Have you ever witnessed a snow storm in San Luis Obispo County?
Snowfall is a highly uncommon weather phenomenon on the Central Coast. In fact, there’s never even been a white Christmas here.
However, on a few magical occasions, snowflakes has stuck to county streets and hillsides.
In 1922, photos show snow on the ground of Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. The area also saw flakes fall in February 1944 and December 1967.
The most significant snowfall seen in SLO County in recent decades happened in December 1988, when a powerful storm swept into the region — closing the Cuesta Grade, shutting down schools, stranding travelers and prompting residents to take refuge in emergency shelters.
Most recently, a storm dumped snow across the higher elevations of SLO County in February 2023, dusting vineyards in Paso Robles, frosting fields off Highway 58 and chilling some surfers competing in the SLO CAL Open in Morro Bay.
Check out photos from when the county transformed into a winter wonderland:
See photos, videos of SLO County in the snow
Browse through photos and videos capturing 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
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
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
Snow falls in December 1988 at the Atascadero Sunken Gardens. Robert Dyer The Tribune
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
Unidentified men enjoying snow on the streets of San Luis Obispo in 1922. Tribune archives
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
March 12, 2006: A wintry scene along Highway 41 just south of Shandon. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@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
Jan. 24, 2008: Snow off Highway 41 East near Cholame. Jayson Mellom The Tribune
Snows falls on old trucks on the side of Hwy. 41 west from Atascadero.Photo by Joe Johnston 02-09-09Published Caption: Snows falls on old trucks on the side of Hwy. 41 west from Atascadero. Photo by Joe Johnston 02-09-09 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 Saturday, 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 Thursday, 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
Snow dusts the hills of the southern Santa Lucia Range near San Simeon on Feb. 23, 2023. 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
Have you taken photos 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.
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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