Snowfall on Figueroa Mountain creates winter playground for visitors

FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN, Calif. -- This week's storm system has brought not only rain to the Central Coast, but also snow to some of the higher elevations.

On Wednesday, the top of Figueroa Mountain was blanketed with snowfall.

"We thought there was going to be some snow," said Randy Oberg, who made the drive from Orcutt with his family to play in the snow. "We've always kind of come to this spot. It's closer than going to some of the other (places)."

For about an hour, the Obergs stopped alongside the road about three miles down Figueroa Mountain Road from Figueroa Campground to enjoy the natural playground.

"I like playing with my brother and sister and having snowball fights and sledding downhill and all that fun stuff," said Walter Oberg. "It doesn't snow much where we live, so we usually come up to the mountains and just play every winter."

According to the National Weather Service, between two-to-four inches of snow fell in the mountains overnight, with some reaching as low as 3,000 feet.

The wintery conditions are sure to stick around for a while.

Temperatures are expected to remain low, with more snow in the forecast for Thanksgiving.

"It's always something that we look forward to doing," said Randy Oberg. "We're really lucky to have this little piece of heaven up here, Figueroa Mountain."

It's a remarkable turnaround from just this past weekend.

Temperatures in many parts of the Central Coast reached into the upper 70's. Nearby Santa Ynez experienced a high of 77 degrees on Sunday.

"Last week you wouldn't have imagined that it would be snowing today, but that's the way it goes," said Randy Oberg.

The National Weather Service has placed a winter storm warning in effect for mountains in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties through Friday at 4 a.m.

By Saturday, little to no snow accumulation is expected.