San Luis Obispo Creek overflowing
San Luis Obispo Creek overflowing

Storm Wrap-up Jan 9 2023

Author: Jeanette Trompeter
Date: 1/9/2023 8:07:43 PM

The plume of moisture over #SLOCounty is tapering off, but the National Weather Service says still expect another band to arrive around 3 a.m. and continuing through noon tomorrow.


Storm Update: January 9th, 2023. It has been a dangerous and eventful day as #SLOCounty endures the second round of this storm system. The plume of moisture over #SLOCounty is tapering off, but the National Weather Service says still expect another band to arrive around 3 a.m. and continuing through noon tomorrow. We are expecting another inch or two before noon tomorrow and strong winds that may come with high wind warnings.   

Another band of organized thunderstorms could be moving in tomorrow morning…tapering off tomorrow afternoon and evening, but we could get another inch or two of additional rain. Wind will continue to be factor, weakening a bit overnight, but strengthening in the morning, in the 30-50 mph range, tapering off tomorrow evening.  Right now, we are looking for a dry Wednesday and Thursday. 

Surf Conditions: Waves should peak tomorrow afternoon between 12-16 feet.  The tides won’t be quite as high as last week so that will be helpful.  Last week we had 6 and 6.5 feet tides, this week 5 to 5.5 feet.  

Virtually every community is having flooding, evacuations, and road closures.  Here is a high-level overview from the evening briefing of emergency officers throughout the county. We will update this as we receive continual reports, and the storm progresses and moves on. 

ARROYO GRANDE: Residents in low lying areas south of the Arroyo Grande Creek channel for one mile and west of Highway 1 are being evacuated as the levee is spilling over to the South (approximately a dozen residents who were notified via Reverse 911). The American Red Cross is setting up an evacuation center at The Church of The Nazarene in San Luis Obispo on Johnson Avenue.  7 to 8 homes in the City of Arroyo Grande are also experiencing flooding on Talley Ho Road. Flooding also prompting closures on Valley Road to Los Berros, Branch Mill Road from Cherry Lane to Coach Rd, El Camino Real from Oak Park to Robles Road, Valley Road at Castillo Del Mar with a detour routing traffic from Highway 1 to Halcyon. El Camino Real from Oak Park to Robles Road is still closed.  
 
OCEANO: Residents surrounding Oceano Lagoon should also be prepared for flooding and evacuation. The Oceano Lagoon has reached capacity. The ongoing storm will continue to fill the lagoon and potentially overflow into surrounding residential neighborhoods.  

PASO ROBLES: The search has been suspended for the missing 5-year-old who was swept from a car passing on a flooded stretch of road near San Marcos Creek. Salinas River rising. Flood waters have forced the closure of the 13th street bridge between South River Road and Riverside Avenue. In addition, evacuations of the following streets at the Fairgrounds. 

  • Summer Creek lane 

  • Bridgegate lane 

  • Stillwater Court 

  • Waterfall lane 

  • Sandcove lane 

  • Shadow Creek lane 

 Evacuation center at Fairgrounds.  

AVILA BEACH: One woman died after driving into flooded road on Avila Beach Drive near Sycamore Mineral Springs.  

SANTA MARIA AREA: Swift water rescue in progress in near highway 166 and Highway 101 in Santa Maria 

GROVER BEACH; Flooding on El Camino Road at 4th street to Oak Park off highway 101.  

MORRO BAY: The Southern end of Morro Bay is inaccessible via Highway 1 due to closure of Highway 1 at San Bernardo Creek Road.  It is closed from Morro Bay Boulevard to Yerba Buena. Highway 41 is also closed. Evacuating Silver City Mobile Home Park. Evacuation Center at Del Mar Elementary.  

SLO: Flooding at Marsh Street and Elks Lane and multiple vehicle rescues from people trapped crossing roadways.  

CAMBRIA: Power Lines down.  Flooding of Santa Rosa Creek across Windsor Boulevard.  

LOS OSOS: Localized flooding at intersections.  South Bay Boulevard closed.   Residences in the area behind Rodman on Vista Ct have been evacuated.  Multiple homes sustained significant damage. 

TEMPLETON: Flooding with some homes near creek facing rising waters.  

ATASCADERO: Atascadero Lake overflowing and high-water rescues. 

PISMO BEACH: Some street flooding, creek at the Butterfly Grove rising causing some flooding along Highway 1.  

SLO: Creek rising, some flooding of intersections and some homes. American Red Cross has opened a evacuation Shelter at Nazarene Church on Johnson Ave.  

HEARST CASTLE: Closed  

Multiple Culvert Washouts have left some people stranded in their homes: San Luisito Creek Road Off Highway 1, Redondo Lane at El Pomar, Chimney Rock Road ½ mile East of Running Deer Gate. 

Upper Lopez Canyon is not passible due to flooding.  

All jurisdictions are reporting people driving around barricades and trying to pass flooded roads. In addition to the flooded roads, downed power lines and trees and debris in water make this incredibly dangerous. Please follow all closure signs and turn around if necessary.  

Many Schools are closing tomorrow including: Pleasant Valley, San Miguel, Coast Unified, Cambria, Cayucos, San Luis Coastal, Templeton, Cal Poly, Cuesta  

PG&E has at least 90 outages reported with as many as 20-thousand customers effected as of this afternoon. Crews are struggling with flooded roads for response.  

Below is a list of County Roads impacted by the storm:  

Location (ROAD NAME - Extent Description) 

Reason for Delay 

Type of Delay (Color on the Map) 

Description of Road Work (Dates, Delays, Time of Day, Contact Info.) 

LABEL 

HI MOUNTAIN RD - Beginning to end of dirt portion Lopez side 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

11/29/22 to 04/01/23 - Dirt portion of the location will be closed in preparation for the upcoming storm season.  For more information contact Tim Cate at (805) 781-5293. 

HI MOUNTAIN RD - Beginning to end of dirt portion Pozo side 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

11/29/22 to 04/01/23 - Dirt portion of the location will be closed in preparation for the upcoming storm season.  For more information contact Tim Cate at (805) 781-5293. 

ORVILLE PL and BRADFORD RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

SAN MARCOS RD and WELLSONA RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

1 & 2 

PENMAN SPRINGS RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

CHOLAME VALLEY RD - McMillan Canyon Rd to HWY 46 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

COWPER ST - Haddon Dr to Langton St 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage.  Will reopen when safe. 

LOS PALOS RD and SANTA BARBARA RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

2 & 5 

SALINAS AVE - Between HAWLEY ST and EDDY ST 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

RAMSEY ST - 2940 between LATHAM PL and WILTON DR 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to power lines being down. Will reopen when safe. 

THOMPSON AVE - Between RANCHO RD and HWY 166 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

Tassajara Creek Road 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to power lines down. Will reopen when safe. 

2 & 5 

BUCKLEY RD - Vachell Ln to Hoover Rd. 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

SOUTH BAY BLVD - City of Morro Bay to  

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

TBD 

EL POMAR DR - at Cripple Creek Rd 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

AVILA BEACH DR - Ontario Rd to San Luis Bay Dr 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

SOUTH RIVER RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

CHP closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

MONTE RD - Before Baron Canyon Ranch Rd 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Tree down. Will reopen when removed. 

LAS PILITAS RD - 4730 Las Pilitas 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Tree down. Will reopen when removed. 

4 & 5 

LAS PILITAS RD - Around 4923 Las Pilitas 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

4 & 5 

OLD CREEK RD - HWY 1 to HWY 46 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

TURRI RD - Whole road 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

TBD 

CRIPPLE CREEK RD - El Pomar Drive to Creston Road 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

ADELAIDA RD - Vineyard Dr to Nacimiento Lake Dr 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

1 & 2 

S HIGUERA ST 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

SAN SIMEON CREEK RD 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed to THROUGH TRAFFIC due storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

E EL CAMPO RD -  Los Berros Rd to Brandy Ln 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

S EL POMAR RD - Homestead Rd to Rancho Rd 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to mudslide. Will reopen when safe. 

ONTARIO RD - Avila Beach Dr to San Luis Bay Drive 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

ADELAIDA RD - Chimney Rock Road to Vineyard Drive 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

1 & 2 

GREEN ST - Ardath Drive to west end. 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closure due to power lines and tree across the road.   Will reopen when safe. 

PEACHY CANYON RD - About 2.5 miles West of Paso Robles City Limits 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to flooding. Will reopen when safe. 

1 & 2 

REDONDO LN - Whole road 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed due to storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

SAN MARCOS RD - HWY 1010 to Nacimiento Lake Dr 

STORM 

CLOSURE 

Closed to THROUGH TRAFFIC due storm damage. Will reopen when safe. 

1 & 2 

 

If you would like to see a real-time map of road closures in your area, you can find the Public Works real-time map at: Road Closures and Delays - County of San Luis Obispo (ca.gov).  You can also find a summary of CHP, Caltrans, even Waze notifications on the Road Conditions tab at QuickMap (ca.gov).  Just click the agencies you want included in the map for your area. This is not a County of San Luis Obispo website and is not an official #SLOCounty notification of road closures, but a summary of various sources of input. QuickMap (ca.gov)