Have you ever seen snow in San Luis Obispo County?
Snowfall is an unusual weather phenomenon on the Central Coast — in fact, there has never been a white Christmas here — but on rare occasions, snowflakes float down onto county streets and hillsides.
In 1922, pictures depict snow on the ground of Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. The area also saw flakes fall in February 1944 and December 1967.
In March 1976, a storm topped local hillsides with snow, closing the Cuesta Grade north of San Luis Obispo to Highway 101 traffic and forcing the Goodyear blimp to land at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.
The most significant snowfall seen in SLO County in recent decades occurred in December 1988, when a powerful storm swept into the region — closing the Cuesta Grade, shutting down schools and stranding travelers.
Most recently, a storm dropped snow across the higher elevations of SLO County in February 2023, dusting vineyards in Paso Robles, frosting fields off Highway 58 and chilling surfers competing in the SLO CAL Open in Morro Bay.
See photos, videos of SLO County in the snow
Check these photos and videos of the Central Coast as a frosty winter wonderland, courtesy of The Tribune’s archives:
Dallas Parish, left, and Brett Fay, both 10, throw snowballs near Atascadero’s historic administration building after snow fell in December 1988. Robert Dyer The Tribune
Terry Hetrick, a Caltrans equipment operator, waits for a grader to come across the road this morning as CHP escorts traffic over snow-topped Cuesta Grade March 19, 1991. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Snow on Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo in 1922. Tribune archives
Unidentified men enjoying snow on the streets of San Luis Obispo in 1922. Tribune archives
Snow covers the landscape near Highway 46 intersection between Paso Robles and Cambria. This aerial photo was taken March 3, 1976. Wayne Nicholls Telegram-Tribune
Snow falls in December 1988 at the Atascadero Sunken Gardens. Robert Dyer The Tribune
Laura Peterson, left, and Brandee Leonhardt, both of Morro Bay have a snowfight in 1976 on Highway 46, six miles west of Cambria. Thom Halls Telegram-Tribune
During the snowstorm on Dec. 15, 1988, Cal Abbott used a scooper to dish up food to a Barbados ram and a Welsh pony at the Weeping Willow Ranch on Nacimiento Road. Joan Denslow The Tribune
Snow covers the Cuesta Grade on the morning of March 19, 1991. The Tribune
CHP Officer Jim Thompson and Lt. Dick Sabth help a motorist turn around on Highway 101 near Santa Margarita after the Grade was closed by snow Dec. 15, 1988. Robert Dyer
Cal Poly student Toiny Hover watches San Luis Creek rise behind his trailer the evening of March 18, 1991. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A wintry scene along Highway 41 just south of Shandon on March 12, 2006. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Will Stoudenmire, 2, at the Riconada store in Santa Margarita in 1991. Wendy de Groot Stoudenmire
The top of the Cuesta Grade was a snowy scene on Saturday morning, Feb. 25, 2023. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Levi Davis, 4, pulls Uriah Davis, 3, up a snow-covered driveway near Parkhill Road Feb. 23, 2023, as a frigid winter storm swept through San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Snow off Highway 41 East near Cholame on Jan. 24, 2008. Jayson Mellom The Tribune
Snows falls on old trucks on the side of Hwy. 41 west from Atascadero on Feb. 9, 2009. The Tribune
Uriah Davis, 3, left and brother Levi Davis, 4, slide down a snow-covered driveway near Parkhill Road on Feb. 23, 2023, with a horse statue in background. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Heavy overnight snow turned the California Valley and Temblor Range near the Carrizo Plain into a scene that looks more like the Arctic than San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 25, 2023. Brittany App AppsPhotography.com
Heavy overnight snow turned the California Valley and Temblor Range near the Carrizo Plain into a scene that looks more like the Arctic than San Luis Obispo County on Feb. 25, 2023. Brittany App AppsPhotography.com
Snow can be seen on the mountains from downtown San Luis Obispo on Feb. 25, 2023. John Lindsey
A surfer rides a wave Feb. 23, 2023, on the opening morning of the SLO CAL Open competition in Morro Bay, as the sun illuminates the snowy Santa Lucia Range above Cayucos in the distance. Don Smith
Michael Toews shot this photo of snow in the hills above Edna Valley on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Michael Toews
Snow covers the summit of Highway 46 West at 1,762 feet of elevation on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Debby Boutros
Mist clings to rolling hills of snowy trees along on Highway 46 West on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Debby Boutros
Southern Santa Lucia Range, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County, California Don Smith
Snow adorns the hills behind Morro Bay on Thursday morning, Feb. 23, 2023. John Lindsey
Snow dusts a vineyard in west Paso Robles on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Brian Milne HollowayAg.com
Share your pictures
Do you have pictures of SLO County in the snow? Share them with Tribune reporter Hannah Poukish at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com, and they could be published in The Tribune.
This story was originally published December 25, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.
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