SLO County weather forecast: Dry and clear conditions through this week

Cal Poly, home of climatology for San Luis Obispo, recorded 15.23 inches of rain in January; on average, Cal Poly usually records 4.96 inches. The record for the month is 24.63 inches which occurred in January 1969. January of 1995 saw 16.03 inches, and 18.25 inches were recorded during January 1916.

A cold front will produce gusty southerly winds and rain Saturday night into Sunday morning, followed by Santa Lucia (northeasterly/offshore) winds that will create dry and clear conditions this upcoming week.

A 998 millibar low-pressure system will develop off the Washington coastline, and the associated cold front will be intensified by vigorous upper-level winds as it approaches the Central Coast. This cold front will create fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) southerly winds and rain Saturday night into Sunday morning. Strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds will follow on Sunday afternoon and night. Total rainfall amounts are expected to range between 0.25 and 0.75 of an inch.

Moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph with gusts to 35 mph) Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds during the night and morning will start on Monday and continue through Friday. These winds will create clear skies with cool mornings and mild afternoons. Overnight lows will drop to the high-30s to low-40s throughout San Luis Obispo County, while daytime highs will reach the mid to high-60s.

The next chance of rain is expected on Feb 12 and 13; rainfall amounts are forecast to range between 0.75 and 1.5 inches over the Central Coast. The long-range models are advertising another storm on Feb. 15 and 16, but this far out, the models will probably change. Stay tuned to The Tribune for updates.

Surf report

A 6- to 8-foot west-northwesterly (285-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 12-second period) is expected along our coastline on Sunday morning, increasing to 9- to 11-feet (with an 8- to 14-second period) Sunday afternoon through Monday.

A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly swell (with an 8- to 17-second period) will arrive along our coastline on Tuesday and will remain at this at this level through Saturday.

Seawater temperatures will range between 57 and 59 degrees through Saturday.

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.