Snowy new year

Snow fell in Glenn and Colusa counties over the holiday weekend, the first reported case of snowfall in the mid-valley since the mid-1990s.

Meteorologist Robert Baruffaldi said about one to two inches of snow fell, but said exact numbers were not available.

Some residents living near the foothills in Elk Creek and Stonyford reported at least several inches.

"It definitely is not common to have snow fall in the valley," Baruffaldi said. "It was certainly the largest amount of snow I've ever seen in the area."

Most had melted away or turned to slush by the mid-afternoon, but not before some locals had a chance to play around in the mid-valley version of a snow day.

"I saved a snowball for myself," said Willows' Stesha Butler. "I gathered some off my mother's car, packed a snowball out of it and put it in her freezer. It's there if I ever need it."

Baruffaldi said it could be a long time before snow is seen in the valley again.