The promised onslaught of rain came to fruition Thursday, drenching San Benito County while causing localized flooding, power outages downed trees and some traffic accidents. In the past 24 hours, ending Friday morning, 3.29 inches of rain was recorded in Hollister, bringing the yearly total to 6.62 inches. Hollister had received a total of 3.33 inches prior to the storm.
After hours of consistent rain, Southside School officials on Thursday afternoon announced that classes would be cancelled Friday “due to road closures and safety concerns.”
That followed San Benito High School officials’ decision to cancel all after-school activities, including sports, practices and all other school-related events. Administrators encouraged certificated and classified employees to leave campus by 3:30 p.m., after all students went home following the 3 p.m. end of classes.
Hollister Police Chief David Westrick said Thursday evening that his department received repoerts of a tree down over a car on Fairview Road. No injuries were reported. He also said there was “flooding pretty much all over,” though “nothing major.” In addition to localized flooding, there were reports of a tree down in the city and a few non-injury crashes, Westrick added.
William Avera, Hollister’s City Manager, said he received reports of “a couple broken limbs on trees” as well as a small flat roof that was blown off in a county property earlier in the day.
The National Weather Service’s Monterey office issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for San Benito County until 7 p.m. Thursday, when moderate rainfall was moving over the area and expected to cause ponding of water and rising creeks and streams.
A flash flood watch was issued in the region through Thursday night, meaning that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. The issue was a concern in rural areas of San Benito County, where country roads, farmland along creek banks and streams were subject to flooding.
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