Storm updates: Multiple water rescues reported, new flood advisory issued for SLO County
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A storm slammed San Luis Obispo County on Sunday night, bringing with it rising creeks and rivers, a handful of water rescues and a new closure on Highway 1.
The National Weather Service forecast heavy rain for the area Sunday night into Monday morning, with a chance of lighter rainfall continuing through Wednesday.
Forecasts called for between 2 to 5 inches in most spots, with a chance for 4 to 8 inches in the mountains and foothills. Some mountain spots could even see up to 10 inches, according to the NWS.
Ahead of the storm, the agency issued several weather advisories for San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast.
That included a flood watch, which is expected to last through Wednesday, a coastal flood advisory, a high surf advisory and a high wind advisory.
New slides force wider closure of Hwy. 1 on Big Sur Coast
The closure of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast expanded Monday due to slide activity just over the San Luis Obispo-Monterey county line, north of Salmon Creek.
The highway is now closed from 2.6 miles north of the county line to Radio Point, Caltrans said. There is not estimate for reopening.
The highway also remains closed from Dolan Point to just south of Limekiln State Park.
Whale Rock Reservoir spills
Update, 1:10 p.m.:
Whale Rock Reservoir outside of Cayucos could be seen spilling on Monday morning, as the storm drenched the area.
Water rescues in the Salinas River
Update 12:18 p.m.:
Three people were rescued by Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services from an island in the Salinas River this morning, according to a post on the department’s X account.
According to a news release from Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services, the agency extracted three people from islands within the Salinas Riverbed with the help of a CHP helicopter.
The first person was seen at 7:30 a.m. “during a reconnaissance flight of the area,” according to the release. A second person was found behind Kohls at about 7:40 a.m. and a third was reported by employees of Caliber Collission on North River Road at 8:56 a.m.
All three were uninjured, according to the release.
The agency noted that due to the increase in water rescue calls, it “recently placed a rescue boat in service and has been providing specialized training to staff on boat operations and small water rescues.”
The Salinas River currently sits at 8.98 feet, but is predicted to reach 17.8 feet by Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
After removing three subjects off islands in the Salinas River this morning, Paso Fire continues to train on swift water operations with their rescue boat. @KSBY pic.twitter.com/c9MPdOicQn
— Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services (@PasoRoblesES) February 19, 2024
SLO County clocks strong wind speeds
Update 10:52 a.m.:
Wind speeds across the county reached speeds of 60 mph in some parts of county early Monday morning.
Mount Lowe on the Cuesta Grade clocked a wind speed of 60 mph at 2:40 a.m. Monday, while nearby TV Tower Road peaked at 56 mph at 10:10 p.m. Sunday.
Davis Peak near Montaña de Oro also recorded 56 mph winds at 12:40 a.m., according to data compiled by the National Weather Service.
The entire county was slammed with high winds, with the lowest wind readings reaching 35 mph, according to the agency.
Storm flooding, downed trees close roads around SLO County
Update, 10:20 a.m.:
A number of roads were closed across San Luis Obispo County on Monday morning.
According to CHP’s traffic incident report page, Highway 1 at Oso Flaco Lake Road, just south of the railroad bridge, was closed early Monday morning due to flooding on both sides of the road. Oso Flaco Lake Road was also seeing some significant flooding from Division Street, according to the CHP page.
South Thompson Avenue at Poague Road in Nipomo also had a “large amount of water in the roadway,” according to the CHP page. Crews were assessing the need for a closure in the area.
In the North County, Aiport Road was closed at Estrella Road in Paso Robles as of 8:01 a.m., according to the CHP page.
The northbound lane of Highway 41 was also blocked by a downed tree near Old Morro Road West.
Meanwhile, the Cayucos Pier was also once again closed at the recommendation of an engineer during the high-swell event, according to county spokesperson Jeanette Trompeter.
National Weather Service issues flood advisory for SLO County
Original story:
On Monday, the Weather Service added a flood advisory for San Luis Obispo County, warning flood caused by excessive rainfall “is expected.”
The agency said light-to-moderate showers were detected across the area at 7:24 a.m., and were expected through the afternoon.
“This activity will have the potential to prolong flooding in areas that experienced heavy rainfall last night, and potentially create new areas of minor flooding,” the Weather Service said.
The advisory included much of San Luis Obispo County, including San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cuyama, Grover Beach, Highway 166 between Twitchell Dam and the Cuyama Valley, Lake Lopez, Black Mountain, Carrizo Plain, Oceano, Highway 101 over the Cuesta Grade, Shell Beach, Santa Margarita, Avila Beach and Diablo Canyon.
2 rescued from stuck car in Paso Robles
Two people were rescued from a vehicle stuck in the water in Paso Robles on Monday morning.
According to Cal Fire, firefighters and Urban Search and Rescue teams responded to the scene of a swift water rescue near the 1100 block of San Marcos Road in Paso Robles at around 7 a.m.
Cal Fire said two people were initially trapped in the vehicle. Both were safely extricated by 7:12 a.m.
The vehicle was expected to stay in the water until water levels decreased, Cal Fire added.
SLO lake spills over during storm, creeks swell
The heavy rain led to at least one local small lake appearing to overspill its boundaries on Monday morning.
As of 8 a.m., Laguna Lake had risen well above its usual elevation, and was spilling out underneath Madonna Road.
The overspill also fed to the area below the Froom Ranch Road bridge near Dick’s Sporting Goods, creating a fast-moving creek.
According to data from the San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Works, Laguna Lake had an elevation of 123.3 feet as of Monday morning, jumping nearly 2 feet since Sunday night.
Meanwhile in downtown San Luis Obispo, San Luis Creek was also raging, with debris such as a discarded sleeping bag swept up in the quick-moving stream.
