Extreme precipitation (≥90th percentile), defined in terms of both the intensity and persistence of rainfall, has been linked to various natural hazards throughout the world including floods and landslides. The variations of precipitation extremes are particularly important in southern California with its pronounced seasonal rainfall regime and landscape that is prone to fire events. The historical variability of precipitation in Santa Barbara County is examined on varying timescales and then compared to several phenomena believed to control precipitation in the region. Hourly precipitation data are gathered from seven local stations covering roughly the past forty years (1970--2010). The climatology of precipitation in the region including intensity and persistences of storm episodes is examined.

The patterns and variations of precipitations are then compared to three main teleconnection phenomena: the El Nino Southern Oscillation, the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and atmospheric rivers. The underlying goal of this research is to gain a comprehensive understanding of precipitation climatology in the region and the features that influence control over it. Ultimately this knowledge will be used to gauge the conditions necessary for a "perfect storm" event to occur within the Santa Barbara region.