Freezing temperatures, then another rain storm are on the way to SLO County

Mostly clear and dry conditions will persist through Tuesday, with chilly mornings and cool afternoons. However, expect a shift to windy and wet weather from later Wednesday through Friday.

High pressure will strengthen over the Great Basin this weekend into Monday, bringing northeasterly Santa Lucia winds and mostly clear skies, except for dense fog in inland valleys. These Santa Lucia winds will peak on Sunday at fresh to strong (19 to 32 mph with gusts to 40 mph).

Morning temperatures will drop to the high 20s in the inland valleys (Paso Robles) and the high 30s in the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo) and along the beaches. Highs will struggle to reach the low 60s across the Central Coast.

By Tuesday, a steep pressure gradient will develop along the coastline, bringing strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph with gusts up to 45 mph) northwesterly winds and areas of marine low clouds.

Overnight temperatures will remain cold, with inland valleys dipping below freezing. Daytime highs will only reach the 50s, so keep your jackets and sweaters handy.

On Wednesday, winds will ease as mid- to high-level clouds increase, along with a chance of rain showers.

An intense low-pressure system off California will drive a vigorous cold front through the Central Coast on Thursday.

Expect moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force southerly winds (32-46 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph) and moderate to heavy rain.

Rain will transition to scattered showers on Friday as winds decrease and shift northwest. Total rainfall is expected to range from 1.5 to 3 inches, with higher amounts in the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Dry conditions will return for the following weekend, with long-range models indicating continued dry weather through at least Feb. 23.

Surf report

A 4- to 6-foot west-northwesterly (290-degree deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 16-second period) is forecast along our coastline on Saturday into Monday.

Gale force northwesterly winds along the California coastline will generate a 10- to 12- foot (305-degree deep-water) northwesterly sea and swell (with a 5- to 14-second period) on Tuesday, decreasing to 5- to 7-feet (with a 7- to 14-second period on Wednesday.

Increasing southerly winds will generate 7- to 9-foot southerly (185-degree shallow-water) seas on Thursday, decreasing to 3- to 5-feet by Friday. Combined with these southerly seas will be an 8- to 10-foot west-northwesterly (285-degree deep-water) swell (with an 18- to 20-second period) on Thursday into Friday.

Surface seawater temperatures will range between 54 and 56 degrees through Friday.

On this date in weather history (Feb. 9):

1933: The temperature at Moran, Wyomig, located next to Teton National Park, plunged to 63 degrees below zero to establish a state record. The temperature at the Riverside Ranger Station in Montana dipped to 66 below zero to establish a record for the state, and a record for the nation, which stood until 1954. (David Ludlum)

1934: The mercury dipped to 51 degrees below zero at Vanderbilt to establish a record for the state of Michigan. The temperature at Stillwater plunged to 52 degrees below zero to establish a record for the state of New York. (David Ludlum)

1989: A winter storm continued to bring rain and snow to Southern California. Snowfall totals ranged up to 18 inches at Olancha, with three inches at Palmdale. (The National Weather Summary)

2018: Over the last 13 days, 10 of them set record-high temperatures in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo reached 88 degrees on Feb. 9 breaking the record of 87 set in 2016. Paso Robles hit 81, which tied the previous record from 2006. Santa Maria hit 81 and Diablo Canyon reached 80.

2022: We often see huge temperature gradients between the coast and the inland valleys during summer, but the reverse can happen in winter. At 6:15, Paso Robles Airport reported 32 degrees, while at the same time, Diablo Canyon reported 70, a 38-degree differential!

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.

This story was originally published February 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.