Highway 166 flooded as freak thunderstorms slam SLO County
A sudden late summer storm brought heavy downpours, thunderstorms and warnings of flash floods and tornadoes to San Luis Obispo County on Thursday.
Here’s the latest on the unusual weather.
Flash flood warning extended
Update, 7:16 p.m.:
The flash flood warning for the southeastern portion of San Luis Obispo County has been extended until 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The warning includes the southernmost border of San Luis Obispo County near New Cuyama.
A lightning bolt makes a ground strike east of Atascadero on Sept. 19, 2024, as a thunderstorm moved through the area.
Heavy rain floods Highway 166
Update, 6 p.m.:
Highway 166 flooded near Wasioja Road outside of Santa Maria during a freak thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon, according to CHP’s traffic incident report page.
As of 4:19 p.m., 20 to 23 vehicles were stuck in the flood zone, the CHP said.
Caltrans set up an eastern closure of Highway 166 at New Cuyama and a western closure at mile marker 55, the CHP log said.
Meanwhile, a storm cell opened up with heavy rain in the North County as the skies darkened from the east and thunderclaps rolled in.
Here’s a video from the ALERTCalifornia fire cameras showing intense convective cells with rain , possibly accompanied by lightning , sweeping through a parched California Valley this afternoon. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/q2XVPdKgYP
— John Lindsey (@PGE_John) September 19, 2024
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for between Morro Bay and Atascadero, warning of pea-sized hail and winds of up to 40 mph as “torrential rainfall” slammed the area.
According to the statement, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning was occurring with the tracked storm. People were urged to seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A rainbow stretched across Santa Margarita while a thunderstorm brewed in San Luis Obispo County on Sept. 19, 2024.
Original story:
The National Weather Service warned of flash flooding, hail and even a small tornado for inland San Luis Obispo County as a freak storm swept through the region on Thursday.
Thunderstorms building above San Luis Obispo County could unleash heavy rainfall near the eastern border during the afternoon and evening — leaving inland areas vulnerable to flash flooding, the Weather Service said Thursday afternoon.
As a result, it issued a flash flood warning for southeastern San Luis Obispo County and a flood advisory for interior San Luis Obispo County through 7 p.m.
The warning said Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms were producing heavy rain across the warned area, with between 1 and 3 inches of rain already falling.
The expected rainfall rate was 1 to 2 inches in an hour, the agency said, noting flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly and landslides were expected.
A full rainbow was visible from Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California as sudden thunderstorms swept across San Luis Obispo County.
The Weather Service also extended an existing flood watch for the county until 5 a.m. on Friday and warned people to stay off of mountain roads.
“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the Weather Service said in the flood watch.
“Not all areas will get rain, but in the most favorable areas, rainfall rates up to an inch per hour are possible with hail and gusty winds as well,” the Weather Service said.
The thunderstorm even creates the potential for a funnel cloud or small tornado, the agency said.
The Weather Service also warned of hail and gusts of wind that reach 40 mph from 3:42 to 4:15 p.m. on Thursday.
The storm should will blow east of Ventura County by Friday afternoon, ushering in a dry and sunny weekend for San Luis Obispo County.
#Highway #flooded #freak #thunderstorms #slam #SLO #County