Get ready for some ‘chamber of commerce weather,’ SLO County. See this week’s forecast

High pressure off the California coastline will keep the storm track far to the north of the Central Coast through the first week of April. Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds will bring dry and warmer conditions this weekend into Tuesday, followed by strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds and cooler weather on Wednesday through the following week.

A transitory ridge of high pressure over the Great Bain will generate moderate to fresh (13 to 18 mph) Santa Lucia winds during the night and morning, shifting out of the northwest during the afternoon.

This pattern will maintain chamber of commerce weather with clear skies and warmer temperatures this weekend through Tuesday.

Highs will range from the low 80s across inland valleys (Paso Robles), and mid-70s (San Luis Obispo) in the coastal valleys, and beaches, while overnight lows will drop to the mid-40s inland and the low 50s near the coast. Monday with be the warmest day of the week.

Classic Central Coast springtime winds will return this week.

A series of storms will move into the Pacific Northwest with periods of heavy rain and low-level snow, the associated cold fronts will produce steep pressure gradients along the California coastline which will generate strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph with gusts to 45 mph) northwesterly winds starting Wednesday and continuing through the following week.

These winds will be weaker further inland.

The long-range numerical models indicate a dry weather pattern persisting through mid-April, if not longer.

Surf report

A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (300-degree deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 17- second period) is forecast Saturday through Sunday, becoming a 4- to 6-foot northwesterly swell (290-degree deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 18-second period) on Monday through Wednesday morning.

Northwesterly gales along the California coastline will generate 8- to 10-foot northwesterly (305-degree deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 14-second period) Wednesday afternoon through next Sunday.

Surface seawater temperatures will range between 50 and 53 degrees through Wednesday, lowering 48 to 51 degrees on Thursday into next Sunday.

Today in weather history (March 23):

1913: A vicious tornado hit the city of Omaha, Nebraska. The tornado struck during the late afternoon on Easter Sunday, and in just 12 minutes cut a swath of destruction 5 miles long and two blocks wide across the city killing 94 persons and causing $3.5 million in property damage. (David Ludlum)

1987: A blizzard raged across western Kansas, and the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma. Pampa, Texas, received 21 inches of snow, and winds gusted to 78 mph at Dodge City, Kansas, and Altus, Oklahoma. Governor Hayden declared 46 counties in western Kansas a disaster area. In southwest Kansas, the storm was described as the worst in 30 years. (Storm Data)

2009: A very steep pressure gradient developed along the California coastline, producing sustained northwesterly winds of 40.5 mph with gusts of 55 mph at the Diablo Canyon meteorological tower.

2020: Rain showers wrapped around a low-pressure system that was moving east-northeastward. Many Central Coast locations recorded between 0.75 and 1.25 inches of rain.

2022: Daily high-temperature records were broken throughout the Central Coast. The San Luis Obispo County Airport reached 87 degrees besting the old record of 82 set in 1976. Cal Poly hit 88, smashing the previous record of 83 degrees from 1931. Paso Robles Airport saw a high of 84, breaking the old mark of 82 set in 1977. To the south, Santa Maria Airport broke its record high set back in 1926 by reaching 86 degrees.

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 X @PGE_John.