A severe weather warning has been issued for Hollister and
surrounding areas beginning Friday, and with wind gusts up to 60
mph residents are advised to take extra precautions through the
weekend, according to forecasters.
Hollister – A severe weather warning has been issued for Hollister and surrounding areas beginning Friday, and with wind gusts up to 60 mph residents are advised to take extra precautions through the weekend, according to forecasters.
The high wind gusts should diminish by Friday afternoon, but blustery conditions will remain, possibly through the middle of next week, said meteorologist Wendy Sellers with the National Weather Service in Monterey.
Heavy rainfall is expected Friday, and as the low pressure systems driving the foul weather move through, moderate to heavy rains are expected into the middle of next week, she said. Sellers estimated Hollister has received about 2.5 inches of rain since Dec. 27, and another 3 to 5 inches is expected to fall in the Monterey area southward by next week, she said. High temperatures will be in the lower 50s, with lows in the mid to low 40s.
This storm is a cause for concern because it’s coming on the heels of recent storms that have soaked the area, Sellers said.
“The ground in fairly saturated, and with the addition of more rain there’s the possibility of mudslides, landslides, downed trees and power outages,” she said.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph ripped though Hollister last week, uprooting trees, ripping apart buildings and leaving almost 7,000 people without power for parts of the day. And a landslide on Panoche Road on New Year’s Eve caused upwards of $30,000 damage.
Sellers cautioned residents to tie down loose objects around their homes or take them indoors and stock up on batteries because power outages may occur.
Felled trees is one of Hollister’s Public Works Department’s biggest concerns, said Steve Wittry, interim deputy director.
Wittry said residents should be aware of areas surrounded by tall or large trees, which could come crashing down when high winds are coupled with the moist ground.
“We’re preparing ourselves,” Wittry said. “We’re making sure all our equipment is ready to go and people are on stand-by. We’re making sure everyone knows their priorities.”
Flooding shouldn’t be much of a concern within the city, but gutters in areas in the older sections of downtown, around West and Monterey streets and on East Street between Second and Third streets could spill water several feet into the road, he said.
Scattered areas throughout the county could see some flooding problems, especially Frazier Lake Road, Lover’s Lane, Rocks Road and possibly Cienega Road, said Arman Nazemi, assistant public works director for the county. All remote roadways in remote areas of South County should only be traveled if it’s necessary or if motorists know the exact condition of the road, he said.
For questions or concerns, contact the San Benito County Public Works Department at 636-4170.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
em*******@fr***********.com
.
