Weather outlook for Santa Barbara County this week
A significant rise in temperatures is forecast across Santa Barbara County, with the peak of the heatwave expected between Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Inland areas will be the hottest, with highs reaching up to 101°F (38.3°C) in Cuyama and around 91°F (32.8°C) in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Coastal cities, including Santa Barbara and Goleta, are expected to remain relatively cooler, with afternoon temperatures climbing into the upper 70s to mid-80s°F (25–29°C). However, evening warmth will persist, particularly due to sundowner winds, which trap heat near the surface during the night.
According to meteorologist Kristan Lund, daily temperatures will remain 5 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit above seasonal averages through much of the week. Some interior valleys may experience little overnight cooling, leading to sustained heat stress in those regions.
As of Monday afternoon, no official heat advisories had been issued, but that may change as the forecast develops.
Sundowner winds and increased fire risk
The National Weather Service also warned of heightened fire danger, particularly in southwest Santa Barbara County, driven by a combination of gusty sundowner winds, low humidity, and extremely dry vegetation.
Wind gusts between 30 and 45 mph are possible from Gaviota to Refugio, especially along the Gaviota Coast and the adjacent foothills, where temperatures will be elevated and conditions exceptionally dry.
Brief critical fire weather episodes are also possible in interior zones such as the Santa Ynez and Cuyama valleys, and across the higher terrain of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
According to Lund, elevated fire weather conditions are expected to persist through at least Friday, and could extend into next week, depending on how humidity levels and wind patterns evolve.
Power shutoff plans on the table
As of Monday, Southern California Edison is evaluating the possibility of public safety power shutoffs affecting parts of the South Coast, including the Gaviota Coast, the Highway 154 corridor, and sections of Santa Barbara.
An estimated 3,900 customers could be impacted by these precautionary outages, which are intended to reduce wildfire ignition risks in high-wind conditions. Residents are urged to monitor SCE’s Outage Map for the latest updates and localized impacts.
