The latest in a series of El Niño-triggered storms last February brought above-average seasonal rainfall totals to several Central Coast locations. In fact, some areas have already received more rainfall than during the entire rainy season (from July 1 to June 30).
Keep in mind that March is one of our wettest months.
So far, Rocky Butte, near Hearst Castle, has recorded 55 inches of rain. The average seasonal rainfall in Buta is 40 inches.
Paso Robles Municipal Airport saw 14 inches; In a typical year, it is about 13 inches. Cal Poly (home of San Luis Obispo Climatology) is averaging 17 inches this rainy season, or 110 percent of average for this date of the month.
Santa Maria General Airport recorded 11 inches, just two inches below the seasonal average of 13 inches.
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport reported about 20 inches of rain, 4 inches above the normal 16 inches for the entire rainy season.
Because of above-average rainfall seasons, most of our lakes and reservoirs are at or above 100 percent capacity.
Lake San Antonio is at 74 percent capacity, while Lake Nacimiento is at 85 percent and filling up quickly as of Friday.
An upper-level low pressure system, centered 800 miles west of the Central Coast, will gradually move southeastward this weekend. This system will produce pleasant variable winds, partly cloudy skies and moderate temperatures.
An associated cold front will move through San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties on Monday, with gentle to moderate south winds (8 to 18 mph) and showers.
Total rainfall amounts are expected to range between 0.10 and 0.33 inches, with many areas of northern San Luis Obispo County recording no rain with this weak system.
In the wake of this cold front, fresh to strong northwesterly winds (19 to 31 mph) and mostly clear skies, except for areas of fog in inland valleys and along the coast during the night and morning, will begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday. .
During this period, temperatures will drop into the low 40s in the inland valleys (Santa Ynez) and mid 40s in the coastal valleys (Santa Maria and Lompoc) and along the beaches.
Daytime highs will reach the mid 60s across the region.
On Friday, southerly winds and medium to high clouds will increase before another storm reaches the central coast next Saturday and Sunday.
This storm from the Gulf of Alaska is expected to bring gusty south winds and moderate to heavy rain. Freezing levels with this system could drop as low as 3,000 feet, with snow falling on many Central Coast mountain peaks.
The unstable weather pattern is expected to continue over the next week.
Temperatures in Santa Maria
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
48/69 47/67 48/64 48/63 45/66 45/63 47/61 50/55
Temperatures in Santa Ynez
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
48/70 45/67 45/64 43/66 41/68 42/67 43/61 46/54
Temperatures in Lombok
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
47/68 45/66 48/63 49/62 46/65 45/63 48/60 51/56
Sea water temperatures
Sea water temperatures will range between 57 and 59 degrees until next Saturday.
Surf report
A 3 to 5 foot northwesterly swell (285 degrees deep water) (with a period of 8 to 17 seconds) is expected along our coast Sunday into Tuesday morning.
Seas will develop and rise from 5 to 7 feet northwest (300 degrees in deep water) and extend (with a period of 5 to 14 seconds) Tuesday afternoon into Thursday, becoming 4 to 6 feet west-northwest. Friday.
Gusty southerly winds will generate 11 to 13 feet west-southwest seas (255 degrees deep water) and swells (with a 5 to 13 second period) next Saturday and Sunday.
This date in weather history (February 24):
1987 – A massive winter storm has begun to spread over the western United States. In Southern California, 17 inches of snow blanketed the Big Bear area, and Lake Hughes reported 4 inches of snowfall in just one hour. Snow pellets bleached coastal areas in Orange County and San Diego County, with three inches at Huntington Beach. The storm also produced thunderstorms accompanied by hail and water plumes. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2009 – Residual moisture from yesterday's rain combined with a lack of wind has created areas of dense ground fog across our area but will burn off later this morning.
