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UPDATE: October rains were well above normal for many areas of Central Coast

KCBX News, Randol White
Commuters on Thursday evening traveled rain-soaked streets as the first big rain storm of the season hit San Luis Obispo County.

UPDATE: October 31, 2016

October was a very wet month for the Central Coast, bringing widespread above-average rainfall totals to Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

The National Weather Service said Monday that the Central Coast saw anywhere between 150 and 200 percent of normal in many areas.

Sunday's rainfall totals of roughly a half inch in both Paso Robles and Santa Maria broke records dating as far back as 1941.

UPDATE: October 28, 2016

The National Weather Service said Friday that rainfall totals from the storm that passed over the Central Coast Thursday night into Friday morning showed accumulation of about an 1.5 inches throughout much of San Luis Obispo County. 

Ocean recorded the highest level at 1.69 inches.

Santa Barbara County saw lower totals of anywhere between 0.49 inches in Solvang to 1.22 at Twitchell Dam.

More rainfall is in the forecast for Saturday night into Sunday and another chance again on Tuesday

ORIGINAL STORY:

The National Weather Service said on Thursday afternoon that heavy rainfall was expected for Central Coast counties on Thursday night into Friday morning, with a Flash Flood Watch in effect for some exposed zones.

Thunderstorms were capable of triggering mudslides in recent burn areas including the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County, the Chimney Fire in San Luis Obispo County, and the Sherpa and Rey Fires in Santa Barbara County.

The highest rainfall totals were expected in more northern areas of the Central Coast with two-to-four inches possible.

Campgrounds, roads, and trails were closed within the Santa Lucia Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest for public safety reasons, according to the U.S. Forest Service. They're expected to reopen once the storm passes.

Organizers made the call early Thursday afternoon to cancel San Luis Obispo's well-known downtown farmers' market due to the expected downpour.

Rain should turn to showers by Friday afternoon. More rain is expected on Sunday and Tuesday of next week.