A recent wave of immigration raids in the Central Coast resulted in the detention of 147 people, causing community distress and economic instability, with concerns over racial profiling and due process violations. Local officials and immigrant-rights groups are calling for greater transparency and immediate action to support affected families.
Over 2,000 participants are cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the AIDS/LifeCycle event to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS services. Riders are currently passing through the Central Coast, with stops in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Ventura before concluding at the Santa Monica Pier.
The Central Coast will only experience a partial solar eclipse, with San Luis Obispo expecting to see about 40% coverage. Residents are making efforts to witness the event, with one individual traveling to Belton, Texas for a better view. Students are also excited, with one middle schooler looking forward to observing his friends' reactions. The eclipse will start at 10:08 a.m. and last for approximately two hours and ten minutes. Additionally, NASA provides instructions on creating a pinhole viewer to safely observe the eclipse.
A guide to voting in the California primaries on the Central Coast provides information on voter eligibility, registration, voting locations, tracking vote-by-mail ballots, sample ballots, ID requirements, and resolving issues at the polls. It also lists ballot drop-off locations and contact information for election assistance. The primaries are scheduled for March 5, 2024, and voters can cast their ballots at any vote center in the county or drop off their mail-in ballots at designated locations.
Heavy rain has prompted flash flood warnings across Santa Barbara County, with 1-2 more inches of rain expected and concerns about mudslides and flooding. The region is also under flood advisories, high wind warnings, and high surf advisories. While the worst of the storm has passed, scattered showers and potential thunderstorms are expected, with another band of heavy rain forecasted for late Tuesday into Wednesday. After that, a break in the rain is expected before another chance for rain over the weekend.
Due to weather conditions, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol have closed several roads in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, including portions of HWY 1 and other local roads. Debris such as rocks, mud, and trash may also be present on the roads. Motorists are advised to stay updated on road closures and to be cautious of potential hazards while driving in the affected areas.
After over 20 years without a tornado in San Luis Obispo County, two tornadoes hit the Central Coast in one day. National Weather Service officials explained that the rare occurrence was due to a mix of dry and moist air creating rotation in the atmosphere, leading to strong showers and updrafts. Meteorologists emphasized the rarity of tornadoes in the region and advised people to stay away from windows during tornado warnings. The NWS is still studying the tornadoes and will release more information soon.
The National Weather Service received unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down on California's Central Coast near Pismo Beach and Grover Beach, warning residents of heavy downpours, hail, lightning, and strong winds. A strong storm system also brought warnings in Southern California with potential wind gusts up to 60 mph, nickel-sized hail, and the possibility of tornadoes. Radar imagery showed the storm system moving through the Central Coast and into Southern California, with only one confirmed tornado touching down in San Luis Obispo County since 2000.
A powerful atmospheric river caused widespread power outages, with 55,000 PG&E customers still without power across the Central Coast. Several schools were closed due to power outages and storm damage, and numerous roads in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were closed due to fallen trees and debris. All evacuation warnings and orders have been lifted for Monterey County, but a shelter-in-place order was issued for Pebble Beach.
Heavy rain in the Central Coast led to multiple reports of downed trees and power lines, with incidents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The California Highway Patrol and Caltrans responded to a downed utility pole on Highway 166, while the Santa Barbara County Fire Department assisted with a fallen tree at a condo complex. San Luis Obispo County activated its Emergency Operations Center, and Pacific Gas and Electric reported power outages for over 27,800 customers. Residents are urged to call PG&E directly for assistance.
A powerful atmospheric river is causing strong winds, power outages, and blocked roads across the Central Coast, leading to evacuation orders and warnings in Monterey County. Tens of thousands of PG&E customers are without power, and road closures are reported in both Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The final day of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has been cancelled due to the severe weather conditions.
A strong storm is expected to hit the Central and South Coasts this weekend, with potential for heavy rainfall, high winds, and flooding. The storm, rated as a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, could bring 2-5 inches of additional rainfall to the Central Coast and 2-7 inches to Santa Barbara County, with some areas possibly receiving up to 12 inches. Active advisories include flood watch, high-wind watch, and high surf advisory, with a moderate flooding risk identified by the Weather Prediction Center.
The Central Coast is bracing for a stronger atmospheric river storm, rated as a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, expected to bring heavy rainfall late Saturday into Tuesday. Showers may persist until Saturday afternoon, with temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. Sunday is anticipated to be particularly wet and windy, with the potential for 2-5 inches of additional rainfall, and up to 10 inches in some areas, particularly impacting Santa Barbara County. Residents are advised to stay informed and prepare for potential wave advisories, flood watches, and wind warnings.
Severe weather is expected along the Central Coast with a flood advisory issued for Santa Cruz County and the Big Sur area, as well as power outages affecting PG&E customers east of Salinas. The National Weather Service has also issued a high wind warning for much of the coastline and mountains, with potential power outages, especially in the mountains and Monterey Peninsula through 2 a.m.