Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
- Areas
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Places
- Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria, Summerland, Goleta, Mission Canyon, Hope Ranch, Old Man Mountain, Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass
- In effect
- until 2:00 AM PDT, Oct 22, 2026
- Detection
- Radar and gauge indicated
What the National Weather Service says
“Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA, Flash Flood Warning, 12:11 AM PDT Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
“Water can rise rapidly in hilly terrain and in urban areas.”
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA, Flash Flood Warning, 12:11 AM PDT Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
“Rock slides and mud slides are likely, especially around mountain and foothill roadways.”
NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA, Flash Flood Warning, 12:11 AM PDT Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Do not drive into flooded roads. The National Weather Service says most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Turn around and find another route, and never drive around barricades.
Move to higher ground if water is rising near you. Water can rise rapidly in hilly terrain and in urban areas. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot can sweep a vehicle away.
Take extra care on mountain and foothill roads, including Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass. Rock slides and mud slides are likely there. Underpasses and low-lying areas can also flood.
Context
FEMA flood-insurance records show 1,313 claims in Santa Barbara County between 1978 and 2026, as of September 9, 2026. These counts cover only insured properties, so they understate total flood damage.
FEMA has made several disaster declarations for the county that involved flooding, landslides and mudslides. They include declaration 4769 on April 13, 2024, and declaration 4683 on January 14, 2023.
Updates
- The flash flood warning expired at 2:00 AM PDT.
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued the flash flood warning until 2:00 AM PDT.
History here
Santa Barbara County: 1313 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
Santa Barbara County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4769 (2024): severe winter storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4699 (2023): severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4683 (2023): severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4431 (2019): severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4353 (2018): wildfires, flooding, mudflows, and debris flows
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Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Santa Barbara, California?
- Yes. The National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard office has a Flash Flood Warning in effect for central Santa Barbara County until 2:00 AM PDT on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
- Which places are affected by the Santa Barbara flash flood warning?
- The warning names Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria, Summerland, Goleta, Mission Canyon, Hope Ranch, Old Man Mountain and Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass.
- What is the flash flood risk in Santa Barbara right now?
- At 12:11 AM PDT, radar showed most showers and thunderstorms had moved north and east. The National Weather Service still expects flash flooding to continue for at least a few hours, and says additional showers, rock slides and mud slides are possible.
Sources
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 22, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
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