But an area meteorologist noted that precipitation in the coming
days likely will cause rain rather than snow on all elevations, as
temperatures are not expected to dip beneath the upper 30s at
night.
HOLLISTER
Below freezing temperatures and precipitation combined overnight to bring snow to San Benito County peaks as low as 1,000 feet.
“It should stick for a while at the 1,000-foot level,” said Diana Henderson of the National Weather Service’s Monterey-area office, who added that most San Benito County peaks at that elevation received between six and nine inches.
The weather pattern brought showers throughout the county at lower elevations, she said, and the entire pattern was caused by an “upper-level, low-pressure system winding its way down the coast and wrapping cold air into central California.”
“A blast of polar air mixed with convective clouds brought us snow and icy conditions that will last through tonight before returning to showers on Thursday and Friday,” said Henderson.
Henderson noted that the precipitation in the coming days likely will cause rain rather than snow on all elevations, as temperatures are not expected to dip beneath the upper 30s at night.
Pacheco Pass- and Hecker Pass-area residents reported quite different results in terms of the snowfall’s effect.
Blake Weaver has been a ranger at Mount Madonna along Hecker Pass in Gilroy and said she has only seen it stick like this once before.
“It’s melting quickly, but I can still see someone out there making a snowman,” said weaver at 11 a.m. “There will be dangerous road conditions this evening as the snow melts and then freezes on the roads.”
Closer to Hollister, Sheila Thompson , an employee at Casa de Fruta, said that effects of the snow have been minimal.
“It’s a very light dusting of snow up on the hills, and I haven’t seen any extra accidents,” she said. “It’s pretty and nice to look at today, but I’ve seen it much heavier.”
Thompson added that one time last year it was so heavy “that it looked like the Sierras up here.”
Jack Harper, a ranger at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, said there was snow at the top of Hector Heights where the elevation is 1,800 feet.
