Storm updates: Flood advisory issued for SLO County, school districts announce closures
Update, Friday, 2 a.m.:
As the storm became more intense early Friday morning, the National Weather Service upgraded its flood watch for San Luis Obispo County to a flood advisory, saying “widespread ponding of water on area roadways and local flooding of low-lying areas and intersections was occurring.”
According to the advisory, at 1 a.m. radar and automatic rain gauges indicated “moderate to heavy rain” across San Luis Obispo County. Many locations were reporting rainfall rates of 0.20 to 0.40 inches per hour, with local rates up to 0.5 inches per hour, the agency said.
The National Weather Service warned there would likely be “sharp rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos.” The additional rain would also likely result in continued widespread ponding of water, flooding of low-lying areas and intersections, and rises in creeks and streams.
The advisory was set to expire at 7 a.m.
The National Weather Service also extended its high wind warning for the country through Friday at 3 p.m.
Update, 8 p.m.:
A number of car collisions have been reported as the rain makes San Luis Obispo County roads slick on Thursday night.
Five Cities Fire Authority tweeted about two separate car crashes in South County as night fell.
The first was reported around 7 p.m. and involved a truck that drove off a Highway 101 northbound ramp in Arroyo Grande.
According to Five Cities Fire Authority, the driver was transported to the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital with injuries, while a pet that was also in the vehicle was uninjured.
At 8 p.m., a new traffic incident was reported at 13th Street and Mentone Avenue in Grover Beach. The crash appeared to involve two vehicles.
People were asked to avoid the area as crews were assessing potential victims, Five Cities Fire Authority tweeted.
Update, 5:50 p.m.:
Public schools in the county will be closed on Friday due to the storm, district officials announced Thursday.
Closures come at the advice of local police and fire departments, and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education.
“Weather models indicate intensity and rainfall for this storm similar to that of Jan. 9-10,” Superintendent of Schools Jim Brescia wrote in a statement to local media. “Because of safety concerns for students, families and employees, I recommend that all San Luis Obispo County schools modify schedules or close for Friday.”
Meanwhile, Highway 1 was closed from Ragged Point to south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn on Thursday evening due to multiple reports of rockfall.
Caltrans said the closure came at the request of California Highway Patrol.
Updates will be provided tomorrow as crews are able to assess road conditions during daylight hours, Caltrans said.
The Red Cross has also opened an evacuation shelter at Cal Poly for San Luis Obispo County residents impacted by storms.
The shelter is located at Crandall Gym. Red Cross volunteers are onsite to “provide safe shelter, meals, snacks, water, emotional support and more,: the Red Cross tweeted Thursday evening.
Pets are welcome at the shelter
.
Update, 5 p.m.:
Hearst Castle in San Simeon will be closed Friday due to wet weather in the forecast, California State Parks Chief Ranger Eric Hjelstrom told The Tribune on Thursday.
The move is precautionary to protect the safety of visitors and employees, according to Dan Falat, State Parks superintendent of the San Luis Obispo Coast District.
Falat said that some other State Parks facilities on the North Coast also will be closed Friday, including the San Simeon pier, Washburn Campground in Hearst San Simeon State Park and the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History.
State Parks expects to reopen those facilities on Saturday, weather permitting, Falat said.
Update, 4:50 p.m.:
The city of San Luis Obispo issued a proclamation declaring a local emergency as a rain storm rolls across the Central Coast.
“The city team is working diligently to monitor the situation and take necessary steps to protect lives and reduce the risk of storm damage,” San Luis Obispo city manager and emergency services director Derek Johnson said in a news release.
“However, we urge residents and business owners to be prepared for the possibility of flooding and take necessary precautions to protect their property and ensure their safety,” he said.
According to Johnson, businesses in flood-prone areas “should consider installing flood gates in advance of possible flooding.”
Original Story:
San Luis Obispo County issued an evacuation order Thursday afternoon for Oceano residents living south of the Arroyo Grande Creek levee ahead of a major rainstorm.
Residents living in all areas south of the Arroyo Grande Creek channel for one mile and west of Highway 1 leave and “should seek higher ground” before 8 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services.
“Forecasted rain amounts are anticipated to fill the Arroyo Grande Creek channel and potentially overtop the south levee,” the agency said in the release, resulting in flooding.
Meanwhile, an evacuation warning remains in place for residents north of the Arroyo Grande Creek levee, the SLO County Emergency Services Office said.
If evacuations become necessary in these areas, emergency officials will use notification methods such as wireless emergency alerts, a reverse telephone notification system and social media, the agency said.
A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Oceano Community Center, 1425 19th St. in Oceano, the Emergency Services Office said.
Recreational vehicles are welcome to park there overnight, according to the release.
An American Red Cross shelter will open at 6 p.m. at Crandall Hall at Cal Poly, 1 Grand Ave in San Luis Obispo, the release said. Pets are welcome at the shelter.
Detailed maps of the areas under the evacuation order and warning are available at emergencyslo.org.
For more information, call the San Luis Obispo County Phone Assistance Center at 805-543-2444.
Tribune reporter Kathe Tanner contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 9, 2023 at 4:23 PM.
