Flooding, hail and 55-mph winds could slam SLO County tonight. See live storm updates
Yet another storm has arrived in San Luis Obispo County as of Wednesday night, bringing with it the chance of rain, 55-mph winds, hail and even flooding.
The storm is expected to drop up to 4 inches in some places across the Central Coast and into Southern California, according to the National Weather Service.
The heaviest burst of rain is expected overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning as a “strong and fast-moving cold front” arrives in the area and ushers in a three-to-six hour period of “very heavy rain,” the Weather Service said.
That could translate to rainfall rates of about a half inch per hour for upslope areas, with a minor chance of it reaching up to an inch per hour in some spots.
“This storm will pack quite a wallop despite it’s short duration,” the agency said in its afternoon forecast.
There’s also a risk of strong winds, thunderstorms and maybe even a waterspout or small tornado, the agency said.
The storm is expected to die out Thursday evening, before another system moves through Friday into early Saturday.
Multiple car crashes reported as rain arrives
Update, 9:10 p.m.:
A number of traffic incidents were reported Wednesday evening as roads became more slick.
According to the California Highway Patrol, one car spun out on southbound Highway 101 at the Shell Beach Road off-ramp around 8:35 p.m.
The white Tesla was partially blocking the No. 1 lane as of 9:10 p.m., according to CHP’s traffic incident report page.
Then around 8:48 p.m., another vehicle hydroplaned on Highway 101 north of the Cuesta Grade and hit the center divider, according to CHP’s traffic page.
No injuries were reported in either crash.
Flooding, hail, high winds alerts issued for SLO County
Original story:
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory, as well as hail and high wind alerts, for San Luis Obispo County on Wednesday evening.
According to the advisory, “flooding caused by excessive rainfall” was expected throughout a large portion of the county until 11 p.m.
The advisory warned of flooding in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cambria, Grover Beach, Highway 101 over Cuesta Grade, Santa Margarita, Baywood-Los Osos, Avila Beach, Shell Beach, Templeton, Cayucos, Lake Lopez, Diablo Canyon, Oceano and Black Mountain.
Low-lying and poor-drainage areas, as well as roads, were expected to be the most impacted.
Meanwhile, the agency also issued a special weather statement Wednesday evening, warning of the potential for winds of up to 55 mph and pea-sized hail across southern and central San Luis Obispo County.
“Doppler radar has indicated weak rotation with this activity, and while unlikely, there is a small possibility for a brief, weak tornado to occur,” the agency added.
People were advised to seek shelter inside a building and avoid driving on flooded roadways.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM.
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