SLO County could see up to 2 inches of rain in the coming days as wet weather moves in

A 999-millibar storm and a series of associated cold fronts will produce an unsettled weather pattern with gusty southerly winds and periods of rain starting on Sunday and continuing through Wednesday.

A weak cold front is forecast to travel through San Luis Obispo County on Sunday with increasing clouds, gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) southerly winds and scattered light rain showers and areas of dense fog. Morning lows will drop to the mid-40s throughout the Central Coast, while daytime highs will reach the mid-60s.

Another stronger cold front will pass through the county on Monday morning with fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) southerly winds and gentle to moderate rain. The southerly winds will decrease, and the rain will turn to scattered showers on Monday afternoon and evening. Monday’s high temperatures will only reach the high 50s.

A 999-millibar low-pressure system and associated cold front will follow on Tuesday with strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) southerly winds, moderate to heavy rain, and chilly temperatures with all Central Coast locations only reaching the low 50s. Snow levels are forecast to drop to 4,500 feet on Tuesday. Rain showers are forecast on Wednesday morning. The total amount of rain (Sunday through Wednesday) should range between 0.75 and 2 inches, with higher amounts in the mountains.

Moderate to fresh (19 to 24 mph) north to northeasterly winds, partly cloudy skies, and cool temperatures are forecast on Wednesday afternoon and night.

Clear skies with cold morning temperatures are forecast on Thursday and Friday as fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph), and at times gusty Santa Lucia winds develop. In fact, black ice could develop on the inland valley roadways as temperatures are forecast to drop to below freezing levels.

The long-range models indicate additional rain in the latter part of November.

Surf report

A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (295-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 12-second period) is forecast on Sunday through Monday afternoon, increasing to 7- to 9-feet (with a 7- to 14-second period) Monday night through Wednesday. Combined with this northwesterly sea and swell will be 2- to 4-foot southerly (190-degree, deep-water) seas on Monday and Tuesday.

A 4- to 6-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 11-second period) will develop on Thursday, decreasing to 2- to 4-feet by Friday.

Seawater temperatures will range between 53 and 56 degrees through Friday.

This Date in Weather History (November 6)

1951 - Snow fell from the Texas panhandle to the Lower Great Lakes, leaving record totals of 12.5 inches at Saint Louis MO, and 14.1 inches at Springfield MO. Other heavier snowfall totals included 20 inches at Nevada MO, 13.5 inches at Sedan KS, 13 inches at Decature IL, and 10 inches at Alva OK. In the Saint Louis area, up to 20 inches was reported in Washington County. (5th- 6th) (David Ludlum)

1988 - A powerful low-pressure system over the Great Lakes Region continued to produce snow across parts of the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes Region. Snowfall totals along the shore of Lake Superior reached 24 inches, with three feet of snow reported in the Porcupine Mountain area of Upper Michigan. Marquette MI established a November record with 17.3 inches of snow in 24 hours. (Storm Data)

2019 - Yesterday’s morning temperature dropped to 34 degrees at the Paso Robles Airport then increased to 86 degrees in the afternoon. A 52-degree temperature rise in less than 12 hours.

This week’s temperatures

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

John Lindsey is a retired PG&E marine meteorologist. Email him at JohnLindseyLosOsos@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @PGE_John.

This story was originally published November 6, 2022 at 5:30 AM.