SLO County spot could see 10 inches of rain in storm, NWS says. How much has fallen so far?

Chloe Jones
·2 min read

Three days of stormy weather have dropped more than 2 inches of rain on much of San Luis Obispo County, including nearly 9 inches at the area’s wettest spot.

In the 72 hours ending at 8:45 a.m. Monday, most locations across the county have received anywhere from a half inch of rain to upwards of 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Rocky Butte, a location in the mountains northeast of Cambria, led the way with 8.78 inches of rain.

Here’s a look at all the totals from across the county, according to the NWS:

  • Rocky Butte: 8.78 inches

  • Atascadero west foothills: 3.08 inches

  • Arroyo Grande: 2.92 inches

  • San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly area): 2.80 inches

  • Davis Peak (near Montaña de Oro): 2.83 inches

  • Las Tablas: 2.68 inches

  • San Luis Obispo (Broad Street and Industrial Way): 2.30 inches

  • Cambria (Santa Rosa at Main): 2.41 inches

  • Nacimiento River at Monterey County line: 2.76 inches

  • Los Osos: 1.86 inches

  • San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport: 1.72 inches

  • Pismo Beach: 2.09 inches

  • Salinas Dam: 1.78 inches

  • Lake Lopez: 2.27 inches

  • Santa Margarita: 1.61 inches

  • Paso Robles Airport: 2.23 inches

  • Templeton: 1.58 inches

  • Atascadero: 1.30 inches

  • Lake Lopez Recreational Area: 1.85 inches

  • Bald Mountain: 1.42 inches

  • Oceano: 1.24 inches

  • Shandon: 1.32 inches

  • Nipomo: 0.93 inches

  • Branch Mountain: 1.32 inches

  • Shell Peak: 1.03 inches

  • La Panza: 0.71 inches

  • Carrizo Plain: 0.78 inches

What’s ahead in SLO County’s forecast?

The NWS forecast predicted scattered showers to continue through the course of Monday with some possible isolated thunderstorms.

Rainfall will decrease quickly in the evening through Tuesday, the agency said, except for periods of showers over the north slopes.

The total rainfall from this system of storms was estimated to average between 1 to 2 inches for the majority of the county and 2 to 5 inches in the mountains and foothills.

Rocky Butte was the exception, the agency said, and could likely get close to 10 inches of rain.

There was also a 10-20% chance of thunderstorms over the coastal waters near Piedras Blancas Point in San Simeon to Point Sal in Guadalupe Monday, the agency said.

These storms could cause locally strong and erratic wind gusts, small hail, heavy downpours, rough seas and dangerous cloud-to- ocean lightning. There was also a chance of isolated waterspouts, the agency said.