SLO County could see snow, rain and thunder this week. Here’s where and when
After almost two months without any measurable precipitation, rain is expected to return to San Luis Obispo County this week, as well as some thunder and snow.
PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey said a low pressure system is set to move through the Central Coast this week, producing strong-to-gale-force winds and partly to mostly cloudy skies with rain showers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lindsey said the county will likely see less than a quarter of an inch of rain during this system.
Even still, this will be the first measurable rainfall in several months.
Lindsey said the last time Diablo Canyon recorded rain was on Dec. 29 — which means there have been roughly 53 days without any rain during what usually amounts to the region’s rainy season.
“That is the longest streak without any precipitation in January and February at the power plant,” he wrote in his forecast.
Lindsey said there is also a possibility of thundershowers in eastern San Luis Obispo County.
Snow, winter weather advisory issued for mountains
Meanwhile, the storm could drop between 6 inches and a foot of new snow to areas of the southern Sierra Nevada above 2,500 feet, Lindsey said.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Tuesday morning into Wednesday, warning of extremely cold and dangerous conditions in mountainous areas of the Central Coast, including San Luis Obispo County’s mountains.
According to the advisory, snow and icy road conditions are expected at higher elevations areas, with total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches across the mountains.
The snow level could also fall to about 2,000 feet or lower overnight Tuesday, the advisory warned.
Wind gusts as high as 40 mph “will also cause dangerous wind chill readings,” the NWS said.
“This will be the coldest storm that we have seen so far this winter season, with the potential for widespread snow/ice impacts across many of our lower elevation passes, which could make for difficult travel with potential delays or road closures,” read the advisory.
NWS said the advisory could also be potentially extended to include Antelope Valley and Cuyama Valley, with potential impacts to Highways 14, 138 and 166.
The storm system is expected to clear Thursday and Friday.
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