Santa Barbara, CA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Santa Barbara is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Santa Barbara County, CA. The county's highest-rated hazards are landslide, drought, and earthquake.
Storm events near Santa Barbara
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Santa Barbara's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Santa Barbara itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Santa Barbara County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Santa Barbara along with the rest of the county, not a Santa Barbara-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.2 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 98.6 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 51.4 | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | 99.4 | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | 75.4 | Relatively Low |
| Tornado | 5.4 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 30.7 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 2.2 | Very Low |
| Drought | 99.8 | Very High |
| Hail | 22.1 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 100 | Very High |
| Lightning | 55.4 | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | 13 | Very Low |
| Tsunami | 38.5 | Very Low |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 1.4 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Santa Barbara County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Santa Barbara County:
More on Santa Barbara County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Santa Barbara, CA at risk of?
Santa Barbara is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Santa Barbara County, where Santa Barbara is located, are landslide, drought, and earthquake.
What is Santa Barbara's biggest natural hazard risk?
Landslide is the highest-rated hazard for Santa Barbara County, where Santa Barbara is located, scoring 100 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Santa Barbara a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Santa Barbara carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Santa Barbara County.
Has Santa Barbara had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 1 tornado, 38 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Santa Barbara since 2016.