F0/EF0 1 2 3 4 5 · Lines run from where each tornado touched down to where it lifted; dots are short paths. Neighboring counties are outlined.
When tornadoes hit Santa Barbara County
March has brought the most, 3 of 7. Winter tornadoes (December to February) make up 43% of the total, a sign of the cool-season storms common in the South.
By decade
More tornadoes in recent decades mostly reflects better detection and reporting (Doppler radar, storm spotters, damage surveys), especially for weak EF0 tornadoes, not necessarily more storms. The 2020s bar covers only 2020 to 2024.
How strong they were
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 6 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 1 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 0 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 0 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 0 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 0 |
Tornadoes before February 2007 were rated on the original Fujita (F) scale; since then the National Weather Service uses the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. Wind speeds above are EF-scale estimates from damage, not measurements. See what the EF scale means.
The strongest tornadoes in Santa Barbara County
| Date | Rating | Path length | Path width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 3, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | ||
| December 29, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 2 | |
| March 21, 2023 | EF0 | 0.2 mi | 25 yd | 1 | |
| March 24, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | ||
| November 29, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 2 yd | ||
| March 29, 2006 | F0 | 0 mi | 4 yd | ||
| January 19, 2010 | EF0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd |
Deaths and injuries are for each tornado’s whole path, which can cross other counties.
Most recent tornadoes
| Date | Rating | Path length | Path width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 21, 2023 | EF0 | 0.2 mi | 25 yd | 1 | |
| January 19, 2010 | EF0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | ||
| March 29, 2006 | F0 | 0 mi | 4 yd | ||
| November 29, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 2 yd | ||
| March 24, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | ||
| December 29, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 2 | |
| January 3, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd |
The official database ends with 2024. For storms since then, see the Storm Prediction Center’s reports and your local National Weather Service office.
FEMA’s tornado risk rating
FEMA’s National Risk Index rates the tornado risk in Santa Barbara County as very low, with a score of 5 out of 100 compared with every other U.S. county. It estimates about 0.10 tornadoes a year here and an expected annual loss of about $19,983 to buildings, people and farming. The index mixes how often tornadoes strike with what is exposed and how well a community can recover, so a busy rural county can rate lower than a less active city.
Neighboring counties
- Kern County, CA: 15 tornadoes
- Ventura County, CA: 7 tornadoes
- San Luis Obispo County, CA: 4 tornadoes
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- FEMA National Risk Index, tornado county data (December 2025 release)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.