Heat wave keeps smashing SLO County records — and more may still fall
San Luis Obispo County pulverized two more heat records on Thursday while a historic heat wave baked the Central Coast.
The temperature reached 97 degrees at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport on Thursday, breaking the 11-year-old daily record of 81 degrees set in 2015, according to data from the National Weather Service.
San Luis Obispo also matched its monthly heat record, set on Tuesday. The prior record was 90 degrees set on March 12, 2007.
Meanwhile, the mercury reached 93 degrees at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport on Thursday, breaking the 28-year-old daily record of 88 degrees set in 1997, weather service data showed.
Paso Robles matched its monthly heat record, set on March 27, 2015, the weather service said.
And the heat wave isn’t quite over.
San Luis Obispo is poised to break another heat record on Friday. The daily heat record was set at 79 degrees in 2024, and the forecast calls for a high of 90 degrees, the weather service said.
Paso Robles has a daily heat record of 87 degrees set in 2004 for Friday. The city could break that record, with a forecasted high of 93 degrees.
The weather service placed a heat advisory on San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties until 8 p.m. Friday, warning of a high risk of heat illness for young children, the elderly and those without air conditioning.
Warm nighttime temperatures will contribute to the risk of heat illness.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the weather service said. “Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
SLO’s cooling center at 40 Prado Road will be open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., the city said in a news release earlier this week.
Paso Robles also offers a cooling center at the city library at 1000 Spring St.
