more big storms coming?

There's no confirmation yet (as if these storms were invited to a party, or something), but the forecast right now states that rain is likely for most of next weekend. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds. I expect the National Weather Service to issue a Special Weather Statement (capitalized because it's important) over the next couple of days. For now, enjoy today's sunshine while it lasts, because it's not coming back for awhile. Gray, cloudy, showery weather will begin tomorrow and persist throughout the work week as weak storms move through the Northstate. Temperatures will be mild, as fairly warm Pacific air is brought in with each storm. The end of the week and next weekend may get interesting. Stay tuned. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the NWS:

Today: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Northwest wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. North northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Thursday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Friday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Friday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53.

blah weather

We're in a weather pattern currently where there are no big storms, but not much sunny, clear weather, either. The weather the past couple of days has been mostly dry (with the exception of last night) and mild; temps have hovered in the mid to upper 50s for highs. Expect a blah (very scientific term, I know) weather pattern to set up over the next several days, with a series of weak systems giving us a chance of light showers and cloudy skies. In other words, gray and dismal. One thing to brighten the moods of Chicoans from this weather is that some of the fruit trees are already beginning to bloom in downtown Chico and on the Chico State campus. I don't know if the trees are crabapple or a type of non- fruit bearing pear, but their blossoms are a beautiful shade of white. They normally begin to bud and bloom at the end of January (gotta love the mild Mediterranean climate) and hold their leaves all the way up until December. Their limbs are rather knarly, and their bark is rough, so I don't think they're pear trees. Whatever they are, they're blooming, signalling that spring is right around the corner (well, in this part of the world, anyway). The other blossoming trees, such as plum and almond, won't be too far behind with their pink and white blossoms. Here is the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Light north northeast wind.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Light and variable wind.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Light east northeast wind.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 42.

Friday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 54.

glorious sun!

Yesterday was absolutely stellar in Chico, with mostly sunny skies and visibilities up to 100 miles. I could swear I saw Mount Shasta, about 100 miles away, on my way home from my internship yesterday afternoon. The Coast Ranges to the west of Chico are blanketed with snow, and they looked spectacular in the sunshine yesterday. The grass in the valley and foothills is a brilliant emerald green, as well. Temperatures also pushed towards 60 degrees in parts of the valley. Today should be similar to yesterday, once we shake off this fog. A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for the Sacramento Valley from Chico southward until 10am this morning. After that, the sun should return, with highs again reaching towards 60 degrees. A fairly weak storm will move through tomorrow and tomorrow night, but bring your umbrella to work or school, just in case. The weekend, especially Sunday, looks great, if a little on the cool side. There will be just a slight chance of a shower or two early next week. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming southeast between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. South southeast wind around 7 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Monday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

drying out

The sun actually appeared late this afternoon over Butte County as the clouds moved eastward out of the area. It was a glorious sight! I love stormy weather, but the sight of the sun after nearly ten straight days of gloominess sure looked and felt good. It will reamin dry and mostly sunny the next 48 hours before a weak weather system moves through on Friday. After a slight chance of early showers on Saturday, the rest of the weekend looks nice and dry. Another very weak storm will arrive early next work week. Temperatures will stay at or slightly below average. Here are the details from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North northwest wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North northeast wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Thursday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Monday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Tuesday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

wet, wet, wet

Chico has received nearly an inch of rain over the past 24 hours, and that, along with heavy rain in the foothills, has prompted an Urban Flood Advisory until 1am tomorrow (Tuesday). Many of the creeks and streams that drain into the valley, two of which run through Chico, originate in the mountains and foothills. A lot of the heavy rain that occurred today in the foothills drained into those streams, causing them to swell with too much water. Thus, the reason the Flood Advisory was posted. Rain has already tapered to showers, and those showers should end by mid-morning tomorrow. A return to sunny weather (finally) should happen by Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Then another, albeit weaker, storm will invade by Friday. That storm should be quick to exit, as dry weather returns for Saturday and lasts through early next week. I'm beginning to crave the sun again! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Showers. Low around 43. Southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. South southeast wind at 8 mph becoming north northeast. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North northwest wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 51. North northwest wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North northeast wind around 6 mph.

Thursday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Friday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

more rain

There is more rain coming to an already drenched Chico. Today Chico picked up about a quarter of an inch of rain, with more on the way overnight tonight and tomorrow. Rain turns into showers tomorrow night, tapering off Tuesday morning. The next chance for rain comes late in the week, but right now that storm looks rather weak. No major storms are on the horizon at this time. It looks like there will finally be some sunny days this upcoming week, something Chico hasn't seen in over a week. Over the next few weeks, spring will start to make an appearance here in the Sacramento Valley, with the plum trees, almond trees, and cherry trees all beginning to bloom around mid-February (right around Valentine's Day- how romantic). This cold, gray weather we've been experiencing will soon be a memory. I can't wait until May, when I finally graduate from college! Here's the NWS seven day forecast for Chico:

Tonight: Rain. Steady temperature around 43. Southeast wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday: Rain. High near 49. East southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday Night: Periods of showers. Steady temperature around 42. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North northeast wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Friday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Saturday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

still wet and dreary

It seems like we're stuck in a pattern of cloudy, chilly, damp weather. It's been over a week now since we last saw a full day of sun. That's rather unusual for Chico, even in winter. We do need the rain, though, and more is coming. The snowpack is really building in the mountains, as well. Up to a foot of snow is possible Sunday into Monday as another Pacific storm moves in. We may see some sunny, dry weather midweek before another storm moves in towards the end of next week. Some big events happening this weekend in Chico: of course, I have to mention the musical I'm in- Paint Your Wagon- is at Chico Theater Company, playing two shows- tonight at 7:30, and tomorrow at 2pm. Snoop Dogg is performing at the Senator Theater tonight at 8:30. The magician Justin Kredible (clever, huh?) has a show at the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium on the Chico State campus tomorrow (Sunday) at 8pm. There are other events happening, as well; for more info, click on the News and Review link to the right. Also, the Chico State University students return this weekend to prepare for the spring 2010 semester (I'm one of them; except I live here), so the streets are about to get a little busier and more crowded. Oh, well. The students add a vitality and energy to Chico that's otherwise lacking. If not for the students and the university, we'd be Oroville! Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the NWS:

Today: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Southeast wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Tonight: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. East northeast wind around 6 mph.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Southeast wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 39. East southeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Southeast wind between 5 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

mixed bag of weather

No, I'm not talking about a sleet/ice/rain mix. I'm talking about a mix of clouds, sun, and rain for the valley, while the mountains see clouds and snow showers over the next several days. Currently in Chico it's spitting rain, with some breezy winds at times. Otherwise, it's overcast and chilly, with temps stuck in the 40s. Expect off-and-on showers throughout the day in Chico, while the Sierra Nevada mountains to our east will see scattered snow showers. Another fairly potent storm will begin to affect the area Sunday night and linger into Monday. The chance of rain tapers off by Tuesday, and by midweek we should see a return to sunny, dry conditions. Again, this forecast could change, so check back for updates. In the meantime, this is what the National Weather Service is stating regarding Chico's seven day forecast:

Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a chance of showers between 10pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 10am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 52. East southeast wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 4am. Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 6 mph.

Sunday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 41.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

the calm after the storm

We finally got a break from the past four days of non-stop stormy weather. Today has been overcast and chilly, but the rain and wind have almost completely disappeared. More showery weather is expected later today and tomorrow, but the first half of the weekend (Saturday) should be dry. The rain returns Sunday into Monday, with chances of rain through midweek. Temperatures in Chico should be in the low to mid 50s, while lows will stay in the upper 30s/ low 40s. Enjoy the break in the weather while it lasts!

storm damage

There is a lot of storm damage throughout Butte County currently because of this latest storm; check the Chico Enterprise Record link in my links section for specific information. Right now there are a lot of people without power throughout Butte County. In Chico, over 13,000 people are currently without power because of power poles being blown over by the strong winds. Wal-mart on Forest Avenue is also affected- the store is currently closed. In Paradise, the high school there and surrounding neighborhoods are without power due to trees falling on power lines. Winds have gusted to nearly 50 mph in Chico today, and we're still under a High Wind Warning until 6pm this evening. Heavy rain has also affected the area, and we're under a Flood Advisory until later this evening. If you come across a flooded roadway or intersection, do NOT drive through it. Don't assume the water isn't that deep. As the National Weather Service says, Turn around, don't drown. More rain and wind are possible through the end of the week as another storm comes through tomorrow. We may see a break for the weekend before more stormy weather impacts the Northstate early next week. Stay safe out there!

update on storm effects

I was incorrect in my previous post regarding power outages. There have been numerous outages the past two days as these storms continue to batter the area. Paradise has been hardest hit, but Chico has not been spared. Most of the outages have now been restored, but more high winds are expected tomorrow. Along with that will come likely power outages, so be ready. More updates can be found at the Chico Enterprise Record website on the links listed to the right.

Chico's getting pummeled

Since my last post, Chico and Butte County (Chico's official metropolitan area) have been getting pummeled with heavy rain, strong winds, and,in the higher elevations (generally above 4000'), snow. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada Mountains for elevations above 3000' until 6pm tomorrow. The Sacramento Valley is under a Flood Advisory for another 20 minutes, and a Wind Advisory until 6pm this evening. The valley and foothills of the Sierra Nevada are also under a High Wind Watch until 6pm tomorrow. The difference between a Wind Advisory and a High Wind Watch is merely the speed of the wind. The potential wind speeds are much stronger under a High Wind Watch- generally gusts above 60 mph. Those speeds can definitely take down some trees and power lines. The highest wind gust so far in Chico the past 24 hours has been 40 mph- the maximum threshold for a Wind Advisory. Chico has also received over 3 inches of rain the past 2 and a half days. The latest storm affecting us currently (the third in a series of about 5 or 6)is beginning to exit the region right now. The strongest storm of the batch will invade tomorrow morning, with more heavy rain, snow, and very strong winds. I haven't heard of any reports of power outages yet, but there may well be tomorrow, especially now that the ground is super saturated. It's easier for trees to become uprooted and knock down power lines. Stock up on candles, flashlights, and non-perishable foods now, especially if you live in outlying, rural areas. I remember the last really big storm we had two years ago. It took power crews five to seven days to get some of the rural residents' power back on. This weather is rather unusual in these parts. We see some big storms this time of year, but rarely so many in such a short time span. I have to admit, I do love this stormy weather! Stay tuned for more updates.

nasty weather

It has been wet and breezy in Chico the past 36 hours. Since about 10 pm Saturday it has been almost continuously raining. Chico has picked up almost 2 inches of rain since Saturday night, while winds have gusted to over 30 mph at times. Chico and the entire Sacramento Valley are under a Wind Advisory until 6 pm this evening. Winds are expected to gust to over 40 mph early this afternoon as a cold front moves through. More storms are lined up out in the Pacific, and the strong jet stream winds will steer them right into Northern California through Wednesday. Flooding may be an issue by the end of the week as some parts of the Northstate will see anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of rain. The Sierra Nevada mountains will get pasted with 5 to 10 feet of snow by the end of this week. This is good news as we have been in a nearly four year drought. Be careful out and about in this weather!

still on track for stormy weather

The forecast hasn't changed very much over the past few days. The weather forecasters at the NWS are still expecting the first of about three or four big storms to roll in tomorrow and last through late Monday. The second should arrive sometime Tuesday, and the third (and strongest) will arrive Wednesday. Up to six inches of rain (more in the foothills) will fall, and up to 10 feet of snow will accumulate above 7000'. Temperatures in Chico will start out mild initially, but cool down with each passing storm. Highs will be in the low to mid 50s tomorrow (Sunday) through Tuesday, then dip into the 40s the rest of the week. Lows will mostly be in the lower to mid 40s. Again, if traveling to the mountains, be prepared for treacherous weather by bringing along a winter survival kit. A Winter Storm Warning is already in effect for the Sierra Nevada from tomorrow through Tuesday. That will probably be extended through at least Thursday. Things should get interesting this next week!

storms lined up in the Pacific

Unfortunately I can't actually post the weather story found on the National Weather Service's Sacramento home page. But, you can check it out through the NWS Chico temperature link. Once you click on that link on my blog page, click "Home" towards the upper left corner of the screen. That will take you to the NWS Sacramento main page, where you will see a satellite image of the Pacific with all of the storms that will likely impact Northern California. Just click on the image to enlarge. I think it's a cool image because it gives you a visual perspective on the storms' positions and timing. Get ready for a wet and wild week next week!

stormy weather moving in

The weather today was very nice in Chico, with dry, non-foggy conditions and highs near 60 degrees. We'll have two more decent, calm days before the floodgates open (almost literally). From Sunday all the way through next weekend, Chico and the Northstate will see a storm every 24 to 36 hours. Each will bring heavy rain, lots of snow in the mountains, and very strong winds to both the mountains and the valley. Chico could see three to six inches of rain between Sunday and next Friday, while the mountains will get up to 10 FEET of snow! Right now it looks like the strongest storm of the series will invade around Wednesday into Thursday. That, of course, could change, so please keep checking back for updates. Temperatures over the next seven days will be fairly mild, with highs in Chico mainly in the 50s (although perhaps dipping into the upper 40 towards the end of next week). Lows will be mainly in the 40s. If traveling to the mountains next week, be prepared for some nasty weather, and carry a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Let's all stay safe during this stormy time!

nasty weather ahead

This is from the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

A VERY STRONG JET STREAM IS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE PACIFIC AND
WILL TRANSITION INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INTO A WETTER WEATHER
PATTERN NEXT WEEK. AS A RESULT...AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF MUCH NEEDED
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED. A RELATIVELY WEAK STORM MOVES
THROUGH SATURDAY...THEN MUCH STRONGER AND WETTER SYSTEMS WILL BEGIN
SUNDAY AND CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK. ALTHOUGH TIMING OF INDIVIDUAL
STORMS IS DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT...IT LOOKS LIKE EVERY 24 TO 36
HOURS A SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH. RAINFALL TOTALS BY THE END OF NEXT
WEEK COULD EXCEED 5 TO 10 INCHES IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS WITH SNOW
AMOUNTS OF 10 FEET OR MORE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER SIERRA
NEVADA. SNOW LEVELS WILL GENERALLY BE AROUND 4000 TO 5500 FEET
BUT AT TIMES COULD DROP INTO THE FOOTHILLS. THERE IS ALSO LIKELY
TO BE PERIODS OF BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL INTO THE
MOUNTAINS IS LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED.

Wow! Five to ten inches of rain! And up to 10 FEET of snow in the mountains! This is what I've been waiting for all season! Heck, for the past two years! Tomorrow and Friday look dry, with partly to mostly cloudy afternoons after some morning fog. A weak system moves through Friday night and Saturday, bringing a 40% chance of precipitation to the valley and mountains. However, by Sunday, the first in a succession of major storms will impact Northern California. Heavy rains, piles of snow, and strong, gusty winds are possible from Sunday all the way through next week. Forecast temperatures for Chico will mainly be in the 50s for highs and 40s for lows. Get ready for some wild and wicked weather!

very wet

The rain started in Chico during the early morning hours this morning, and picked up in intensity before sunrise. Thus far, Chico has picked up well over an inch of rain, and more is on the way. There is a 100% chance of showers and a chance of a thunderstorm tonight, then lingering showers tomorrow. We get a break from tomorrow afternoon through Friday, then another series of storms moves through Friday night, and will last through at least next Tuesday. The National Weather Service is stating that rain is likely Sunday through next Tuesday. If they are saying that rain is likely this far in advance, you know these storms are pretty big. High temperatures through the next seven days in Chico will be in the low to mid 50s, while lows will be in the 40s. There is also a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra Nevada mountains east of Chico until 4 pm tomorrow. Several feet of snow are likely above 6500 feet, while 3-6" of snow will accumulate at around 5500'. Could El Nino finally be affecting us here in California? Perhaps. Oh, by the way, check out the new links I've added to my blog- the Weather Channel Chico radar (where you can see where the precipitation is falling in the Chico area) and the City of Chico website (where you can learn all about my fair city). Stay dry!

finally some exciting weather!

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for the entire Sacramento Valley (including Chico) until 10 am this morning. Visibilities in some parts of the valley will be below an eighth of a mile. Be extremely careful! I was driving back home last night after a very successful opening night of Paint Your Wagon at the Chico Theater Company, and the fog was so thick in areas I had to reduce my speed on the highway to 40 mph in a 65 mph zone. The weather forecasters at the National Weather Service are saying the fog should burn off by this afternoon. I'm not so sure, but we'll see. Starting tomorrow night, major weather changes are in store as a major storm comes ashore from the Pacific. Heavy rains, heavy snow (in the mountains east of Chico) and strong winds will dominate the weather from late Monday through Wednesday of this upcoming week. There will be a lull from Thursday through Friday, but another storm should roll in sometime next weekend. With this first storm, expect 1 to 2 inches of rain for the valley, and 3 to 6 inches for the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Snow levels will generally be 3500 to 4500 feet, with over a foot of snow expected in the higher elevations. Winds will be sustained in the valley (that includes Chico) between 15 to 25 mph, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. Batten down the hatches! Here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy early, then becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 47. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tonight: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 52. South southeast wind between 3 and 11 mph.

Monday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 48. South southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday: Rain. High near 52. Breezy, with a southeast wind between 20 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: Rain. Low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Thursday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Thursday Night: Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Friday: A slight chance of rain. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Friday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Saturday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

the rain returns

The past few days in Chico have been overcast and, at times, foggy. I swear the visibility last night was only a few hundred feet! Because of all the murkiness, the temperatures have been stuck in the 40s. It's just been gray and chilly. Some changes are on the way, and we'll see a storm system move through early next week that will hopefully give us some good rains. Once the storm moves through, we should see some sunny weather (along with morning fog). Temps will warm into the 50s by next week, which is where Chico should be for this time of year. Also, on a more personal note, the musical I'm in, Paint Your Wagon, opens tonight. I'm so nervous! I have the very first line in the show! I hope I don't forget it. It's been a lot of hard work among all involved in this musical, but the end is almost near. It's been challenging for me to learn all of the choreography, but I feel I've grown in my talents. Hopefully we'll have some good audiences. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 10am. Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tonight: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Light north northeast wind.

Sunday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Light and variable wind.

Monday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. East northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south southeast.

Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48.

Tuesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 46.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Thursday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Thursday Night: Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Friday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 55.

stuck in a rut

The weather seems to be stuck in the same pattern right now- foggy in the valley and foothills, with cloudy but dry skies in the mountains. There will be a slight chance of rain showers in the valley and snow showers in the mountains (mainly above 6000') over the next several days. Not much change to the weather, I'm afraid. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said as recently as a few weeks ago that a moderate El Nino will begin affecting the west coast of the U.S. from late January, through February, and into March of 2010. I sure hope so. That would mean an increase in precipitation for much of California. We are in the grips of a nearly four year old drought that shows no signs of abating. Right now, El Nino is the only thing that can save us. Again, for now, just look for slight chances of showers over the next week. Otherwise, enjoy the clouds and fog. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the NWS:

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southeast wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Calm wind.

Saturday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Light northwest wind.

Sunday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 54.

Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 40.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

pea soup

It has been pretty foggy in the Sacramento River Valley the past few days, but today has been the worst. Even some of the foothills communities have been seeing the fog today. Visibilities have been a quarter of a mile or less in most spots, and who knows when the fog will lift. I hate the fog, especially when I have to drive in it (like tonight to go to rehearsal). Other than the fog, the weather has been very quiet the past few days. There has been a light wind, and temps have held steady in the 40s to around 50 degrees. There is a slight chance of showers on Friday, as well as on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Otherwise, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies. Here is the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the NWS:

Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 47. Light and variable wind.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Calm wind.

Thursday Night: A 10 percent chance of rain after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Monday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Be careful when driving out in the fog!

a chance of rain returns

I figured Chico would not go two weeks without seeing some rain. There is a small chance of rain or showers over the next seven days, but it IS a chance. No big storms on the horizon (much to my disappointment), and there will be some dry days as well. The complete seven day forecast for Chico is below. Speaking of storms, today is the two year anniversary of the last really big storm to hit Chico and Northern California. I remember it well. The winds began to pick up late in the evening on January 4th, 2008, and by sunrise on the 5th, winds were gusting to over 60 mph. There wasn't a tremendous amount of rain with that storm, but a lot of strong winds. The power was out in many areas of Butte County for five days! It was exciting! I'm still eagerly anticipating the next storm that will rival that one. It may be twenty years before it arrives. Here is the aforementioned NWS forecast:

Tonight: A chance of sprinkles after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday: A chance for sprinkles, then a chance of rain after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 49. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind around 5 mph becoming north northeast.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Monday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

the drought continues

First of all, I'd like to say that living in a city that does not have its own climatological records or reporting station is extremely frustrating. I could say Chico is below average for rainfall for December 2009, but I can't look up the numbers to back up that claim. How can anyone who reads this blog know that what I'm talking about is correct? True, I don't have a degree in meteorology, and this blog is mainly for my enjoyment. Still, I would like to keep as accurate and concise a blog as I can. Sigh. For now, just take my word for it that Chico finished the month of December 2009 below normal for precipitation. In fact, we are below normal for the entire rainy season so far. The rainy season officially began on July 1st, and since then Chico has received a little over 7.7 inches. We should be at around 12" up to today. Looking at the 14 day Accuweather forecast, as well as the seven day National Weather Service forecast, it looks like no rain is going to come our way. The forecast can always change, but right now it's discouraging to see a forecast like this during what is normally our wettest month of the year. So, the two week forecast in one sentence: Dry, with highs around 60 degrees and lows around 40 degrees. That's it for the first half of this month. Oh well, I should look on the bright side- at least I won't be suffering from S.A.D.(Seasonal Affective Disorder). It'll be too sunny and mild for that!

quiet, ho-hum weather

The weather over the next several days will be quiet, with no big storms moving through and temperatures right around or slightly above average. I call this kind of weather "Ho-hum Weather." There won't be any exciting things to discuss on my blog the next several days as far as the weather is concerned. That's good, because I am going to be quite busy the next seven days. Currently I'm in the Master's of Social Work program at Chico State University, and while school may be on winter break, I have to go to my internship three days a week beginning this next week. In addition to that, I am in a musical at the Chico Theater Company called "Paint Your Wagon" that opens a week from today. That means every night starting tomorrow night through next Saturday night I have to be at the theater for dress rehearsal and the actual opening. Also, I have a comprehensive exam to begin in order to satisfy graduation requirements, so I will start that this week, as well. Busy, busy, busy! So, if you don't hear much from me on this blog, those are the reasons why. I can basically sum up the forecast thusly: Partly to mostly sunny skies tomorrow through Thursday with morning fog possible tomorrow morning through Tuesday morning. There is a slight chance of rain on Friday. High temperatures will be in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees; morning lows will be in the upper 30s to around 40 degrees. Ho-hum weather!

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and fun time last night. I'm sure a lot of people are recovering right now. I had a quiet evening with my hubby and two pugs. We went to bed shortly after the new year began. As I get older I find that I don't want to go out and party as much to ring in the new year. I still want to stay up and see it in, however. It's getting more difficult to do; I struggled around 11:00 last night to stay awake! My hubby sprawled out on the couch and said, "Wake me when it's midnight." Ah, the excitement of getting older! Anyway, as far as the weather goes, the NWS forecasters got it wrong yet again! They were saying that this storm was going to be wetter than the previous one. Yet, at my house, only about a tenth of an inch fell. During the last storm, over two-thirds of an inch fell at my house. Oh, well. Obviously this storm weakened as it made its way through our area before sunrise this morning. There was one last line of showers that moved through between 10am and 11am. The rest of the afternoon today should remain cloudy, with temperatures hovering in the low to mid 50s. This looks like our last chance for rain for awhile as high pressure builds in, deflecting all the Pacific storms to our north. So much for El Nino. Here's the seven day Chico forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Saturday: Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North northwest wind around 6 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Light north wind.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.