Horses turn their backs to the wind and rain along Templeton Road on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.
David Middlecamp
dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A powerful storm slammed into San Luis Obispo County on Wednesday, resulting in heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the region.
Flooding closed roads in Cambria and Paso Robles, while trees and power lines fell across the Central Coast. Meanwhile, high tides and big waves hammered coastal areas.
Much of the county was expected to receive 6 to 10 inches of rain, with 8 to 12 inches possible in the mountains and hills, PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey said Tuesday. Winds could reach speeds of 70 mph.
The National Weather Service projected even higher possible rainfall totals.
“Over the next three days, as much as 10 to 15 inches of rain could fall along the Central California coast roughly between Monterey and Santa Barbara,” the National Weather Service said in a post Tuesday afternoon. “This amount of rain in a 72-hour period is very rare for this region.”
The agency issued a series of advisories warning of potentially dangerous weather, including high surf, flash floods and coastal flooding.
Tribune photographers and local residents captured these images of stormy weather and its impacts across the Central Coast on Wednesday.
A broken power pole leans over the roadway on Ella Street in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Matt Fountain mfountain@thetribunenews.com
Storm water swells San Luis Obispo Creek in downtown San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thetribunenews.com
Water rushed through a gutter in Cambria as the wind whipped trees. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thetribunenews.com
A downed tree narrowly missed a car on I Street in Santa Margarita on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, as heavy rains and gusty winds hammer San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A 20-foot tree toppled over in Cambria, landing in Joe and Dana Navarro’s front yard, the couple said. Kaytlyn Leslie kleslie@thetribunenews.com
A fallen tree in Atascadero blocks the entrance of an apartment parking lot. Shannon Taylor
Waves pound Port San Luis on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
@CalliCoop
Gabriel Cortez and son Alexander 4, walk home on El Camino Real in Atascadero after shopping for groceries on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Alexander was dressed in a snowsuit and was enjoying the adventure. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
County workers use heavy equipment to clean up mud and debris on Sheffield Lane and Main Street in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
This oak tree fell on Bajada Avenue near Rosario Avenue in Atascadero on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. The Atascadero Police and Fire departments closed the road until PG&E could clear the downed power lines and broken poles. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Water and rocks flow off the hill onto Kent Street, behind the Shell Station in Cambria. The Shell Station was flooded with mud and water. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Water and mud flows from a small hillside onto Main Street at Burton Drive in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Water and mud flow down Kent Street behind the Shell Station in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
An area of Main Street is flooded in Cambria’s East Village. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Rainwater flows onto Sheffield Lane from Hartford Street in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
A combination of storm surge and high tide brings waves high up on the beach in Cayucos. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Rocks and water pour down Windsor Boulevard in front of Shamel Park in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Limbs broke off a large tree in Shamel Park in Cambria. A strong storm hit the North Coast area with heavy rain and high winds on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
As a winter storm walloped San Luis Obispo County on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, flooding from the high tide and heavy rain closed First Street at San Francisco Street in Avila Beach. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Paso Robles photographer Trisha Butcher captured this scene of destruction at Santa Maria Brewing Co. in Atascadero, where heavy rains and gusty winds collapsed an awning and knocked over barrels and heaters on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Trisha Butcher
Waves crash against the Avila Beach Pier on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, as a major winter storm hit San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A combination of high tide and storm surge bring the sea water in Morro Bay Harbor close to the dock ramp. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
A solo moored sailboat endures the high winds in Morro Bay Harbor at 8:30 am. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Palm trees bend in the wind Wednesday next to the former fire station, now Community Services District offices, in Avila Beach as a major winter storm hit San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A weather watcher observes the waves at Port San Luis on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
A high tide and rain in Avila Beach combined to close First Street at San Francisco Street due to flooding, putting a crosswalk underwater. A major winter storm hit SLO County on Wednesday. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.
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