SLO County weather: Clear, warm week ahead with no sign of rain in the near future

The long-range models do not indicate rain reaching the Central Coast over the next two weeks.

In the meantime, a classic Central Coast October weather pattern with Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds developing during the morning and shifting out of the northwest during the afternoon will start on Sunday and continue through Tuesday as high pressure builds over Central and Southern California.

This condition will create primarily clear skies and warmer temperatures, but a change in the weather is expected on Wednesday through Saturday as persistent northwesterly winds develop along the coastline.

Gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds on Sunday morning will keep the marine layer out to sea. The winds will shift out of the northwest and increase to fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) levels during the afternoon.

High temperatures on Sunday will reach the mid-80s in the inland valleys (Paso Robles) and the low 80s in the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo). The beaches will quickly warm to the high 70s by the late morning hours, cooling to the 60s by the late afternoon and evening as the marine layer briefly appears in the coastal regions.

However, the southerly-facing beaches of Cayucos, Avila, and Shell Beach will reach the 80s under clear, dry skies. This pattern will continue through Tuesday.

By Wednesday, the winds will remain out of the northwest, which will allow the marine stratus clouds with areas of fog and mist to develop overnight, clearing during the late morning and afternoon along the beaches.

This condition will produce cooler temperatures along the shoreline and slightly cooler temperatures in the coastal valleys. The inland areas will remain nearly the same. Overall, little change is expected through next weekend.

Surf report

Fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) northwesterly winds along the California coastline will generate a 4- to 6-foot northwesterly (300-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 17-second period) along our coastline on Sunday through Monday, building to 5- to 7-feet (with a 5- to 15-second period) on Tuesday.

Former Typhoon Bolanven became extratropical as it moved northeastward into the Gulf of Alaska. This cyclone generated huge waves near the Aleutian Islands. Long-period northwesterly swell from this storm will arrive along the Central Coast on Wednesday at 5- to 7-feet (with a 22- to 25-second period), increasing to 9- to 11-feet (with an 18- to 20-second period) on Thursday into Friday.

Note: Rip currents and sneaker waves are expected with this swell event due to its exceptionally long period. Please practice caution when heading to the beaches, remember the cardinal rule: never turn your back to the ocean.

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.