SLO County weather forecast: Windy, warming trend this week
Gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) southwesterly to westerly winds will bring cooler temperatures and a deeper and persistent marine layer with pockets of fog and drizzle in the coastal regions on Saturday night into Sunday morning as a weak low-pressure system moves through Central California.
In the wake of this departing low-pressure system, fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) northwesterly winds are forecast along the coastline on Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. These northwesterly winds will increase to strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph with gusts to 45 mph) levels on Monday afternoon and night.
A warming trend will develop on Tuesday through Friday as high pressure builds over the Central Coast and produces gusty Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds, clear skies and much warmer temperatures, potentially reaching 15 and 20 degrees above normal. In fact, Paso Robles could hit the low to mid-90s on Thursday and Friday. San Luis Obispo is expected to reach the mid-80s with 70-degree temperatures along the beaches. These high temperatures could challenge daily records.
At this time of the year, when the winds shift out of the northeast (Santa Lucia/offshore) and blow from the land out to the ocean, they transport pollens from the grasses and trees in the inland valleys and mountains toward the sea. At times like these, communities throughout the Central Coast will experience higher pollen counts.
Moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) northwesterly winds and cooler temperatures are forecast next weekend as the marine layer redevelops in the coastal regions with areas fog and mist. A prolonged period of gale-force northwesterly winds and mostly clear skies is expected for most of the following week . The probability of an “April Miracle” is low. The longer-range models Canadian (GEM), European (EMCWF), and the American (GFS) all indicate dry conditions continuing through April 15.
Surf report
A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 15-second period) is forecast along our coastline on Saturday into Sunday morning.
Increasing northwesterly winds off the Northern and Central California coastline will generate an 8- to 10-foot northwesterly (310-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 14-second period) on Sunday afternoon and night, decreasing to 7- to 9-feet on Monday into Tuesday.
A 6- to 8-foot northwesterly (295-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 13-second period) will develop on Wednesday, decreasing to 4- to 6-feet with the same period on Thursday into Friday.
Seawater temperatures will range between 51 and 54 degrees through Sunday, decreasing to 50 and 53 degrees on Monday into Wednesday.
This week’s temperatures
LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES
SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
43, 77 | 39, 78 | 45, 83 | 47, 86 | 51, 92 | 55, 94 | 49, 80 | 44, 77 |
LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS
SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
45, 67 | 46, 72 | 52, 74 | 53, 82 | 54, 83 | 54, 84 | 52, 70 | 50, 67 |
PG&E safety tip
Digging without knowing what’s underground can be unsafe. Learn about underground utility lines in the area where you’re digging to avoid hitting them. Call 811. Get lines marked. Dig safely. To Learn what you need, please visit www.pge.com
John Lindsey’s is PG&E’s Diablo Canyon marine meteorologist and a media relations representative. Email him at pgeweather@pge.com or follow him on Twitter @PGE_John.
This story was originally published April 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM.