of 57 |
| Floods | 95 | 55 | 1998-2026 | 6 | 0 | $3.0M | 35 of 57 |
| Winter storms | 68 | 38 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 57 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 62 | 47 | 1997-2014 | 2 | 0 | – | 8 of 57 |
| Wildfires | 34 | 26 | 1997-2026 | 2 | 69 | $25M | 37 of 57 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 31 | 20 | 1982-2026 | 0 | 2 | $21K | 17 of 57 |
| Heavy rain | 13 | 9 | 1997-2005 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 49 of 57 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 9 | 6 | 2005-2026 | 31 | 168 | $725M | 35 of 57 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 9 | 9 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 57 |
| Heat | 8 | 4 | 2006-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 57 |
| Hail | 6 | 5 | 1982-2006 | 0 | 1 | – | 50 of 57 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1977-2023 | 0 | 3 | $122K | 31 of 57 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 1998-2007 | 0 | 0 | $35M | 46 of 57 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Santa Barbara County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Santa Barbara County from 1977 to 2023, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 7 tornadoes whose track touched Santa Barbara County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in California.
Every tornado record filed for Santa Barbara County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-21 | Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County | EF0 0.24 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2010-01-19 | Ellwood, Santa Barbara County | EF0 0.14 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-29 | Lompoc, Santa Barbara County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-11-29 | Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County | F0 0.1 mi x 2 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-12-29 | Santa Barbara County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 2 | $250 step |
| 1977-01-03 | Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Santa Barbara County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 3, 2026 flash flood (1 death).
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.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1311187)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-15 | WildfireSanta Barbara County · forecast zone San Miguel And Santa Rosa Islands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Thunderstorm WindConcepcion, Santa Barbara County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindSanta Cruz Is, Santa Barbara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindSanta Cruz Is, Santa Barbara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindWave, Santa Barbara County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindHope Ranch, Santa Barbara County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindEl Encanto, Santa Barbara County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Thunderstorm WindSisquoc, Santa Barbara County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-16 | Debris FlowBetteravia, Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindMontecito, Santa Barbara County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindEl Encanto, Santa Barbara County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindOrella, Santa Barbara County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-09 | Debris FlowSummerland, Santa Barbara County 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 in a mud and debris estimated to be 15 ... | 21 | 168 | $725M | |
| 2005-01-10 | Debris FlowSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County South Coast A powerful Pacific storm brought heavy rain, snow, flash flooding, high winds and landslides to Central and Southern California. During the 5 day event, rainfall totals ranged from 3 to 10 inches over coastal areas with up to 32 inches in the mountains. With such copious rainfall, flash flooding was a serious problem ... | 10 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-03-22 | Flash FloodGaviota, Santa Barbara County 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. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-11-11 | Rip CurrentGuadalupe, Santa Barbara County Two men who were fishing along Guadalupe Beach were swept out to sea by a large wave. Both men were presumed dead. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-02-23 | Flash FloodCountywide, Santa Barbara County The final...and deadliest...storm of the month struck Central and Southern California. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches over the coast with up to 14 inches in the mountains. Widespread urban and small stream flooding was reported. Most major highways reported closures due to flooding or mudslides. In fact, ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-03 | Flash FloodGoleta, Santa Barbara County 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. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-12-04 | WildfireSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County Mountains 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 fire to spread quickly across sections ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-12-04 | WildfireSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County South Coast 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 fire to spread quickly across sections ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-09 | Debris FlowSummerland, Santa Barbara County | 21 | 168 | $725M | |
| 2007-01-13 | Frost/FreezeSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County South Coast | 0 | 0 | $28M | |
| 2009-05-05 | WildfireSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County Mountains | 0 | 30 | $23M | |
| 2006-12-27 | High WindSanta Barbara County · forecast zone Santa Barbara County South Coast | 56 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $22M |
| 2005-01-07 | Heavy RainCountywide, Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 1998-12-21 | Frost/FreezeCountywide, Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | $6.3M | |
| 2005-02-21 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2000-09-13 | WildfireVandenberg Afb, Santa Barbara County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: January 3, 1977 (tornado, Santa Barbara County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Santa Barbara County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 44 | 41 | 60 | 43 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 30 | 12 | 43 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 47 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Rip currents and high surf | – | – | – | – | 36 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 3 | 14 | 13 | 4 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Santa Barbara County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 98 · Feb 114 · Mar 64 · Apr 29 · May 23 · Jun 17 · Jul 15 · Aug 8 · Sep 14 · Oct 21 · Nov 47 · Dec 82 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Santa Barbara County
FEMA's register lists 43 declarations that include Santa Barbara County: 27 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 8 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (15) and flood (13).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-13 | DR-4769 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-04-03 | DR-4699 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-03-10 | EM-3592 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-14 | DR-4683 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-09 | EM-3591 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2021-10-13 | FM-5419 | Fire | Alisal Fire |
| 2020-03-22 | DR-4482 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3428 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-11-26 | FM-5303 | Fire | Cave Fire |
| 2019-05-01 | DR-4431 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-07-07 | FM-5252 | Fire | Holiday Fire |
| 2018-01-02 | DR-4353 | Fire | Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows |
| 2017-12-08 | EM-3396 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2017-12-05 | FM-5224 | Fire | Thomas Fire |
| 2017-04-01 | DR-4308 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2017-03-16 | DR-4305 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2011-01-26 | DR-1952 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows |
| 2009-05-06 | FM-2817 | Fire | Jesusita Fire |
| 2008-11-18 | DR-1810 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008-11-14 | FM-2790 | Fire | Tea Fire |
| 2008-07-04 | FM-2780 | Fire | Gap Fire |
| 2008-06-28 | EM-3287 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007-10-24 | DR-1731 | Fire | Wildfires, Flooding, Mud Flows, and Debris Flows |
| 2007-10-23 | EM-3279 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007-03-13 | DR-1689 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3248 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-04 | DR-1577 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides |
| 2004-06-05 | FM-2519 | Fire | Ca-Gaviota Fire-06-05-2004 |
| 2004-01-13 | DR-1505 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 1998-02-09 | DR-1203 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-03-12 | DR-1046 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow |
| 1995-01-10 | DR-1044 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud Flows |
| 1993-02-03 | DR-979 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & Flooding |
| 1991-02-11 | DR-894 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 1990-06-30 | DR-872 | Fire | Fires |
| 1988-02-05 | DR-812 | Flood | Severe Storms, High Tides & Flooding |
| 1983-02-09 | DR-677 | Coastal Storm | Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & Tornadoes |
| 1980-02-21 | DR-615 | Flood | Severe Storms, Mudslides & Flooding |
| 1978-02-15 | DR-547 | Flood | Coastal Storms, Mudslides & Flooding |
| 1977-01-20 | EM-3023 | Drought | Drought |
The 40 most recent of 43 are listed; the CSV has every one.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Santa Barbara County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 95 flood or flash flood records for Santa Barbara County from 1998 to 2026, on 55 days, with 6 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Santa Barbara County ranks 270th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $31.4 million on 1,309 claims filed in Santa Barbara County; the most in one year was 339 in 1995. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 42 · 1979: 3 · 1980: 32 · 1981: 16 · 1982: 2 · 1983: 119 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 4 · 1988: 3 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 15 · 1992: 19 · 1993: 12 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 339 · 1996: 3 · 1997: 5 · 1998: 182 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 13 · 2001: 16 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 7 · 2005: 40 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 6 · 2011: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 20 · 2018: 183 · 2019: 22 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 128 · 2024: 20 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Santa Barbara County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Santa Barbara County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $477 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Very High | $51M | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Very High | $65M | 83 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | $168M | once in about 19 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $24M | once in about 139 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $167M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.0M | 7.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $243K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | $129K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Santa Barbara County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in CaliforniaEvery California tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- High wind and dust storms in CaliforniaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The California recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Santa Barbara CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Santa Barbara County's FEMA declarations (CSV)43 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis