SLO County weather forecast: Record-breaking heat to be followed by cooler temperatures

After several days of record-breaking temperatures in the North County, the Paso Robles Airport hit 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, breaking the old daily record of 105 degrees set in 1991.

Cooler weather is expected on Sunday into Monday. Like most of 2022, afternoon gale-force northwesterly winds will continue along the coastline though most of this week.

High pressure will weaken Sunday into Monday; consequently, high temperatures in the inland valleys (Paso Robles) are expected to reach to mid-90s, while the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo) the mid-70s. The beaches will reach into the 60s, except the southerly facing communities of Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach which will reach into the 70s.

The marine layer will develop in the coastal regions on Sunday morning, partially clearing on Sunday afternoon, then deepening on Sunday night into Monday morning with areas of fog and pockets of heavy drizzle as weak cold front washes out over the Central Coast.

In the cold front’s wake, moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph with gusts to 50 mph) northwesterly winds are expected on Monday afternoon and again on Tuesday afternoon. These winds will produce clearing skies along the beaches.

Daytime highs are forecast to rise back into the 80s and 90s across the coastal valleys and triple-digit heat in the North County as another ridge high pressure develops over the Central Coast on Wednesday into Thursday. Along the beaches, night and morning marine low clouds and mist along with strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) afternoon northwesterly winds are expected.

Cooler and more seasonable weather could return toward the end of this week as high pressure weakens. A few of the long-range models are indicating monsoon moisture moving northward in this Central California towards the end of June.

Surf report

Today’s 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 12-second period) is forecast through Sunday morning.

Increasing northwesterly winds will generate a 6- to 8-foot northwesterly (305-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 11-second period) on Sunday afternoon and night, increasing to 9- to 11-feet with the same period on Monday.

A 7- to 9-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 9-second period) is forecast on Tuesday, decreasing to 5- to 7-feet on Wednesday.

Seawater temperatures will range between 50 and 53 degrees through Sunday, decreasing to 49 and 51 degrees on Monday and will remain at this level through Friday.

This week’s temperatures

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

PG&E safety tip

This week’s warm to hot temperatures will increase the threat of wildfires. Please visit www.pge.com for wildfire safety resources.

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 June 12, 2022 at 5:00 AM.