Hollister
– A cold, dry air mass from Alaska has descended on Northern
California, and San Benito County is feeling the chill.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in
Hollister were expected to dip to about 26 degrees early this
morning. In comparison, the low on the same night last year was 50
degrees.
Hollister – A cold, dry air mass from Alaska has descended on Northern California, and San Benito County is feeling the chill.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Hollister were expected to dip to about 26 degrees early this morning. In comparison, the low on the same night last year was 50 degrees.
Even though NWS forecaster Diana Henderson said the region should heat up as the air mass moves off, winter is still approaching.
Not that apricot farmer George Bonacich is complaining about the cold.
“For us in the apricot business, it’s very beneficial,” he said.
Bonacich, who is the new president of the county’s farm bureau, said apricot trees need between 700 and 900 hours per year of “chill time” in order to become completely dormant, which leads to a better crop. He added that cold weather also keeps trees healthier because it prevents fungal diseases.
“To damage the apricots, it’d have to get around 10 degrees, and that doesn’t happen around here,” Bonacich said.
According to an employee at Target in Hollister, the store also benefits from a drop in temperature.
“When the weather gets cold, we get quite a bit of business,” he said.
As expected, jackets, gloves, boots and heaters have been selling like hotcakes. The employee also noted that as it gets chillier outside, people want do their socializing indoors – or so he surmised from the boost in business at the in-store Starbucks Coffee.
Local consumers may not be as happy about the onset of winter, especially after they see their bills from Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said the company doesn’t make any profits from the sale of natural gas, but that won’t stop prices from rising.
“What happens is that when the weather starts getting colder, it drives up for the market price for natural gas,” he said. “It’s basically a supply-and-demand thing.”
Luckily, Smith said, this year’s prices will be lower than in 2005, when Gulf Coast hurricanes drove up prices. He estimated that customers’ coming bills will be $13 or $14 less than they were in December of 2005.
In addition, PG&E will be offering a 20 percent rebate to customers who reduce their usage by at least 10 percent for their January and February bills. Smith noted that it’s important for people to start conserving now, because the bill in January may cover usage in December.
Of course, for many people, keeping warm also means building fires, and Fire Chief Bill Barringer warned that residents will have to keep an eye on their fireplaces and heaters to avoid risk.
San Benito residents should keep an eye on their pets and plants too.
“Take precautions (to protect your plants),” said Sheri Sinni, a sales associate at Garden Accents in Gilroy. “What do you have to lose?
Animal control supervisor Julie Carreiro added, “Animals are like plants. You have to provide shelter for them.”
Costly heating bills, fire danger and frozen animals and plants – if the right precautions aren’t taken, things can get a little depressing.
But Margaret Pidd seemed untroubled by such dark thoughts as she enjoyed the brisk weather in downtown Hollister.
“It’s refreshing, crisp and what we expect in the winter,” Pidd said. “Each season has its own purpose.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
