Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for San Luis Obispo County with Possible Tornado Threat

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for central San Luis Obispo County in southwestern California. The alert was triggered by radar-indicated severe thunderstorms located along a line extending from near Paso Robles to 64 miles southwest of Morro Bay.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts central San Luis Obispo County. Specific locations expected to be affected include:

• Cities and Towns: San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Grover Beach, Oceano, Santa Margarita, Shandon, Avila Beach, Cayucos, Baywood-Los Osos, Templeton, and Shell Beach.
• Landmarks and Infrastructure: Black Mountain, Diablo Canyon, and Highway 101 over Cuesta Grade.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warned area should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building for protection. Remain alert for a possible tornado, as they can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado, go at once to a basement or a small central room in a sturdy structure. Expect potential damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Gusts up to 60 mph are expected.
• Tornado Threat: Radar indicates that a brief weak tornado is possible.
• Hail: Radar indicates hail sizes up to 0.75 inches.
• Storm Movement: The storm line is moving east at 30 mph.

Timeline

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning is effective immediately as of 6:13 PM PST on February 17, 2026. The warning is currently scheduled to expire at 7:45 PM PST.