unsettled weather

We're heading into an active weather pattern here in northern California. Rain begins late tonight for the Sacramento Valley, with snow beginning in the Sierra Nevada early tomorrow morning. Chico could see up to an inch of rain between late tonight and Wednesday evening. There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the Sierras above 5000 feet beginning at 4am tomorrow and ending at 4pm tomorrow afternoon. Four to eight inches of snow are possible at that elevation. Winds will pick up tomorrow in both the valley and the mountains, with gusts to 30 mph in the valley and 40-50 mph in the mountains. Once again, if traveling to the mountains tomorrow through the weekend, be prepared for hazardous driving conditions. A colder storm should arrive by Wednesday, lowering the snow level down to 2500 feet. That's upper Paradise and Magalia! Expect 3-5 inches of snow by late Wednesday above 2500 feet. A third storm may impact the area by Saturday, but it's not expected to be as cold as the one on Wednesday. I said it was going to be active! Here's the specific forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South southeast wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: Rain. High near 56. Southeast wind between 11 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night: Rain. Low around 46. Breezy, with a south southeast wind between 18 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 51. Breezy, with a southeast wind between 15 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

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

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

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

Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

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

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

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

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.