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San Luis Obispo County, California
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1993 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
4
Tornado reports
5
Hail reports
40
Floods since 1996
83
All events
3
Deaths
$5.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in San Luis Obispo County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 4 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
A woman and her 5 year old child were swept down a flooded roadway near San Marcos Creek. The woman survived, but her 5 year old child died.
A 60 year old woman was swept away in her SUV by raging flood waters along Avila Beach Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, estimated to be gusting to 58 MPH, were reported at the La Entrada Road sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 75 MPH, were reported at the Las Osos sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 61 MPH, were reported at the Mount Lowe sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 72 MPH, were reported at the Fellows VOR sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 72 MPH, were reported at the Carrizo RAWS.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flooding along Highway 101 at Grand Avenue.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported heavy rain and flooding around the intersection of Highway 101 and Fair Oaks Avenue.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorms generated gusty winds. A large tree was knocked down across Santa Rosa Creek Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorms generated gusty winds around the 7400 block of Vineyard Drive in the community of Templeton. A couple trees and power lines were knocked down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorms generated gusty winds in the community of Cambria. Law enforcement reported a tree was knocked down.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Significant flooding on Highway 1 resulted in several vehicles being stuck in the flood waters.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Significant flooding resulted in the closure of Highway 1, in both directions, near Oso Flacco Road.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall resulted in a mudslide across Highway 166 near Sandy Creek Road.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall resulted in a mudslide across Highway 101 near the junction of Highway 166.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rainfall generated a mudslide across River Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding was reported at the intersection of Airport Road and Estrella Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding resulted in the closure of a section of Buena Vista Drive, near Paso Robles.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Swift water rescue teams rescued two people from San Marcos Creek.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Swift water rescue teams rescued three people from the Salinas River.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A brief EF1 tornado developed in the Grover Beach area. Estimated wind speeds were 95 MPH. Several power poles were snapped and some roof damage to a greenhouse was reported.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A brief EF1 tornado impacted the Los Osos area. The tornado traveled about 5 miles with estimated wind speeds of 95 MPH. Numerous trees were uprooted and damaged power poles, buildings and vehicles.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An automated sensor at Mount Lowe reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 66 MPH.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Several reports of funnel clouds were received near Buckley Road in the community of San Luis Obispo.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In the community of Nipomo, several vehicles were trapped in flood waters near the intersection of Guadalupe Road and Division Street.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding in San Luis Obispo county. California Highway Patrol reported road closures between Avila Beach Drive and San Luis Bay drive, due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding near the community of Atascadero in San Luis Obispo county. California Highway Patrol reported mud and rocks across Highway 41.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported Chimney Rock Road was completely washed out, due to heavy rain and flash flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported significant flooding in the community of Cambria in San Luis Obispo county. At a gas station, water rose to a depth up to half of the gas pumps.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported mud and debris completely blocking York Mountain Road and Shadow Canyon Road.
Flood Flood
Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding across Branch Mill Road. Law enforcement reported significant mud and debris across the roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain produced flash flooding, south of the city of San Luis Obispo. Law enforcement reported a vehicle stuck in the mud.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Significant flash flooding reported near Dolliver and Highway 1 intersection.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall produced a mudslide across the intersection of Huasna Road and Huasna Townsite Road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding on Las Pilitas Road near Lake Santa Margarita. The bridge was impassable due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding near Creston Road. The flooded river severely damaged the bridge.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in the community of Cambria in San Luis Obispo county. Along Sherwood Drive, several homes were inundated with water and mud, due to the heavy rain.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain fell over the Avila Fire burn scar, producing a mud and debris flow. The northbound lanes of Highway 101 were closed due to mud and debris from the burn scar.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain produced significant urban flooding in the community of Cambria. Along Windsor Boulevard, a vehicle was stuck with flooding impacted the roadway. The motorist was rescued.
Hail Hail
A severe thunderstorm developed near the community of Creston. One inch diameter hail was reported with the storm.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding and mud and debris flows across sections of Highway 46, northeast of Shandon.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Strong thunderstorms produced flash flooding and mud/debris flows in southeast San Luis Obispo county. California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 166.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding in southern San Luis Obispo County. Due to heavy rain, the roadway was completely washed away at the intersection of Highway 1 and Division Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter in the Cayucos area reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 MPH.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter in the Grover Beach area reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 MPH.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained weather spotter reported a wind gust of 58 MPH associated with a severe thunderstorm.
Hail Hail
The Cal Fire station in LaPanza reported a thunderstorm produced three quarter inch hail.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 2 |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in San Luis Obispo County, measured to its path.
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