What was the hottest Fourth of July in SLO County — and could we break that record?

More hot, sunny weather is headed to San Luis Obispo County for Independence Day — but will we break any temperature records?

“There’s a good chance of that happening,” meteorologist John Lindsey said Wednesday.

Lindsey said Paso Robles may come close to busting an all-time maximum temperature record set more than 60 years ago — although it probably won’t happen on the holiday itself.

Here’s how hot it’s gotten in SLO County on the Fourth of July in the past:

When was the hottest Fourth of July in SLO County?

According to Lindsey, San Luis Obispo reported its hottest Fourth of July ever in 1985, when the maximum temperature reached 96 degrees.

Paso Robles Municipal Airport set its record for the hottest Independence Day on record in 1970, with a high temperature of 112 degrees.

In contrast, Santa Maria Airport reported a high of 86 degrees on July 4, 1985, setting its daily temperature record for the holiday.

What was highest temperature ever recorded in SLO? Paso Robles?

San Luis Obispo County’s hottest day on record was Sept. 6, 2020, when the temperature at Cal Poly reached 120 degrees.

“That really smashed the record,” Lindsey previously told The Tribune.

The mercury reached 115 degrees in Paso Robles on July 20, 1960, and June 15, 1961, setting the all-time maximum temperature records for the North County city.

“For Paso to break a daily record you really have to get up into the 110s,” Lindsey said, noting that Paso Robles is expected to see a high of 114 degrees on Saturday.

What’s in the weather forecast for SLO, beaches?

According to the National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast, Thursday will be sunny in San Luis Obispo with a high near 88 degrees and winds of 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday night will be clear with a low temperature around 63 degrees.

The winds pick up on Friday, which will be sunny and hot with a high near 98 and a low around 68. Gusts could go as high as 20 mph.

More clear skies are expected Saturday, when the high will be near 96.

The temperature dips down again Sunday, which will see a high near 88.

On the coast, folks can expect fog and clouds in the morning on the Fourth of July, Lindsey said, followed by “cool and windy conditions along the coastline” in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, he said, “It looks like it’s going to be foggy for Fourth of July fireworks.”

Lindsey said high temperatures along the beaches will reach the 60s on Independence Day.

The temperature could get up into the 80s in the late morning on Friday and Saturday, Lindsey said, before conditions cool off again.

Sunday will see the return of marine low clouds with highs in the 60s, he said.

What about Paso Robles?

Independence Day will be sunny and hot in Paso Robles, according to the weather service’s seven-day forecast , with a high temperature near 106 degrees.

Clear skies are forecast for Thursday night with a low temperature around 66 degrees and winds gusting as high as 15 mph.

More sunny, hot weather is expected Friday, which will have a high near 112 and a low around 71. North northwest winds will be 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Things really heat up on Saturday, when temperatures will reach a high near 114 and a low around 64.

Closing out the weekend, Sunday will see a high near 109 and a low around 63.

“In the North County, it’s just going to stay hot,” Lindsey said, although it might be “a little cooler” around the Templeton Gap or western Atascadero.

Excessive heat warning issued for parts of Central Coast

The Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the interior valleys and mountains of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, as well as other areas of southwest California.

That warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. July 10 for cities and communities including Atascadero, Creston, Paso Robles, San Miguel, Santa Margarita Lake, Shandon and Templeton.

The Weather Service warned of “dangerously hot conditions” with high temperatures up to 105 to 115 degrees expected.