Storm dumped 2 inches of rain on one SLO County spot. Here’s how much fell in your area

Stephanie Zappelli
·3 min read
3

Update 6 p.m.:

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services expects Lopez Lake to spill on Wednesday night, the agency said in a Tweet.

As of about 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the reservoir was 99% full, according to the SLO County Public Works Department.

The county’s evacuation warning for Oceano residents living near the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee will remain in place on Wednesday night, the SLO County Office of Emergency Services said.

“Lopez has not yet spilled and we want to ensure the water entering the creek will not cause a safety risk near the levee,” the agency said in the Tweet.

Original Story:

The latest storm to hit San Luis Obispo County brought more than 2 inches of additional rain to the region this week.

Leading the way were the higher elevation areas in the Santa Lucia Mountains near Nacimiento Lake.

Las Tablas south of Nacimiento recorded the highest local total at 2.55 inches over the two days ending at 4 a.m. Wednesday, while Rocky Butte, a peak east of San Simeon with an elevation of 3,245 feet, recorded 2.17 inches.

Santa Margarita recorded 1.78 inches, while Cal Poly totaled 1.18, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are the two-day rainfall total amounts, according to the National Weather Service.

  • Las Tablas south of Lake Nacimiento: 2.55 inches

  • Northern Lake Nacimiento area: 2.32 inches

  • Rocky Butte: 2.17 inches

  • Santa Margarita: 1.78 inches

  • Lake Lopez: 1.62 inches

  • Los Osos: 1.21 inches

  • West Atascadero foothills: 1.19 inches

  • Cal Poly: 1.18 inches

  • Templeton: 1.14 inches

  • San Luis Obispo: 1.13 inches

  • Arroyo Grande: 1.12 inches

  • Davis Peak: 0.95 inches

  • Paso Robles: 0.91 inches

  • Carrizo Plain: 0.9 inches

  • Atascadero: 0.79 inches

  • Cambria: 0.78 inches

  • Nipomo: 0.76 inches

  • Pismo Beach: 0.71 inches

  • Oceano: 0.71 inches

  • Shandon: 0.7 inches

Wind-driven waves crash at south-facing Port San Luis during a break in the clouds on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Admiring the power of the Pacific Ocean are, from left, Joel, Jeanne Gilmore, Jennifer and Rick Gilmore. Joel and Jennifer declined to give their last names.
Wind-driven waves crash at south-facing Port San Luis during a break in the clouds on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Admiring the power of the Pacific Ocean are, from left, Joel, Jeanne Gilmore, Jennifer and Rick Gilmore. Joel and Jennifer declined to give their last names.

Forecast for SLO County

Meanwhile, while the sun started to break through the clouds on Wednesday, more rain was still in the forecast throughout the day, with up to another half inch of rain and wind gusts up to 15 mph expected, the National Weather Service said.

A flood watch was in place for SLO County until 5 p.m.

Lighter showers will continue on Wednesday night, followed by a mostly sunny forecast on Thursday.

Families check out the high water levels at Lopez Lake on Friday, March 17, 2023. The lake was at 92.6% capacity and was expected to spill for the first time since 1999.
Families check out the high water levels at Lopez Lake on Friday, March 17, 2023. The lake was at 92.6% capacity and was expected to spill for the first time since 1999.

Update on Lopez Lake

The extra rain continues to fill Lopez Lake, which could spill for the first time in 25 years.

On Wednesday morning, the lake was at 98.2% capacity, according to the SLO County Public Works Department.

That led the county to extend an evacuation warning for Oceano residents living near the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee, according to the SLO County Emergency Operations Center.

“Heavy rain in combination with spill from the reservoir could result in flooding near the levee,” the agency said in the news release.