Wednesday morning forecast Jan. 27
An atmospheric river is stalling over Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties Wednesday, bringing consistent moderate to heavy rain. Rain will fall at about a quarter inch to three quarters of an inch an hour at its peak. Temperatures will remain below average in the 50s.
A flash flood watch and coastal flood advisory is in effect on the coast of San Luis Obispo County until Thursday afternoon. Roadways and creeks may flood, and there is potential for mudslides or debris flow over recent burn scars. There is concern of hazards at Port San Luis and the Avila Burn Scar.
Despite the lifting of the state’s stay at home orders, and some reopenings in our region, the latest COVID-19 statistics for the Central and South Coasts
Tuesday morning forecast January 26th
It s a chilly morning and winds are a bit calmer. High temperatures remain below average in the 50s, but some South Coast cities could reach 60 degrees. Overnight temperatures will warm a bit through the week.
There is a frost advisory this morning in the Ventura County valleys with temperatures between 32 to 35 degrees.
The break between storms ends Tuesday night as an atmospheric river brings moderate to heavy rainfall. The storm will start in San Luis Obispo County and stall over Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties on Wednesday.
Thursday afternoon, the storm will move southward over Ventura County. It is likely the atmospheric river plume will hold together as it moves. In total from Tuesday to Friday, we are expecting up to 6 inches of rainfall in San Luis Obispo County, up to 4 inches north of Point Conception, and up to 3 inches on the South Coast and into Ventura County.
–Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast will be closed between Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County and Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn in Monterey County (44.6 miles) beginning Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. This closure on Highway 1 is expected to remain in effect until Thursday, Jan. 28. Assessments will take place, during daylight hours and when safe to do so, prior to reopening of the highway.
A major rainstorm is expected to advance on the Monterey Bay area late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. High winds also pose the potential for downed trees and power lines.
Monterey County has issued an evacuation warning for areas downslope of the Dolan Fire burn scar where this storm brings an increased likelihood of debris flows.