Several inches of snow fell in the higher elevations. Much of it came late Sunday evening, while many in the lower elevations had a heavy rain storm. Photos by JP Crumrine
Several inches of snow fell in the higher elevations. Much of it came late Sunday evening, while many in the lower elevations had a heavy rain storm. Photos by JP Crumrine

Not only was this a rainy weekend, but snow fell and accumulated on the Hill.

After the weekend’s snow, Fratello’s’ snowman remained standing.
After the weekend’s snow, Fratello’s’ snowman remained standing.

The U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station in Mountain Center recorded 1.5 inches of rain from Friday through late Sunday night.

Pine Cove also received 1.5 inches of rain and recorded a total of 1.5 inches of snow during this period, too. Friday evening, both hail and snowflakes fell in Idyllwild.

Total rainfall for the rain year, which is from July 1 through June 30, has been 8.2 inches at Keenwild and 9.6 inches in Pine Cove. The historic average rainfall through the end of December has been 9.2 inches.

During the last very strong El Niño year (1997-98), the Hill received more than 12.5 inches of rain by the end of December. For this year, which is expected to be as strong as the 1997-98 event, National Weather Service meteorologists are expecting much of the El Niño rain to arrive in January and February. In 1998, nearly 23 inches of rain fell in those two months.

The icy roads began causing traffic crashes about noon Friday. Collisions were reported through the weekend, but no deaths.