South Bay Families Enjoy Surprise Snowfall

Rare winter weather transforms Bay Area parking lot into winter wonderland.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A recent storm brought unexpected snowfall to a parking lot just off Highway 9 near Saratoga, California, delighting local families who flocked to the impromptu winter playground to play in the rare South Bay snow.

Why it matters

Snowfall is an uncommon occurrence in the typically mild South Bay region, making this a unique and exciting weather event for local residents, especially children, who don't often get to experience winter activities like sledding and snowball fights close to home.

The details

The parking lot, located about 30 minutes from downtown Saratoga, was transformed into a winter wonderland after the storm dumped several inches of snow over the past two days. Families from nearby towns like Boulder Creek took advantage of the school holiday to visit the snowy site and enjoy activities like sledding and building snowmen.

  • The recent storm brought the unexpected snowfall on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Ruby Contreras

A resident of Boulder Creek who was excited and surprised by the sudden appearance of snow in the South Bay.

Kim Contreras

Ruby's mother, who said the timing of the snowfall was perfect since her children were on ski week and didn't have school.

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What they’re saying

“I was excited and shocked.”

— Ruby Contreras

“They're on ski week so they have no school and we don't usually get snow so we definitely wanted to check it out.”

— Kim Contreras, Ruby's mother

The takeaway

This unexpected snowfall in the typically mild South Bay region provided a rare and delightful winter experience for local families, who seized the opportunity to enjoy snow-based activities close to home during a school holiday.