5 nights of freezing weather coming to SLO County. Here’s how low it could go
A blast of Arctic air sent temperatures plunging across San Luis Obispo County this week, reaching down to the low 20s and maybe even the teens in some North County areas.
It was forecast to get even colder Wednesday night with overnight lows forecast to reach 23 degrees early Thursday morning in Paso Robles.
John Lindsey, a meteorologist with PG&E, told the Tribune that it’s possible that temperatures in parts of the North County, including Creston and Paso Robles, could hit the teens. The cold front is expected to be mostly dry.
“The upper level winds are about 18,000 to 20,000 feet up — it’s coming right out of Canada. So (the winds are) bringing that cold air mass — really more or less an Arctic air mass — southward into the Central Coast,” Lindsey said.
While cold weather is not a surprise for this time of year, Lindsey said temperatures this frigid are unusual for the Central Coast.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for SLO County’s interior valleys, including Paso Robles and Atascadero, in effect until noon Wednesday.
“This will be the coldest storm that we have seen so far this winter season, with the potential for widespread snow/ice impacts across many of our lower elevation passes, which could make for difficult travel with potential delays or road closures.,” the Weather Service said in its advisory. “Major roadways that will likely have snow/ice impacts include Highways 41, 46, and 58.
Warming shelters open in SLO, Arroyo Grande
In response to the cold, warming shelters opened in Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo on Tuesday in response to extremely.
The cold snap was expected to last through at least Sunday, and the centers planned to stay open through at least Thursday.
The warming centers are located at 40 Prado in San Luis Obispo and 800 W. Branch St. in Arroyo Grande.
Check-in at 40 Prado will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Service animals are allowed inside, and secure kennels will be provided for pets that are not registered as service animals or are not vaccinated.
Guests can check into the Branch Street warming center, hosted by 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, between 5:30 and 8 p.m., but the shelter does not accept pets. For more information on the warming center’s operations, text “Add me” with your name to 805-295-1501.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 6:37 PM.
