Rain is on the way to SLO County, up to 3 inches in one day? Here’s the latest forecast
Enjoy the sunny and warm winter weather while it’s here, because a new storm is on the way to San Luis Obispo County — and it could pack a punch.
Starting Sunday and lasting through Thursday, a cold front weather system is expected to reach SLO County, bringing moisture and chillier temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.
In fact, retired PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey said the county could see as much as 3 inches on Wednesday.
“I hope the models for Wednesday, December 20, don’t verify,” a wary Lindsey said Thursday in a post on X. “They indicate storm-force (50+ mph) southerly winds and up to three inches of rain in less than 24 hours.”
He also noted that from now to the end of the year, the Central Coast could receive as much as 7 inches of rain, with the most falling in the Santa Lucia Mountains.
In its forecast, the Weather Service said temperatures on Sunday are expected to drop across the county by about 4 to 8 degrees from Saturday’s highs. Those low temperatures will stick around throughout next week.
The rainfall should begin late Sunday, the Weather Service said, continuing off and on through Thursday.
On Sunday through Monday, the Weather Service predicts up to 0.5 inches to 1 inch of rain will fall in the county.
Tuesday is expected to be a bit drier, but residents could still see some sprinkles or showers in their area, before the likelihood of rain ratchets back up on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Right now there is a chance that this system could produce a day of significant rainfall totals and rates, but we’ll have to wait until it shows a little more of its hand for a more exact forecast,” the Weather Service wrote in its Thursday forecast.
In the meantime, the National Weather Service predicts that for the rest of this week, the county will see warm temperatures in the mid- to high 60s for the coastal and northern inland areas of the county, and low 70s for the San Luis Obispo area.
