Local

Storm system slows overnight in SLO County. When will heavy rain return?

By Sara Kassabian

Updated March 11, 2023 2:04 PM

The atmospheric river hitting California over the weekend left San Luis Obispo County drenched and damaged Friday, but rainfall slowed overnight.

Less severe weather is expected throughout the rest of the weekend but the National Weather Service predicts a new storm system will arrive in SLO County early next week.

Many SLO County roads still closed

In Atascadero, the 13800 block of Los Altos Road, halfway between Highway 41 and San Marcos Road, remains closed due to a landslide that occurred Friday afternoon, according to a news release from the city of Atascadero.

Detours for motorists are via San Gabriel Road to Monita Road to Sierra Vista Road to San Marcos Road and Santa Lucia Road to Laurel Road to Cenegal Road to San Marcos Road, the release said.

A landslide that happened late on March 10 has closed a portion of Los Altos Road in Atascadero. Residents of the area can still access their homes through alternative routes. Courtesy of the city of Atascadero

Santa Rosa Creek Road was closed between Main Street and Highway 46 near Templeton on Saturday around 7:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol incident log.

As of 9 a.m., the road remained closed, according to the incident log.

Numerous road closures implemented Friday remain in effect in Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Templeton as of Saturday morning, according to CHP.

Floodwaters cover Main Street in Cambria’s West Village on March 10, 2023. Tom Cochrun

The Shell gas station in the West Village of Cambria was flooded March 10, 2023. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

Jeff Spencer, a resident of Oak Terrace Mobile Home Park in Cambria, is assisted through knee-deep water by Capt. Michael Burkey with Cambria Fire as Santa Rosa Creek flooded and triggered evacuations on March 10, 2023. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

Evacuation orders, warnings lifted throughout SLO County

San Luis Obispo County lifted the evacuation warning and evacuation order for residents living north and south of the Arroyo Grande Creek levee and the Oceano Lagoon, according to a news release from the county.

In Arroyo Grande, the city lifted the evacuation warning for residents living near Tally Ho Creek, between Corbett Canyon Road to James Way, according to a news release from the city of Arroyo Grande.

Residents who evacuated are welcome to return to their homes but are advised to stay alert to the weather, as another storm event is expected early next week, the release said.

Power is out for a handful of customers in SLO County

San Luis Obispo County managed to avoid widespread power outages during the first leg of the atmospheric river hammering California, but some households were affected.

PG&E customers living near the Nacimiento Reservoir in Paso Robles have been without power since Friday morning when the storm first started. Roughly 480 customers are impacted by the outage.

A PG&E repair crew was reportedly en route to the location, according to the PG&E outage map.

In Morro Bay, roughly 258 customers have been without power since Friday afternoon, according to the PG&E outage map.

The power was still out for those PG&E customers as of Saturday at 9 a.m.

Waters are rising near the intersection of Cambria Drive and Highway 1 over the Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria. Debby Boutros

SLO County storm to slow over weekend, pick up Monday

Friday ended with power outages, sewage spills and road closures throughout the county.

But the storm is expected to abate on Saturday and Sunday as rainfall slows, giving emergency services workers and public works personnel the opportunity to recover.

There is a 70% chance of rainfall Saturday expected to total roughly one-tenth of an inch, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Overnight and into Sunday there is a 20% chance of rain showers in SLO County, the forecast said.

A new storm system is expected to arrive in San Luis Obispo County at the start of next week.

Rainfall is expected to pick up on Monday after 10 p.m. with a 40% chance of precipitation in San Luis Obispo County. The likelihood of rain is expected to spike Tuesday with a 90% chance of showers.