Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northwestern Santa Barbara County and southwestern San Luis Obispo County in southwestern California. The alert is effective immediately and remains in place until 8:45 PM PST.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several locations in the Central Coast region, including:

• Santa Maria
• Lompoc
• Vandenberg Space Force Base
• Orcutt
• Guadalupe
• Vandenberg Village

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building for protection. You should remain alert for a possible tornado, as they can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If a tornado is spotted, go at once to a basement or a small central room in a sturdy structure.

Expected Conditions

Radar indicates severe thunderstorms capable of producing 60 mph wind gusts. These winds are expected to cause damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Additionally, hail up to 0.75 inches is possible. The National Weather Service notes that a brief, weak tornado is also possible within this storm system.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 7:10 PM PST on February 17, 2026. At the time of issuance, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles southwest of Pismo Beach to 50 miles west of Vandenberg Space Force Base, moving northeast at 60 mph. The alert is scheduled to expire at 8:45 PM PST.