Weather News

Snow in SLO County? It happens, and here are the photos to prove it

By Jennifer Robillard

Updated February 23, 2023 3:13 PM

Jan. 24, 2008: Snow off Highway 41 East near Cholame. Jayson Mellom The Tribune

Snow in SLO? Yes, it happens.

It’s often just a dusting — but sometimes a storm and the cold align to make San Luis Obispo County downright wintery.

In fact, that could happen this week: Mountains in SLO County could see up to a foot of snow starting Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.

This snow could last through Thursday and into Friday, with mountains east of San Simeon as well as in the Temblor range near Carrizo Plain both seeing up to 8 to 12 inches.

On top of that, snow could fall at elevations as low as 1,000 feet in some places, which means the peaks on the Central Coast could get up to 4 inches of the white stuff. That includes Highway 46 and Cuesta Grade.

SLO County-based meteorologist John Lindsey said Tuesday he wouldn’t be surprised if Atascadero, Paso Robles, Shandon, Creston or Pozo saw snow flurries.

On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the mountains in the central and southeastern areas of the county including the Caliente Range around the Carrizo Plain, La Panza Range just east of Santa Margarita, and for the Santa Margarita Lake area.

For the complete forecast, go here.

In honor of the winter weather expected this week, here’s a look at snow photos taken in SLO County from 2021 all the way back to 1922.

Have photos of SLO County snow to share? Go to sanluisobispo.com/submit-photo to send your images to us. We’ll feature them in stories on sanluisobispo.com.