Rain on the way? SLO County hasn’t seen measurable precipitation in 60 days
First it was cold. Then it was hot. Now it might rain.
The unseasonably warm, dry and windy weather hitting the Central Coast early this week is expected to give way to cool and wet conditions on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service and local PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.
Rain forecast to fall in San Luis Obispo County would be the first notable and measurable precipitation in more than 60 days, or since late December.
The National Weather Service and Lindsey aren’t predicting heavy downpours, but rather a nice shower of rain measuring about one-quarter to no more than three-quarters of an inch over Thursday and Friday.
“In normal times, you wouldn’t even think much of it,” Lindsey said. “It won’t do much for the drought we’re in, but at least it’s something.”
Temperatures on Thursday and Friday are expected to drop from the record highs the Central Coast saw on Tuesday as a cold front moves into the area. That’ll bring highs down to the mid-to-high 60s on Thursday and mid-to-high 50s on Friday in most areas of the county, according to the National Weather Service.
There’s a slight chance the rain may continue through Saturday, and temperatures are expected to remain in the 50s and 60s throughout the weekend, the National Weather Service predicts.
Update on SLO County drought conditions and lake levels
The rain the Central Coast may receive this week will come as a relief to parched plants that have seen next to no precipitation since Dec. 29 — the last day a noteworthy amount of rain fell in the area.
The dry spell came after an unusually rainy December raised hopes for a wet winter.
San Luis Obispo, for example, measured a total of 6.19 inches, up from the average of 3.27 that normally falls during that month.
That eased San Luis Obispo County out of exceptional drought conditions.
But the wet December was followed by two hot and dry months, meaning the area has not yet fully been brought out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which tracks drought conditions across the nation.
To date, San Luis Obispo County remains in “moderate” and “severe” drought conditions, according to the Drought Monitor.
Reservoirs in the county also remain relatively low but have not seen levels drop severely in the past two months.
Santa Margarita Lake is 63.1% full, up from 55.2% full on Dec. 13 but down only slightly from 63.6% last measured on Feb. 18.
Lopez Lake east of Arroyo Grande is 29.5% full. That’s up from 28.5% recording on Dec. 13 and down from 30.3% on Jan. 11.
And Lake Nacimiento has stayed steady lately at about 29% full — up from 9% on Dec. 13.
The light rain expected this week is the only precipitation expected for March so far. March typically sees about three to four inches of rain fall in the county, according to the National Weather Service.
Next week is expected to bring moderately warm and clear weather, the National Weather Service said.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 1:21 PM.
