Rain could be on the way next week

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• Rain expected to descend on the county next week

  Rain expected to descend on the county next week

  The Central Coast could experience its first showers of autumn next week as a storm system makes its way down the West Coast from Alaska.

  Local weather expert John Lindsey and the National Weather Service agree that showers could begin Tuesday and continue Wednesday before the storm leaves the region. Dry weather is expected to return at the end of next week.

  “We are still on track for cool and wet weather next week, with rain first arriving in Northern California late Sunday before spreading rain as far south as Monterey Bay on Monday,” said Lindsey, who has more than 20 years of forecasting experience on the Central Coast. “This system is expected to produce heavy drizzle and perhaps a few light rain showers on Tuesday morning over the Central Coast.”

• SLO wasn't very wet in January

  SLO wasn't very wet in January

  Only about half the normal amount of rain fell in San Luis Obispo in January, which usually is one of the biggest months of the year for precipitation.

  It is the same situation so far for the 2011-12 rain year that ends in June — slightly more than half the normal rainfall has occurred, according to an analysis by John Lindsey, who has been forecasting local weather for more than 20 years.

  Cal Poly, the official home for weather keeping in San Luis Obispo, recorded 2.89 inches of rain in January. That’s 56 percent of the normal total for the month.

• Detour sign lifts for rain in SLO County

  Detour sign lifts for rain in SLO County

  At last! Rain was set to fall overnight and continue into this afternoon, with the potential for some meaningful showers in a winter that so far has been notable for cold, dry weather.

  Coming into Friday, the last time San Luis Obispo County had received rainfall was Dec. 12, and that hardly amounted to much. Cal Poly, the official home of climatology for San Luis Obispo, measured only 0.17 of an inch.

  Before that, the only other storm of note had occurred Nov. 20, when 1.56 inches were measured in San Luis Obispo. January is normally one of the wettest months of the year, averaging 5.17 inches in San Luis Obispo.

• Freezing temperatures forecast around SLO County overnight

  Freezing temperatures forecast around SLO County overnight

  Cold temperatures are forecast around San Luis Obispo County tonight and again Tuesday night, with lows expected to fall below 20 degrees in the coldest spots of the North County.

  Local forecaster John Lindsey with PG&E said a clear night with no cloud cover will allow temperatures to fall. The coldest time typically occurs in the early morning hours before the sun rises.

  Creston typically posts chilly readings, though Paso Robles is forecast to have an overnight low of just 20 degrees tonight and 19 degrees Wednesday morning.

• Storms may bring rain through Thanksgiving

  Storms may bring rain through Thanksgiving

  A series of storms are forecast to bring rain to San Luis Obispo County, starting today and continuing into Thanksgiving Day.

  The storm arriving today will not pack much more than sprinkles, and much of the area won’t even get wet, local weather expert John Lindsey said. The National Weather Service says just a 20 percent chance of rain is expected.

  However, today will be unseasonably cool, with the highs countywide only in the 50s to low 60s, and a strong wind this afternoon will make it feel even colder.