Storm door is open for SLO County — and December rain is on the way
After an uncharacteristically dry November, rain is on the way this month, starting with showers on Thursday, ramping up next week and likely continuing through the Christmas holiday.
“The storm door is wide open for California,” said John Lindsey, meteorologist with PG&E.
The light drizzle on Tuesday morning will produce stronger winds of 25 to 38 miles per hour, leading to heavier rain showers on Thursday, Lindsey said.
North and northeasterly winds will create chilly overnight conditions on Friday and Saturday, according to a weather forecast by Lindsey. The overnight lows will be the coldest of the year, with Paso Robles dipping into the mid-20s and San Luis Obispo into the mid-30s, according to the forecast.
The rain really starts up next week.
Southern winds will blow in heavy-to-moderate showers that are estimated to produce 2 to 4 inches of rain during the first round of storms beginning Dec. 13 through Dec. 15, Lindsey said.
After that, there could be a second round of storms continuing through the Christmas holiday.
“It looks like a very wet and stormy weather pattern developing next week and continuing right through Christmas,” he said.
While the rain may make outdoor activities like hiking more difficult, winter sports lovers will appreciate fresh powder at the ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Lindsey predicts snow levels of 5,000 to 5,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada and roughly one-half of a foot of fresh snow.
“(There are) plenty of opportunities to go and enjoy the snow,” Lindsey said.
