Before the cold, wet weather system was expected to arrive in full force tonight, forecasters billed the approaching three-day storm pattern as a beast capable of bringing up to 10 feet of snow to the highest reaches of Calaveras and Tuolumne counties by Saturday evening.
If forecasts are correct, foothill communities could see 1 foot to 1.5 feet of snow.
“We’ve sold quite a few heaters, kerosene, propane and electric,” Kurt Bartells, a floor salesman at Ace Sonora Lumber on South Washington Street, said Wednesday.
He said the approaching storm and forecasts were bringing more shoppers to the store.
“That’s why it’s so busy today,” Hampton said Wednesday.
Flashlights too.” Hampton also emphasized Safeway staff have no fear of running out of groceries or missing deliveries if snowfall blankets Sonora, because the store’s delivery truck drivers carry chains.
“We really need the snow and the water,” Cashman said.
“Probably a foot of snow on the road behind the gate and going east,” Baker said.
Caltrans personnel at other foothill and mountain maintenance yards, including Camp Connell east of Calaveras Big Trees State Park on Highway 4 and at Coulterville on Highway 49, are planning to have extra workers out on night shifts and extra plow trucks at lower elevations, said Warren Alford with Caltrans District 10 in Stockton.
People in Tuolumne County are also urged to check on neighbors who have special needs during the storm.