The unusually early rainstorm that hit San Luis Obispo County over the weekend brought record-high amounts of precipitation.
The rain began late Sunday afternoon or early Sunday evening in most parts of the county, as the storm hit the coastal areas first before making its way inland.
The storm brought cooler temperatures and breezy conditions, serving as a respite from the record-high temperatures experienced in Southern California earlier this month.
According to the National Weather Service, San Luis Obispo set a new rainfall record on Sunday with 0.32 inches of rain, besting the previous record of 0.09 inches set in 1959.
Only 0.07 inches were recorded in Paso Robles on Sunday, falling short the previous record of 0.2 inches set in 1963, the NWS said.
Those two Central Coast cities could see record rainfall on Monday.
A cyclist rides past a puddle on Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Rain started to fall in the region early Monday morning and was forecast to possibly pick back up Monday night into Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department records rainfall amounts in various areas of the county. Some sites saw more than 1.5 inches of rain over the past 24 hours, the agency said.
Here were the rainfall totals as of 9:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Public Works Department:
Cambria: 0.87 inches of rain
Morro Bay near Hollister Peak: 0.51 inches
Los Osos landfill: 0.43 inches
Camp San Luis: 0.51 inches
Santa Margarita: 0.83 inches
Lopez Dam: 1.4 inches
Arroyo Grande: 1.65 inches
Oceano: 1.65 inches
East Nipomo: 0.43 inches
South Nipomo: 0.55 inches
Raindrops form patterns on leaves along Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Rain gathers on leaves of a succulent next to Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Light rain falls along Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Bryan New helps son Bennett, 2, learn the joy of puddle splashing in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Bryan New helps son Bennett, 2, learn the joy of puddle splashing in San Luis Obispo on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022., as he invites his dad to jump in too. An early-season rainstorm dropped as much as 1.5 inches of rain in parts of San Luis Obispo County. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 10:22 AM.
Mackenzie Shuman primarily writes about SLO County education and the environment for The Tribune. She’s originally from Monument, Colorado, and graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in May 2020. When not writing, Mackenzie spends time outside hiking and rock climbing.
