Despite the most rainfall since 2006, San Benito County and
California are still in a drought that could last up to three more
years, according to the National Weather Service.
With nearly 14 inches of rain, Hollister has seen its most rain
since 2005’s 18 inches, National Weather Service forecaster Steve
Anderson said. The National Weather Service expects another one to
two inches in the upcoming months.
Despite the most rainfall since 2006, San Benito County and California are still in a drought that could last up to three more years, according to the National Weather Service.
With nearly 14 inches of rain, Hollister has seen its most rain since 2005’s 18 inches, National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said. The National Weather Service expects another one to two inches in the upcoming months.
The 13.95 inches of rain through April 4 surpassed the local average of 13.85 inches for the first time since 2006. The slight improvement is the first step in getting the county out of a drought.
To get out of the statewide drought, rainfall needs to be greater than the average for three straight years, Anderson said. Although an improvement from last year’s 12 inches and the year before having 11 inches, the state needs more water.
“The state takes a lot of different things in account besides just rainfall, including snow pact and water absorbed into the ground,” Anderson said.
The rainfall still has had a positive effect on the county and Hollister, County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson said.
“You’ll see the biggest effect on the cattlemen,” Thompson said. “They’ve had a couple of really lean years, and it should be a lot better.”
The rain should have a huge effect on the county’s agricultural community in general, Thompson said.
“Just look around,” Thompson said, referring to growing vegetation.
She also noted how the county’s federal water allocation is up nearly 40 percent.
It can hamper public works efforts, though. The county keeps a close watch on the rural roads that run throughout the area, making sure the roads are clean and safe to drive. So far, the county has kept the roads safe and has prevented any major problems, officials said.
The rain has also caused a delay in previously planned roadwork in San Juan Bautista area and is causing more potholes to surface in the rural roadways, Public Works Administrator Steve Wittry said.
“It’s either too cold or too wet to finish those projects,” Wittry said. “We need a little more sunshine.”
But the rain has been sporadic enough that it hasn’t put a large toll on the county’s budget, he said.
“I’d rather have the water,” Wittry said.
Overall, the rain was a good thing, something that will help the agricultural community, Thompson said.
“In the long haul, and we are looking at a pretty huge effect – we are an agricultural county,” Thompson said.
