When will the rain arrive? Here’s what to expect from latest SLO County winter storm
A major winter storm was expected to slam into San Luis Obispo County on Thursday night, bringing with it the potential for floods and high winds.
Fueled by an atmospheric river, the storm could dump as much as 10 inches of rain on some parts of San Luis Obispo County.
According to the National Weather Service, some light rain was expected to begin falling across the region as early as noon Thursday.
The agency predicted that the most intense rainfall would begin at 6 p.m. Thursday and last through Friday evening.
There’s also potential for thunderstorms starting Friday at noon.
Forecasts show some light rain will likely continue through Saturday before skies clear up Sunday morning.
Flood watch, wind advisory in effect for San Luis Obispo County
The National Weather Service has issued two weather alerts in light of the approaching storm.
A flood watch is in effect for San Luis Obispo County through late Friday night, due to the potential for “dangerous flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the agency said.
A wind advisory is also in effect for the region, due to the potential for 25 to 35 mph winds, with gusts of up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
The advisory is in effect through Friday at noon.
Which parts of SLO County could see flooding?
According to the National Weather Service, the most intense rainfall was expected to fall in northwestern San Luis Obispo County.
There, rainfall could reach between 5 and 10 inches, the latest forecasts showed.
The Cambria Fire Department announced Wednesday that it would monitor flooding conditions, and warned residents in the Park Hill area for the potential of a shelter-in-place order during the storm.
Residents in Oceano were told to prepare for possible flooding once the rainstorm hits.
An evacuation warning was issued for residents living in areas along the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee and near the Oceano Lagoon on Thursday afternoon, with officials saying an evacuation order was likely if weather conditions persisted.
Other areas that could see significant flood impacts include Santa Margarita, Paso Robles and Morro Bay.
Officials warn against travel during storm
Due to the heavier-than-usual rainfall, numerous agencies were warning SLO County residents to avoid traveling during the storm.
“We have another large storm coming our way,” the California Highway Patrol wrote in a Facebook post Thursday morning. “We are requesting that you, DON’T DRIVE UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST! If you can postpone your travel during this storm please do so.”
If drivers must travel, the CHP said, they should “be sure to slow down, avoid sudden movements, use brakes carefully and keep a good distance between vehicles.”
Meanwhile, the county Office of Emergency Services advised community members via Facebook to “avoid non-essential travel, especially during the peak of the storm.
The agency suggested checking out Caltrans’ QuickMap site before hitting the road.
Rain closes Cuesta College, cancels Farmers Market
Cuesta College announced Thursday its campuses would be closed to all but essential personnel on Friday due to the storm. All instruction and student support services were expected to be available online instead.
The community college also warned that weekend events on campus could potentially be canceled, and urged people to check emails for updates. Normal operations are expected to continue on Monday.
In San Luis Obispo, Farmers Market was also canceled due to the rain.
Hwy 101 ramps, intersection closed in SLO
The city of San Luis Obispo said it planned to close off a major road intersection and Highway 101 ramps on Thursday afternoon due to concerns about potential flooding in the area.
According to a city news release, the intersection at Marsh and Higuera streets will be closed to through traffic starting at 3 p.m. The closure will include the Highway 101 on- and off-ramps.
That area saw significant damage during the January storms as San Luis Obispo Creek rose up over the road and flooded nearby homes and businesses.
This story was originally published March 9, 2023 at 12:16 PM.
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