Live Updates: Hail, high winds expected as storm hits SLO County; several roads closed

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Update, 4:40 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has extended its flood advisory for San Luis Obispo County until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services said on Twitter.

The flood advisory was previously effect for SLO County until 4:30 p.m.

Update, 3:16 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for parts of San Luis Obispo County, warning of high winds and hail.

Winds of 55 mph with pea-sized hail are possible through 3:45 p.m., the NWS warned.

The statement applies to Arroyo Granade, Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Margarita, Atascadero, Paso Robles and Cholame.

Update, 2:10 p.m.:

Former PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey said the Central Coast is in for “severe weather” through Tuesday afternoon.

The Doppler radar at Vandenberg Space Force Base indicated severe weather moving through the area through the afternoon, Lindsey said on Twitter.

As the storm has progressed throught the Central Coast, thunderstorms have been reported, Lindsey said on Twitter.

“Thunderstorms can produce periods of gusty winds and heavy rain with hail and lightning,” Lindsey said on Twitter. “Remember, when Thunder roars, go indoors.”

Update, 1:15 p.m.:

Several roads across San Luis Obispo County were closed starting at around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday as a severe rainstorm swept through the region, according to the California Highway Patrol.

In Arroyo Grande, Huasna Townsite Road was closed from Bridge 1 to the end of the road, the CHP said on its traffic incident information page, and Hi Mountain Road was closed from the beginning of the dirt portion on Lopez Drive to Pozo Road.

Huasna Road was also closed from Sparks Trail to Agua Escondido, according to the CHP.

North of Cal Poly, Upper Lopez Canyon Road was closed from 300 feet north of the water’s end to the north end of the road, the CHP said, while Stage Coach Road was closed from TV Tower Road to the end of the road.

West of San Luis Obispo, Perfumo Canyon Road was fully closed, along with See Canyon Road from Pippin Lane to the north end of Perfumo Canyon Road, the CHP said.

On the North Coast, Highway 1 was closed at Ragged Point Inn & Resort north of San Simeon, the agency said.

In Cayucos, Old Creek Road was closed from Highway 1 to Highway 46, the CHP said, and Santa Rosa Creek Road was fully closed in Cambria.

Meanwhile, there were several North County road closures on Tuesday.

Southeast of Atascadero Los Palos Road was closed at Santa Barbara Road, the CHP said.

In Paso Robles, Penman Springs Road was closed at the crossing, the agency said. Cholame Valley Road was closed from Highway 46 to McMillan Canyon Road, along with Airport Road at the crossing.

According to the CHP, O’Donovan Road was closed at the crossing in Creston, along with Huer Huero Road and Buena Vista Drive at their respective crossings. Huer Huero Road was also closed south of Wilson Creek Road.

Creston Road was closed from Neal Spring Road to Cripple Creek in Templeton, and Santa Rita Road was closed from Marsh Road to Ridge Road, the CHP said.

Avenales Ranch Road was closed from Pozo Road to the end of the road west of San Luis Obispo, the CHP said, while Chimney Rock Road was closed at Fawn Lane near Lake Nacimiento.

San Marcos Road was closed from Wellsona Road to Nacimiento Lake Drive in San Miguel, while in Cayucos, Old Creek Road was closed from Highway 1 to Highway 46.

In Santa Margarita, Shell Creek Road was closed at the crossing.

In Monterey County, Highway 1 was closed from north of Sand Dollar Beach to south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, the CHP said.

Update, 12:15 p.m.:

Sunlight was beginning to shine through the clouds in San Luis Obispo County as of midday Tuesday, but the respite from rain wasn’t likely to last, the National Weather Service said on Twitter.

The Weather Service predicted that the break from the rain will “destabilize the atmosphere and increase heavier showers and thunderstorms coverage” later on Tuesday.

Update, 11:30 a.m.:

Stormy weather halted work Tuesday on several road repair projects on the Central Coast, according to Caltrans District 5 public information officer Kevin Drabinski.

“On Highway 1, all repairs are on hold for the time being,” Drabinski told The Tribune.

“After the rain passes we will be in a position to announce time estimates for repairs” at Gilbert’s Slide north of Gorda and Dani Creek by New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, Drabinksi said, adding that the agency has “to evaluate how all our other areas of interest get through this rain.”

Caltrans District 5 public information officer Alexa Bertola said work on Highway 41 near Atascadero between Los Altos Road to San Gabriel Road will not continue until the area is clear of the storm.

“We will need to see how much additional damage and slope movement this rain causes and we can provide an update, hopefully by tomorrow evening,” Bertola said. “If no significant site changes, then we would expect to meet our schedule.”

High winds have proved more prevalent than rainfall in some parts of San Luis Obispo County as the storm continues, according to National Weather Service data.

According to the NWS, gusts in the “40 to 50 mph range” have been prominent over the past six hours.

Winds near San Luis Obispo reached 37 mph, while winds in the mountains pushed beyond 50 mph in some places.

In North County, Atascadero and Paso Robles saw wind speeds of 44 mph and 47 mph, respectively, while Port San Luis near Avila Beach recorded winds as high as 49 miles per hour, according to the NWS.

Update, 10 a.m.:

Power outages across San Luis Obispo County have cut off electricity to around 900 customers, according to the PG&E outage center.

A total of 614 Paso Robles customers lost power around 9 a.m., the outage center said, while 149 Atascadero customers lost power at 8:46 a.m.

Further south, 66 San Luis Obispo customers lost power around 8:31 a.m., and 50 Avila Beach customers lost power at 8:31 a.m.

In Arroyo Grande, 96 customers lost power at 7:23 a.m., the outage center reported.

Meanwhile, a fallen tree blocked access to both lanes of Burton Drive between Village Lane and Eton Road, the Cambria Fire Department said on Facebook.

Original Story:

In what has now become a weekly norm, another storm lashed San Luis Obispo County on Tuesday, bringing with it flooding and evacuation warnings.

Forecasts estimate between 1 and 3 inches of rain will fall across the coasts and coastal valleys through Wednesday night, with between 3 and 6 inches in the foothills and mountains.

Rainfall rates will likely range between 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour, but local rates of 0.5 to 1 inches per hour will be possible Tuesday morning and associated with thunderstorm activity, according to the National Weather Service.

Flood watch, coastal flooding advisory issued for SLO County

Much of San Luis Obispo County is under a flood watch through Wednesday afternoon, as the National Weather Service warned extensive rainfall could cause “extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers.”

The NWS also issued a high wind advisory for the region due to expected 25 to 35 mph winds, with gusts up to 50 mph. That advisory is set to expire at 11 p.m.

High surf and coastal flooding advisories were also in effect for San Luis Obispo County beaches Tuesday.

According to the NWS, large breaking waves of up to 13 feet with dangerous rip currents are expected, predominately along west- and southwest-facing beaches from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Thursday.

Meanwhile, minor coastal flooding was expected at high tide, around 10:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, the NWS said.

“During the Tuesday and Thursday evening high tides, the focus of coastal flooding concerns will be around Pismo Beach, Oceano, Port San Luis and Avila Beach due to the strong south to southwest winds coupled with building seas and high tides,” the advisory said.

Significant damage to roads or structures from coastal flooding is not expected.

Oceano residents warned to evacuate, Lopez Lake to spill

As has also become commonplace during recent storms, residents living in the vicinity the Arroyo Grande Creek levee and Oceano Lagoon were once again warned they may have to evacuate this week if conditions become hazardous.

Of particular concern is Lopez Lake, which depending on rainfall, will likely spill for the first time in 25 years during the storm. As of early Tuesday, the lake was at more than 96% capacity.

When it does so, that water will feed from the spillway into the already flood-prone Arroyo Grande Creek, which could potentially cause some flooding downriver.

“We know that for Oceano residents, evacuation fatigue is setting in,” Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert said in a county news release. “However, water levels in the channel combined with additional rain and water spilling from the reservoir are creating a potentially dangerous situation.”

Residents living in low-lying areas along the entirety of Arroyo Grande Creek were told to remain alert and prepare for potential flooding.

Hearst Castle cancels tours due to storm

Hearst Castle in San Simeon canceled tours on Tuesday “due to current high winds and storm conditions,” according to Dan Falat, superintendent of the California State Parks district that includes the Castle.

“We expect to resume normal tour operations tomorrow,” weather permitting, Falat told The Tribune via email.

Due to expected impacts from the storm, various State Parks properties are closed Tuesday, Falat wrote, including Leffingwell Landing in Cambria, the pier at San Simeon Cove, the horse camp area of Montana de Oro State Park near Los Osos, Washburn campground and lower parking area at Hearst San Simeon State Park and the 24th Street and Studio Drive pullout parking lots in Cayucos.

Falat said all closures except the one at the horse camp area were for public safety precaution.

He said a new slide out at the horse camp there made the closure necessary.

Other closures might happen later, Falat said, depending on impacts from the storm.

Winds were gusting to 65 mph at the Castle early Tuesday morning, he said.