SLO County weather forecast: Colder with a chance of rain

After days of near record-breaking elevated temperatures, a significant change in the weather pattern is underway this weekend and here is why.

High pressure over Central California will weaken and move eastward and the winds will shift out of the northwest (onshore) and bring a much cooler airmass to the Central Coast.

Sunday’s high temperatures will range between the low to mid-70s in the coastal and inland valleys. The beaches will reach the low-60s as strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly (onshore) winds develop along the coastline.

A low-pressure system will move southward through Northern and Central California on Monday into Tuesday. This system will produce partly cloudy and hazy skies and an extended period of moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph) northwesterly winds along the coastline on Monday afternoon into Wednesday, resulting in even cooler temperatures.

High temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will only reach the low-60s throughout the entire Central Coast. A cold front is forecast to pass through San Luis Obispo County on Monday afternoon with increasing clouds and a chance of scattered rain showers that will make it feel even colder.

Another cold front is expected to move through the Central California on Thursday morning with moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) southerly winds, increasing clouds and a chance of scattered rain showers. This system will be followed by moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph) northwesterly winds and hazy skies on Thursday afternoon through Friday.

Away from the ocean, temperatures will begin to trend warmer by next weekend as high pressure gradually builds back over California. Along the beaches and coastal valleys, look for the marine layer to redevelop with night and morning fog and mist.

Surf Report

Gale-force northwesterly winds along the Northern and Central California coast will produce high northwesterly sea and swell starting Saturday and continuing through Wednesday.

The northwesterly (310-degree, deep-water) sea and swell will build to 10- to 12-feet (with a 5- to 12-second period) on Sunday.

This northwesterly (310-degree, deep-water) sea and swell will decrease to 8- to 10-feet (with a 7- to 11-second period) on Monday, building to 9- to 11-feet (with a 5- to 9-second period) on Tuesday.

This northwesterly (305-degree, deep-water) sea and swell will decrease to 5- to 7-feet (with a 6- to 8-second period) on Wednesday into Thursday morning, increasing to 6- to 8-feet (with a 5- to 8-second period) on Thursday afternoon into Friday.This week’s temperatures

Seawater temperatures will range between 51 and 53 degrees through Sunday, decreasing to 49 and 52 degrees on Monday into Wednesday.

Inland Temperatures, Paso Robles

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

Coastal Valleys Temperatures, San Luis Obispo

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

PG&E safety tip

Assume all downed power lines and wires are energized and extremely dangerous. Don’t try to move them—keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines to 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

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 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.