A cold winter storm is going to continue to produce scattered showers through the morning drive Monday. Additionally, as rain activity picks up, it's possible that thunderstorms could also develop.
Aside from the rain, the Central Coast's beaches, coastal valleys, inland valleys, and foothills will remain under a wind advisory through 10 p.m. Northwesterly winds will be moderate to gusty throughout most of the day, and could range anywhere from 20-35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Through the rest of the week, daytime highs will be much cooler and stay between the low and upper 50s.
Out at the coast, a high surf advisory is set to remain in place through Tuesday morning as breaking waves could potentially range from 14-16 feet with local sets reaching 20 ft.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, there will be a break from the rain before another high-intensity storm makes way over the Central Coast Wednesday through Thursday. The main concern with this mid-week event is that it is associated with a significant source of moisture known as an atmospheric river. Model data is showing that the atmospheric river could remain stagnant over the Central Coast Wednesday and Thursday, producing major rainfall. Through Wednesday evening, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties will likely receive between two to four inches of rain. More rain is expected through Thursday night, coupled with southerly winds up to 60 miles per hour. At the same time, snow levels will drop to around 5,000 feet Wednesday through Friday. It's possible that the mountains and foothills in Santa Barbara County could receive 1-6 inches of snow.
As a reminder, the mid-week storm system will likely bring major rainfall that could result in flooding, debris flow, and downed trees. It's crucial that the community is prepared in the event a power outage occurs. Make sure cell phones are charged, drinking water is stocked, and there are flashlights with batteries on hand.
To see the most recent rainfall totals from National Weather Service, click here.
