Snow turns SLO County into a winter wonderland, from Morro Bay to Paso Robles

San Luis Obispo County woke up to a dusting of white Thursday morning, with snow spotted in Paso Robles, Santa Margarita, the mountains above Morro Bay and beyond.

Snow was seen in the Santa Lucia range north of San Simeon and off Highway 46 West, and slush accumulated on the side of the Cuesta Grade, slowing the morning commute from the North County to San Luis Obispo.

Out Highway 58, cows grazed in a snowy field as the sun rose over the wintry scene.

In Atascadero, a family marveled at the sight of snowflakes drifting down onto the oak trees and hills around their home, in a video posted on Twitter by meteorologist John Lindsey.

The heaviest accumulations occurred on the highest ranges and peaks, as well as in the eastern areas of the county.

On Parkhill Road, where the elevation nears 2,000 feet, Levi Davis, 4, and his brother Uriah, 3, spent the morning playing in the snow, with Levi pulling Uriah on a sled up a snow-covered driveway before the pair screeched in delight riding down their makeshift run.

At least an inch of snow fell in the area, coating fields, mailboxes and fence lines.

Even in Santa Barbara, the overnight lows were cold enough to allow a light dusting of snow to stick on the Santa Ynez Mountains behind the city, photos from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department showed.

Snowy hills a backdrop to chilly surf competition in Morro Bay

In Morro Bay, surfers competing in the SLO CAL Open took to the waves in front of backdrop of snowy hills above Cayucos.

“I feel like it’s pretty magical-looking almost, because I feel like the mountains and the water are so separate,” Kyan Yang, a San Diego surfer, told The Tribune.

Newport Beach surfer Tyler Gunter said he had been visiting Morro Bay for years, but this is the first time he’s seen snow on the mountains overlooking the ocean.

“Having the ocean and snow, you don’t get that too often, especially on the West Coast and then here in Morro Bay,” Gunter said. “But the rock and the scenery and everything, it’s definitely something to see.”

Gunter tested out the water before his heat and said “it was freezing, it definitely feels like we’re in the snow.”

Atascadero resident Mark Schuler said he didn’t check the forecast before heading to Morro Rock State Beach in the morning to walk his dog, and he was surprised to see snow on his drive.

“I’ve been here in the area for about 10 years and I’ve never seen snow on any of the hills,” Schuler said. “It’s awesome.”

Schuler said he recently visited Washington state, which is renowned for its greenery, but said San Luis Obispo County’s winter landscapes are “greener and more beautiful.” The snow on top of the lush hills is an added bonus, he said.

Kian Walla, an 11-year-old surfer from San Clemente, was at the beach to watch his sister compete in the competition.

“First of all, it’s freezing, but it’s super cool,” Walla said about seeing the snow over the ocean.

He said he hasn’t been snowboarding this winter yet, so it’s good to know that there is still snow there.

Snow is “white, freezing and fun. I love it,” Walla said.

Weather forecast shows even more snow on Friday

Meteorologist John Lindsey said it’s been exciting to see the snow.

“It’s rare,” Lindsey said. “But it does happen from time to time.”

He noted that SLO County is in for an even larger storm on Friday.

“Tomorrow will be a pretty darn significant storm,” Lindsey said.

SLO County can expect moderate to heavy rain, bringing about 1.5 to 2.25 inches of precipitation, along with moderate gale force winds.

Snow may fall as low as 1,500 feet, he said.

The wintry display was the second day of snowy and icy conditions in San Luis Obispo County this week. On Wednesday, snow was seen falling at Hearst Castle in San Simeon while the mountains near Carrizo Plain sported their own blanket of white.

It’s all part of a strong — and unusually frigid — storm sweeping across California this week.

Snow levels across California could fall as low as 1,000 feet, forecasters said, with the most extreme weather concentrated on Thursday and Friday.

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

The warning is in place until Saturday at 4 p.m.

Got a video or photo of snow, hail or damage from the winter storm hitting SLO County? Send your submissions to kleslie@thetribunenews.com for possible publication at sanluisobispo.com and in The Tribune.

This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 7:59 AM.