2 SLO County cities smash heat records — and more hot, windy weather is on the way
A mid-winter heatwave throughout California has brought unseasonably warm and dry conditions to San Luis Obispo County, causing some gauges to measure record-breaking temperatures.
The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport reported a high of 86 degrees on Thursday afternoon, crushing the previous daily record of 79 degrees recorded in 2016, according to PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.
Santa Maria saw the mercury rise to 82 degrees, Lindsey said. The previous daily high temperature record was 80 degrees set in 1971.
And Paso Robles hit 80 degrees, besting its previous record of 79 degrees set in 2006, according to Lindsey.
It’s not necessarily unusual to see high temperatures like this recorded in February.
Last February, a record-high temperature of 84 degrees — 5 degrees warmer than the previous record set in 1986 — was recorded at Twitchell Dam.
In February 2020, at least seven high-temperature records were broken or tied in the county, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
In fact, Februarys in San Luis Obispo County are, on average, getting warmer by about 0.2 degrees each decade, according to historical data gathered by NOAA.
That’s similar to the average yearly temperature in the county — which is rising by about 0.2 degrees each decade, likely fueled by human-driven climate change.
This latest heatwave is expected to last through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures in San Luis Obispo are predicted to reach a high of 84 degrees on Friday, 83 on Saturday, 82 on Sunday and 71 on Monday according to the National Weather Service.
During this week and the weekend, expect slightly breezy weather with gusts reaching as high as 10 miles per hour in some areas.
This heatwave also comes right after the county experienced one of the driest Januarys on record. San Luis Obispo County continues to experience “moderate” to “severe” drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Officials from the state’s “Save Our Water” campaign encourage residents to continue saving water in preparation for the predicted dry months ahead.
Here are some tips they suggest:
Installing a drip irrigation system and smart sprinklers.
Replacing the flapper on your toilet every 1-2 years.
Reducing your shower time to five minutes.
Wash full loads of laundry.
Defrost frozen foods without water.
Rinse veggies and fruits without running the faucet.
Use the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and patios.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 4:28 PM.
