Snow Surprise on Sugarloaf Ridge Trail

The first flakes of the season fell on the top 100 feet of Bald Mountain, the highest point in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, on Tuesday morning. Visitors who had set out for a typical hike were caught off guard by the light cover of snow, giving them an unexpected winter feel in early February. Bald Mountain stands a little over 2, 700 feet tall and is known to get snow only twice a year. This was the first snowfall of the season, but weather experts warn that more may arrive soon as a cold wave moves through the area.The trail to the summit traces the edge of Sonoma and Napa counties, covering nearly three miles from the parking lot. Park manager John Roney headed up early to snap photos of the new white layer, following a cold‑weather alert issued by the National Weather Service for parts of the Bay Area, including Sonoma. Roney also noted that the park had been struck by lightning overnight, though no damage has yet been reported. Other nearby spots experienced related storms: a lightning strike toppled a tree onto a Santa Rosa school, and hail fell in Sebastopol and Bodega.