SLO shatters 22-year heat record amid summerlike March week
San Luis Obispo shattered a 22-year-old heat record on Tuesday.
The temperature reached 97 degrees at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, breaking the daily record of 91 degrees set in 2004, according to meteorologist John Lindsey.
San Luis Obispo also broke its overall March heat record on Tuesday, which was previously set on March 17 and 18, 2004, at 91 degrees, Lindsey said.
“Today may see more records!” Lindsey said in an email to The Tribune, noting that the record high for March 18 was 83 set in 2009.
Up north, Paso Robles broke a 54-year-old heat record on Tuesday when the mercury hit 93 degrees. The prior heat record was set at 88 degrees in 1972, the National Weather Service said.
Paso Robes also tied for the March record as a whole.
Records were also broken in other cities on the Central Coast and throughout Southern California, including Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, the weather service said.
The record-breaking temperatures hitting SLO County and elsewhere in California were set to last through the end of the week.
The weather service encouraged residents to plan for the warm weather.
“This is just the start of a LONG DURATION HEAT WAVE, with no relief expected the rest of the week — especially inland of the beaches,” it said. “Take heat risks seriously. Make a plan now on how you will stay cool the rest of the week.”
This week’s SLO County heat wave prompted heat advisories and warnings from the weather service.
An advisory was in place for the beaches and coastal valley areas through Friday and the North County got its own heat advisory, also set to last through Friday.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 2:03 PM.
