Evening Update: What to know about flooding, school closures and rain forecast in SLO County
Here are five things to know from the deadly storm that hit San Luis Obispo County on Monday, as we head into Tuesday:
Storm turned deadly as floodwaters rose
On Monday morning, waters that gathered on the side of roads continued to deepen. The water spilled over banks near creeks, lakes and rivers.
The rising waters created dangerous situations across SLO County, as authorities closed roads and erected warning signs. At least one person died.
In South County on Avila Beach Drive, a person died after driving past closure signs onto the flooded roadway, the California Highway Patrol said Monday afternoon. The woman reportedly drove onto the flooded roadway despite the signs and ended up drowning.
And in North County, a 5-year-old San Miguel kindergartner was swept away by floodwaters, according to authorities and the school district.
Cal Fire responded to a call about 7:50 a.m. to help a vehicle stuck in the San Marcos Creek creekbed with a woman and a child inside, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo County Battalion Chief Travis Craig told The Tribune.
The woman was pulled to shore by local residents, but the child was last seen in the water moving away from the vehicle. A SLO County Sheriff’s Office dive team searched for the child for hours but called off the search because the weather conditions became unsafe for first responders.
As of Monday evening, there was no estimated time when the search would resume.
Flash flood warnings and evacuations
Even when the rain eases, residents should be aware of the continued risk of flash flooding that can occur when no rain is falling because it takes time for water to flow from the mountains and into creeks and rivers.
As of 10 p.m. Monday, a flash flood warning was extended until midnight for all of SLO County. A flood watch will be in effect until 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Evacuations also remained in place for locations across the county, including in Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.
Find information on evacuation centers here.
Forecast: More rain is on the way
While rainfall slowed Monday evening, another round of wet weather was forecast for Tuesday.
“Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible,” the National Weather Service wrote in a warning issued on Monday. “Flash flooding is already occurring. This dangerous flash-flooding situation will continue into the early overnight hours.”
The next storm system to flow through the county is expected to bring about 1 to 2 inches of rain, thunderstorms and more windy conditions on Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicts. Wind gusts could reach 30 mph.
Cloudy skies will stick around Wednesday and Thursday, but rain may return Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service predicts.
See rainfall totals from Monday.
Schools will be closed Tuesday
San Luis Obispo County public school districts have announced classes will be canceled Tuesday due to the storm and the subsequent damage.
San Luis Obispo County Superintendent Jim Brescia recommended all local schools “close or modify their schedules for Tuesday” due to the “severe weather, flooding and storm surge,” he wrote in an email Monday afternoon.
All public school districts that were back from winter break in San Luis Obispo County will be closed on Tuesday due to the weather: Lucia Mar Unified, San Luis Coastal Unified, Paso Robles Joint Unified, Templeton Unified, San Miguel Joint Union, Coast Unified and Cayucos Elementary.
Incredible photos, video throughout the day
The images started to roll in early in the day on social media (scroll down to see some), while Tribune visual journalists and reporters went out into communities to report on the damage and rapidly changing situation.
In SLO and South County, highways were flooded. Businesses were damaged by high waters. Parts of the coast became figurative islands as roads closed.
In North County, we were watching the Salinas River rise. Paso Robles saw urgent evacuations in the afternoon.
Click on the links below to see our image roundups from the day.
→ WATCH VIDEO OF THE SALINAS RIVER
→ SEE PHOTOS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY
How to stay safe
Finally, there is more rain on the way. To help you stay safe, here are tips as you prepare.
How do you navigate a flooded highway? Driving tips as strong storms hit the Central Coast
What’s in your emergency kit? Everything you need to stay prepared for a natural disaster
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 10:10 PM.