Storm updates: SLO County under flood, wind warnings; Hwy. 1 closed for ‘possible sinkhole’
The first atmospheric storm of the year hit San Luis Obispo County on Tuesday, bringing with it reports of numerous traffic incidents, downed tree branches, possible flooding and at least one power outage.
The brunt of the storm is expected to last through Wednesday morning, with the potential to drop up to 4 inches of rain in some parts of the county, according to the National Weather Service.
A second, weaker storm is forecast to arrive Thursday.
Read on for live updates on impacts from the latest storm:
‘Possible sinkhole’ closes part of Highway 1
Update, 8:25 p.m.:
In Santa Barbara County, a “possible sinkhole” closed part of Highway 1 south of Lompoc as an atmospheric river storm hit the Central Coast on Tuesday evening.
According to a Caltrans post on X, the highway was closed from Highway 101 north of Gaviota to Highway 246 near Lompoc.
The incident began around 4:40 p.m. with a report that the bridge on Highway 1 just south of Jalama Road was “giving way” on the southbound side, according to the California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident report page.
People told to avoid ocean water after storm
Update, 8 p.m.:
The Public Health Department advised surfers, swimmers and others to avoid ocean water contact during — and at least three days following — the recent rainstorm.
The department warned rainstorm runoff “is known to transport high levels of disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa from the watershed and urban areas to the ocean.”
Those organisms can cause skin, respiratory and intestinal problems, according to a news release. Young children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to these pathogens, the release said.
People were told to avoid ocean water during the recent storm, especially “close to creeks, rivers, storm drains and other runoff outlets that empty into the ocean.”
For more information about beach water quality, visit the Public Health Department Beach Water Quality website at SurfSafeSLO.org, or call the Ocean Water Monitoring Program Telephone Hotline at 805-788-3411.
Power restored to SLO customers without electricity
Update, 6:45 p.m.:
As of 6:45 p.m., power appears to have been restored to the 546 customers in the neighborhoods off Highland Drive in San Luis Obispo who were without electricity, according to PG&E’s outage map.
Flood advisory, high wind warning issued for SLO County
Update, 6:25 p.m.:
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for most of San Luis Obispo County on Tuesday evening.
At 5:56 p.m. Doppler radar and automated rain gauges “indicated moderate to heavy rain across much of San Luis Obispo County,” the agency said in its advisory.
Between 0.3 and 0.75 inches of rain had already fallen, with some local totals “over and inch in higher terrain, the alert said. Additional rainfall of between 0.5 to 1 inch was expected to still fall in the area.
“This additional rain will continue to result in minor flooding,” the Weather Service said.
According to the agency, the areas that could experience flooding included San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cambria, Grover Beach, Santa Margarita, Highway 101 over Cuesta Grade, Templeton, Baywood-Los Osos, Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach.
The advisory was expected to last through 9 p.m.
A high wind warning was also in effect until 3 a.m. Wednesday.
According to the Weather Service, winds of between 25 and 40 mph were expected, with gusts of up to 60 mph in the Santa Lucia Mountains.
The agency warned those winds could “blow down trees and power lines.”
“Widespread power outages are possible,” it said in the warning. “Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.”
Downed branches block roads, car crashes into tree during storm
Update, 6:15 p.m.:
As the rain got fully underway, a number of other storm-related traffic hazards were reported in San Luis Obispo County on Tuesday evening.
According to CHP’s traffic incident page, a vehicle reportedly crashed into a tree off northbound Highway 101 at the Highway 58 off-ramp. The solo occupant of the vehicle was reported out of the car as of 6:06 p.m.
The incident did not appear to be impacting traffic, according to the Caltrans QuickMap.
Meanwhile, downed tree branches were blocking the road at Highway 1 and Burton Drive in Cambria and Highway 58 and La Panza Road in eastern San Luis Obispo County.
Atmospheric river storm could drop up to 4 inches of rain on part of SLO County
Update, 6 p.m.:
The outage and car crash come as San Luis Obispo County’s first major atmospheric river storm of the year sweeps across the region.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to bring rain to the area through Wednesday morning, with the largest amounts likely in the San Luis Obispo County mountains and foothills.
There, as much as 4 inches of rain could fall, according to the Weather Service. The rest of the county could see between 1 to 2 inches of rain through Wednesday morning.
The Weather Service also warned of a potential for “minor creek rises and minor flooding,” during that time.
Hundreds without power in SLO in ‘unplanned outage’
Update, 5:50 p.m.:
As rain began falling in earnest across San Luis Obispo County, hundreds within the city of SLO were without power Tuesday evening.
According to PG&E’s outage map, 546 customers in the neighborhoods off Highland Drive were without electricity as of 5:45 p.m. in “an unplanned outage due to a storm.”
PG&E said crews would inspect the issue and make repairs “when able.”
“We apologize for the delay in getting your power back on,” the utility company said. “Unforeseen issues can cause unexpected delays for our crews. We will update you as soon as we know more.”
Power was expected to be restored by 8 p.m.
Multi-car pileup slows traffic on Highway 101
Original story:
A multi-car crash caused a minor injury and halted traffic on northbound Highway 101 through Paso Robles during a rain storm Thursday afternoon.
A white truck, a white Mercedes and white Toyota collided at about 4:45 p.m. near the Spring Street off-ramp, according to emergency response app PulsePoint.
At least one person sustained a minor injury in the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol’s incident report page.
Wreckage from the pile-up blocked both lanes of the highway as of 4:49 p.m., according to the CHP.
Traffic slowed to a crawl near the site of the crash, the Caltrans traffic camera near Niblick Road showed at about 5:15 p.m.
“Use caution through the area. Please slow down, increase your following distance and turn on your headlights,” the CHP wrote in a post on X.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Storm updates: SLO County under flood, wind warnings; Hwy. 1 closed for ‘possible sinkhole’."
