SLO County weather forecast for week of April 6: Heavy rain and wind on the way

After a weeklong break in the rain, the first part of April will be blustery, cold and wet.

A wet weather pattern was expected to develop Sunday, as a pair of cold fronts move southward down the California coastline. The two fronts were expected to bring winds up to 46 mph on Monday with moderate to heavy rain and below seasonal temperatures, generally in the 50s as cooler air filters in.

Total rainfall on Sunday into Monday is expected to range between 1.50 and 2.25 inches. Snow levels will drop to around 4,500 feet with 1 and 3 feet of new snow accumulation possible across higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada through Monday.

The cold low-pressure system responsible for the cool, windy and wet weather will remain almost stationary over Southern California early to mid-week, allowing convective rain showers and a chance of thunderstorms.

Over this period, dense valley fog may develop during the overnight and morning through Thursday. Temperatures will remain well below seasonable across our region, then warm to near normal by next weekend as fair and dry weather returns across the state.

Monday’s surf report

A 4- to 6-foot west-northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 11-second period) is forecast along our coastline from Sunday to Tuesday.

Combined with this west-northwesterly swell will be 3- to 5-foot southerly (195-degree, shallow-water) seas on Monday.

A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (300-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 17-second period) is forecast along our coastline on Wednesday into Thursday.

Arriving from the Southern Hemisphere: A 1- to 2-foot Southern Hemisphere swell (with a 20- to 22-second period) will arrive along our coastline on Monday, increasing to 2 to 4 feet (with an 18- to 20-second period) on Tuesday into Wednesday.

Seawater temperatures will decrease to 52 and 54 degrees this week.

This week’s temperatures

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

PG&E safety tip

This week’s storms could cause power outages. Avoid touching or approaching a fallen power line. Downed power lines are dangerous. Never touch them. For safety’s sake, always assume that a fallen power line is live, and follow these guidelines:

• Avoid touching the downed line with your hand or an object, such as a stick, broom or pole.
• Avoid touching anything, such as a car, object or equipment, or anyone who is in contact with a fallen power line.
• Keep children and pets away from fallen electric lines.
• Avoid driving over a fallen power line.
• Call 911 immediately to report a fallen power line.