Santa Ynez, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Santa Ynez?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 39 days in the Santa Ynez Valley forecast zone and Santa Barbara County — the most common reported hazard around Santa Ynez, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (15 days) and flooding (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 39 | Jan 2026 | Mar 22, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 15 | Feb 2026 | Mar 31, 2024 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Nov 2001 | — |
| Wildfires | 5 | Jun 2002 | Sep 13, 2000 · $662,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Feb 2026 | Jan 9, 2018 · 21 deaths · $617 million damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Santa Ynez Valley forecast zone and Santa Barbara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Santa Ynez?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVBX (Vandenberg AFB, CA), about 23 miles northwest. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Santa Ynez | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVBX Vandenberg AFB, CA | 23 mi northwest | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 54 mi east-southeast | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 120 mi north-northeast | 12,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Santa Ynez
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Santa Ynez. Most came in January and December. The strongest was an F1 on January 3, 1977, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on January 19, 2010, which touched down about 18 miles southeast of town.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Santa Ynez's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Santa Ynez radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Santa Ynez, CA?
KVBX (Vandenberg AFB, CA), about 23 miles northwest. KVTX (Los Angeles, CA) is 54 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Santa Ynez flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 39 days in the Santa Ynez Valley forecast zone and Santa Barbara County; the deadliest was on March 22, 2005, with 2 deaths. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Santa Ynez free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Santa Ynez, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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