could one ask for better weather?

I think not! Other than being a bit chilly yesterday morning and this morning (36 and 38 degrees, respectively), it will be sunny, warm, and beautiful over the next seven days. This weekend is a busy one for Chico- there's the Pioneer Days Parade downtown, the Artisans Fair at the City Plaza, and the Endangered Species Fair at the Chico Creek Nature Center. Those are just a few of the happenings going on this weekend; for more events and times, check the Chico News and Review link to the right. This weekend will also be perfect for soaking up some sun, hiking in Upper Bidwell Park, playing an outdoor game of tennis, golfing in Bidwell Park, or whatever else you want to do outdoors. Enjoy this weather now, because the stifling heat of summer is just around the corner! Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 74. North northwest wind between 8 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North northwest wind between 7 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North northwest wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 48. North northwest wind between 14 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North northwest wind around 11 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

This is a picture of my front yard yesterday evening after another thunderstorm hit Chico and the foothills east of town. More pea- size hail fell (as you can see in the photo), and Chico recorded a wind gust of 35 mph. There wasn't as much thunder or lightning with this second storm, but it was still pretty amazing to watch the hail fall. Nicer weather is on tap for the next several days, with high temperatures slowly warming from the mid 60s today, to the low 70s tomorrow, and upper 70 to lower 80 for both Saturday and Sunday. Get out and enjoy!

chilly and unsettled

A decent- sized thunderstorm moved over Chico this afternoon, bringing strong winds (gusts to 32 mph), heavy rain, enough pea- size hail to cover the ground (it looked like snow), and lots of thunder and lightning. The high temperature today in Chico was only 56 degrees, 29 degrees below average. And that was before the storm rolled through! The temperature dropped to 44 degrees after the storm, which is colder than the average low temp for this time of year (which is 48 degrees). There is still a chance for more showers and thunderstorms this evening before this weather system is finally done with us. Then get ready to enjoy an abundance of sunny, warm weather, particularly at the end of this week. A very weak system will move through tomorrow, keeping skies mostly cloudy and temps below normal. On Friday the warm, dry conditions will really begin, and will last through the middle of next week. Get out and enjoy! Here's the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. North northwest wind between 5 and 13 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North northwest wind between 10 and 13 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North northwest wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northwest wind between 11 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

breezy but not too wet

It has been partly to mostly cloudy since right after sunrise this morning. The bulk of the rain that fell in Chico occurred during the overnight hours. Chico officially picked up three tenths of an inch, but more showers are in the forecast over the next 24 hours. Right now in Chico it's partly sunny and cool, with winds gusting to 30 mph. Temperatures have hovered in the upper 50s to lower 60s all day. The weather should slowly improve as the week progresses, and this weekend still looks wonderful, so don't change any outdoor plans for the weekend. Here's the updated Chico forecast from the National Weather Service:

Late Afternoon: Showers. High near 59. South wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tonight: Showers. Low around 44. South southwest wind between 8 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 61. South southeast wind between 13 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. North northwest wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

update on the latest storm

Disregard my post from earlier today. Things have changed. From the National Weather Service:

WET AND WINDY WEATHER LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...

ANOTHER WINTER-LIKE PACIFIC STORM IS MOVING INTO THE NORTHWEST
COAST OF CALIFORNIA THIS AFTERNOON...AND WILL SPREAD
PRECIPITATION SOUTH AND EAST INTO THE NORTHERN INTERIOR LATE
TONIGHT AND ON TUESDAY. THIS SYSTEM MAY ALSO BRING STRONG AND
GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AT TIMES.

SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE FROM NEAR HAWAII IS FEEDING INTO THIS
SYSTEM...WITH A PLUME OF VERY MOIST AIR TAKING AIM AT NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. THIS MOISTURE WILL COMBINE WITH UPPER LEVEL
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AND DYNAMICS TO ENHANCE THE OROGRAPHIC
PRECIPITATION EFFECT. MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION WILL BE
POSSIBLE AT TIMES. SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY START OUT RELATIVELY
HIGH WITH THIS SYSTEM...ABOVE 7000 FEET...THEN FALL TO BETWEEN 4500
AND 5500 FEET BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS MEANS THAT THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS WILL SEE RAIN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. THE VALLEY COULD
SEE ANOTHER QUARTER TO NEAR AN INCH OF RAINFALL...WHILE FOOTHILLS
REGIONS COULD SEE BETWEEN ONE AND TWO AND A HALF INCHES BY LATE
TUESDAY EVENING. PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES AND THE
NORTHERN SIERRA MAY SEE UP TO THREE OR FOUR INCHES OF RAIN
LOCALLY...DUE TO THESE ENHANCED OROGRAPHICS.

IN ADDITION TO THE RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS SNOW...STRONG WINDS
WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SYSTEM. PRESSURE GRADIENTS WILL INCREASE
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT LATE TONIGHT AND ON TUESDAY. IN THE VALLEY
AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS...SUSTAINED SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS
MAY INCREASE TO THE 15 TO 30 MPH RANGE...WITH LOCAL GUSTS UP TO 40
MPH POSSIBLE. IN THE MOUNTAINS...WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH MAY BE
POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY. THE COMBINATION OF WIND AND SNOW COULD BRING
WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN PASSES OF
THE SIERRA NEVADA ON TUESDAY.

THOSE WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FROM LATE TONIGHT TO TUESDAY
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER. IF PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN
THE MOUNTAINS...BE SURE TO CARRY TIRE CHAINS AND CHECK THE LATEST
ROAD AND WEATHER REPORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

This storm looks like a soaker. With such heavy rain falling in a relatively short amount of time, localized flooding may result. I'm not saying flooding is imminent, but just be prepared. By Wednesday, just a few showers linger, but the high temperature will be chilly- upper 50s to lower 60s. Thursday will be mainly dry and slightly warmer, but temps will still remain in the 60s. There will be a slight chance of a shower on Friday, while Saturday and Sunday look dry and warm. Temps will range from the lower 70s Friday to the upper 70s/ lower 80s Saturday and Sunday. At least we can look forward to nice weather this weekend!

storm? what storm?

The National Weather Service has completely removed their Special Weather Statement from its website for the northern Sacramento valley. The statement read for the last several days that a major spring/ winter storm was going to affect Chico and the surrounding area. Well, not so much now. There will be showers and some breezy conditions, but not as much precipitation as earlier expected. Maybe the weather in this part of the world really IS difficult to forecast. It's still predicted to be chilly (well, chilly for us, anyway- Minneapolis would LOVE this forecast)for the middle of the week. However, just like this past weekend (yesterday's high in Chico was a very warm 82 degrees- the warmest day this calendar year so far), high temps will be back in the 70s and maybe even the 80s. Here are the details for Chico from the NWS:

Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming south southeast between 12 and 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind between 14 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Tuesday: Showers. High near 63. South wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

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

Friday: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 67.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78.

another big storm expected

Yesterday was simply gorgeous in Chico, with light winds, sunny skies, and a high temperature of 76 degrees. Today should be even warmer, with more sunshine and highs into the lower 80s. By Tuesday, the high temperature is expected to be about 20 degrees cooler than today, as a big storm moves in. Nearly an inch of rain is expected for parts of the valley (including Chico), while the foothills east of town (including Paradise and Magalia)may see up to two inches of rain between late Monday night and late Tuesday. Snow levels in the Sierra will start out at about 7500 feet early Tuesday, but drop to around 4000 feet by early Wednesday as colder air moves in behind the cold front. Winds could also be an issue, gusting to 30 mph in the valley and up to 50 mph in the Sierra mountains. Whiteout conditions are expected in the mountains, so if that's your destination Tuesday or Wednesday, be prepared for difficult travel. Showers and below normal temps will persist through Friday before it dries out and warms to near normal by next Saturday. Perhaps this storm will be our last of the season? Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 81. North northwest wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 50. Southwest wind at 5 mph becoming east.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: Rain. High near 64. South southeast wind between 14 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 42.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Friday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

update on next week's storm

Here's the latest Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

A WINTER LIKE PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO MOVE ONTO THE NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA COAST MONDAY EVENING THEN SWEEP ACROSS THE REST OF NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO BRING SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND
ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION
WITH THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED LATE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING
AS THE MAIN FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH. SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE BEHIND THIS SYSTEM THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY.

SNOW LEVELS WILL BEGIN INITIALLY HIGH AT OVER 7000 FEET THEN DROP TO
AROUND 4000 TO 5000 FEET DURING THE DAY TUESDAY AS THE COLD FRONT
PASSES THROUGH. AS COLDER AIR FILTERS INTO THE AREA...SNOW LEVELS
WILL DROP FURTHER WITH SNOWFALL POSSIBLE DOWN TO THE 3000 FOOT
LEVEL LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION TO THE RAIN
AND SNOW...STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE
NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY COULD SEE WIND GUSTS ABOVE 30 MPH.
WINDS OVER THE MOUNTAINS COULD GUST UP TO 40 TO 50 MPH. THE
COMBINATION OF WIND AND SNOW COULD BRING WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AT
TIMES.

THOSE WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER. IF PLANNING
TO TRAVEL IN THE MOUNTAINS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BE
SURE TO CARRY TIRE CHAINS AND CHECK THE LATEST ROAD AND WEATHER
REPORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

Enjoy this weekend's sunny, warm weather while it lasts. It appears the cool, cloudy, damp weather will linger for most of next week. High temperatures in the upper 70s Saturday and Sunday will cool into the mid 70s Monday, then into the 50s and lower 60s Tuesday through next Friday. Sunny skies will dominate the weather pattern through Monday, but then a potentially wet and windy storm will arrive by Tuesday. Today was simply beautiful, with wall-to-wall sunshine, light southerly breezes, and seasonal temps in the mid 70s. Again, this nice weather will soon be a distant memory, so get outside this weekend!

interesting weather developments

We'll see if this actually happens. From the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

LATE SEASON STORM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR WET AND WINTRY
CONDITIONS LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...

A PACIFIC STORM IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO MOVE ONTO THE NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA COAST MONDAY EVENING AND SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA BY
EARLY TUESDAY. THIS WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW
IN THE MOUNTAINS AND SIGNIFICANT RAIN TO THE VALLEY. THE HEAVIEST
PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.

SNOW LEVELS WILL BEGIN INITIALLY HIGH AT OVER 7000 FEET THEN DROP TO
AROUND 4000 TO 5000 FEET DURING THE DAY TUESDAY AS A COLD FRONT
PASSES THROUGH...THEN DROP FURTHER BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THIS WILL
BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 4000 TO
5000 FEET.

IF PLANNING TRAVEL IN THE MOUNTAINS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...BE SURE TO CARRY TIRE CHAINS AND CHECK THE LATEST ROAD
AND WEATHER REPORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

I tell you, this seems like the winter that won't end. I kind of like it, though. It gives Chico some variety in weather that we normally don't see around here, especially this time of year. Normally about now, we would begin seeing dry, sunny, warm weather fairly consistently, rather than these brief warm ups followed by rainy, cool conditions. Again, only time will tell if this next storm is as big as the NWS currently thinks it will be.

nasty to nice

Yesterday was pretty nasty weatherwise in Chico and environs, as rain fell in sheets around the area. Chico picked up nearly an inch of rain, while parts of the foothills east of town accumulated nearly two and a half inches of rain. Today has been overcast most of the day, but the clouds began to part late this afternoon, and the sun popped out between the clouds. It's been blustery in Chico this afternoon, with northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Temps today have also been cool, with highs so far today in the lower 60s. It will get dramatically warmer over the next few days, with highs expected to soar into the lower 80s by this weekend. However, these warm temps will not stick around, as yet another storm may arrive by early next week. This system is expected to knock temps back down into the mid 70s by Monday and upper 60s by Tuesday of next week. Of course, this could change, so keep checking back for updates. For now, here's what the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service has to say:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. North northwest wind between 8 and 13 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North northwest wind between 9 and 14 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North northwest wind around 8 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.

Chico State student attacked

This was a despicable act that occurred over the weekend. From the Chico Enterprise Record:

Joseph Igbineweka, 23, president of the Associated Students at Chico State University, was the victim of an apparent racially motivated attack early Sunday morning as he was returning home from a party on West Sacramento Avenue.
He is in stable condition and recovering at Enloe Medical Center.

Chico police said the suspects reportedly made racial comments before the attack. Igbineweka moved to the United States from Nigeria and is attending Chico State after attending high school in Richmond.*

At approximately 2:17 a.m., Igbineweka was walking home alone when two males approached and began to threaten him and make racial slurs, according to a press release from the Chico Police Department.

"I was just minding my own business," Igbineweka said from his hospital bed Sunday afternoon. He said the two men continued to follow him, even though he continued to walk away from the situation. "One of them said, 'Dude, you don't want to get shot.'"

Igbineweka said he turned around and saw something in the man's hand, but was able to confirm it wasn't a gun and kept walking. At that point, he said, the two men jumped him and he was able to knock down one of them before the other began to stab him.

"I didn't know what the object was, but I knew he had something in his hand," he said. "He was pretty much stabbing me wherever he could."

A friend of Igbineweka's, identified as "Mike," saw the incident and
attempted to help. Igbineweka said he realized he was "gushing blood," and stopped fighting while Mike tied the wounds with his shirt and called 9-1-1.
Igbineweka suffered injuries to the left side of his neck, the left of his chest, cuts on his abdomen and a particularly deep cut on his left arm, wrist and hand. He said the cut on his left hand is so deep that it has damaged the nerve endings and he cannot feel his left ring finger or pinkie finger.

Chico police were able to apprehend Barry Sayavong, 19, at the corner of West Sacramento and Citrus avenues minutes after the attack. Sayavong was arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on charges of attempted murder and a hate crime.

Chico police confirmed that Sayavong is a Chico resident and a Butte College student. However, police said there is also no evidence that Sayavong and his unknown accomplice knew who Igbineweka was at the time of the attack.

According to county jail officials, Sayavong's court date has been set for this Thursday. He is being held on $250,000 bail.

"I'm just happy they caught one of the guys," Igbineweka said. "It'd be much more painful if they hadn't caught him. I'm praying they give this guy maximum punishment."

Joe Wills, director of public affairs for Chico State, said the attack is "very distressing."

"We're obviously happy that Joe has survived this attack and is in the hospital and doing a little better. I know that our students and our entire campus hopes the best for him and our thoughts are with him today," he said.

Wills described the attack's classification as an attempted homicide and as a potential hate crime as "very, very disturbing."

The apparent hate crime against Igbineweka comes on the heels of another crime involving a Chico State student running for AS President, whose campus election posters were defaced with racial slurs just a week ago.

David Buckley, Associated Students executive director, visited Igbineweka in the hospital Sunday afternoon.

"We were shocked and concerned about Joseph when we heard this morning," Buckley said. "I think, for all of us, we're all really concerned for him."

Igbineweka said his experience shouldn't scare students, but they should walk in groups at night and not alone, as he was doing.

"It's as safe as much as you want it to be here in Chico," he said.

I've lived here for nearly eight years now, and I know for a fact that Chico is not a racist community. We embrace our diversity, and are proud of the diverse cultures and backgrounds of all of the students at Chico State. I know the community will rally around Mr. Igbineweka and will not condone this racially motivated violence.

still wet for tonight and tomorrow

It looks like this storm is picking up strength as it moves closer to shore. It's a very slow-moving system, and the actual low pressure is still out over the Pacific Ocean. The chances for rain have increased tonight and tomorrow, to near or at 100%. Just make sure to bring the umbrella to work or school tomorrow. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the national Weather Service:

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 11pm. Low around 48. Southeast wind between 14 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 58. South southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind at 5 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Northwest wind between 5 and 13 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. North northwest wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

increasingly wet

Yesterday was a warm one, and it hit 80 degrees in Chico. That's exactly what I had been predicting on Friday for Sunday. It's the first time this year Chico has seen 80degrees. It'll be the last time for awhile as cooler temps and wet weather invade. The winds will also pick up, with speeds around 15-20 mph from the south/southeast. Sunny weather and warmer temperatures will return by the end of the week, so it shouldn't be a complete washout. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. South southeast wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight: Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South southeast wind between 14 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 62. South southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 43. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

yet ANOTHER storm on the way

I didn't post an entry on the blog yesterday because I was too busy enjoying the fabulous weather we were having. The high temperature under mostly sunny skies yesterday in Chico was 74 degrees. Everything is green right now- the trees, the grass, the air (thick with pollen), and it was quite enjoyable to be outside in Bidwell Park or hiking in the mountains nearby. It's too early to go swimming in the creeks and lakes, though. I'm sure the water temperature is right around 40 degrees! Today will be even warmer, with forecast highs around 80 degrees. However, rain enters the picture (again) by tomorrow night and will linger into Wednesday. Another Pacific storm is lurking offshore, and will begin to affect the area by late tomorrow. Expect some mid- and high- level clouds to stream across the sky later today in advance of the storm. A winter Storm Watch is already up for the Sierra Nevada above 3500 feet. Highs on Tuesday will not get out of the 50s! That will be a dramatic change from this weekend's temps. Here's the specific seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 78. North northwest wind at 5 mph becoming west southwest.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind at 5 mph becoming east northeast.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming south between 7 and 10 mph.

Monday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. South southeast wind between 13 and 16 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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 60.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

warm and sunny this weekend

That volcano in Iceland (I can't even begin to spell the name of it, let alone pronounce it) is causing travel headaches across Europe for a second day today. If you have plans to visit Europe this weekend, check with your airline. Many countries in Europe have suspended flights into their airspace because of dangerous ash which can accumulate inside jet engines and cause them to seize. Not good. Anyway, we here in Northern California don't have to worry about ash or volcanic eruptions. Fabulous weather is still on tap for this weekend, and we may see 80 degrees by Sunday. You can finally break out the shorts and tank tops! However, this wonderful weather will be short-lived as a trough of low pressure will overspread the area early next week, bringing a chance of showers and cooler weather. Temps may drop 20 degrees between Sunday's forecast highs and Tuesday's forecast highs. In the space of 48 hours, we'll go from tanks and shorts to sweatshirts and coats! Weird weather, indeed. The National Weather Service website is experiencing some technical problems, so the specific Chico forecast is currently not available. Here, instead, is the Sacramento Valley forecast, which includes Chico:

Today...Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs 68 to 73. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows 44 to 49. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday...Mostly sunny. Highs 69 to 74. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday Night...Mostly clear. Lows 43 to 49. Light winds.

Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs 73 to 79. Light winds.

Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 46 to 52.

Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs 64 to 69.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Lows around 47.

Tuesday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 57 to 63.

Tuesday Night And Wednesday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Lows 37 to 43. Highs 57 to 65.

Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers. Lows 38 to 46.

Thursday...Mostly sunny. Warmer. Highs 65 to 74.

Enjoy the gorgeous weather this weekend!

gorgeous weekend weather ahead

Today has been a weird weather day. It started off partly cloudy and fairly mild, then began to cloud over by lunchtime. The winds picked up from the south and isolated thundershowers popped up here and there over Butte County (the county in which Chico is located). Most of the shower activity has moved off to the east now, mainly over the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Other than a slight chance of lingering showers this evening, it looks dry through Sunday. Gorgeous weather is predicted this weekend, with sunny skies and high temperatures in Chico in the mid 70s. That's where we should be for mid- April. Enjoy it while it lasts as another trough of low pressure brings rain and cooler temps early next week. Winter does not want to go away! Here's the specific seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind between 7 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.

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

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

a whole lotta rain

Wow! Chico received, between Sunday morning and early this morning, over 2 inches of rain! This was a wet, slow-moving storm that is just now beginning to exit our area after an unwelcome arrival Sunday morning. Chico now has 26.75 inches for the rainy season. It looks like we'll dry out for the rest of the week, other than a slight chance of showers tomorrow (Wednesday) and Saturday. There is an increasing chance of rain by next Monday, but we won't worry about that right now. Until then, enjoy the sunshine (we deserve it after the deluge yesterday) and warmer temperatures (highs were stuck in the 40s yesterday). Highs will range from the mid 60s to lower 70s through this weekend, while lows will be mainly in the 40s. Enjoy!

wet and windy

It's been much wetter the past 24 hours than what I was expecting. Chico has picked up 1.18 inches since yesterday. More showers are falling as I type this, with winds gusting up to 30 mph. Showers will taper off this afternoon, and it should be mainly dry and sunny for the rest of the week. Temperatures will continue to be cooler than average, but should steadily warm up as the week progresses. Here's the Chico forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South southeast wind between 15 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. East southeast wind between 6 and 11 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Light east southeast wind.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. South southeast wind between 3 and 10 mph.

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

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

showery and breezy today

The Wind Advisory is still in effect beginning at 11 am this morning and ending at 8pm this evening. The strongest winds will occur between early this afternoon and this evening as a cold front moves through the area at that time. Right now the winds in Chico are fairly light, and it's dry currently. Looking at the radar, most of the shower activity is west of us, over the Coast Range mountains. This shower activity will push east towards us through the morning, but no heavy rain is expected. I predict Chico will see about a quarter of an inch of rain through this evening. Showers will linger into tomorrow, then taper off during the afternoon. In the mountains, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from this afternoon through tomorrow morning. Snow levels will start out around 4500 feet but lower down to 3000feet by tomorrow. Six to twelve inches are possible above 4000 feet by tomorrow evening, when the storm winds down. It'll be dry for Tuesday, and just slight chances of showers for the rest of the week. Don't cancel those outdoor plans for later this week. High temperatures will still be below normal through much of this upcoming week, with highs only in the 60s (it should be in the low 70s by this time of year). Still, after we're done with today's storm, things should improve for the rest of the week. Here's the latest seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Showers. High near 55. Breezy, with a south southeast wind between 20 and 29 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tonight: Showers. Low around 44. Breezy, with a south southeast wind between 14 and 24 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. East southeast wind between 5 and 11 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. East wind at 5 mph becoming south southwest.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.

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

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

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

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 72.

storm update

From the National Weather Service:

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR
THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...THE DELTA...AND THE
NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING
FOOTHILLS...INCLUDING LAKE COUNTY...THE MOTHERLODE...AND THE
NORTHEAST FOOTHILLS.

* WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
AROUND 45 MPH POSSIBLE.

* TIMING: WINDY AND GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP
LATE SUNDAY MORNING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...WITH THE STRONGEST
WINDS AND WIND GUSTS OCCURRING SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SACRAMENTO...STOCKTON...MODESTO...SUISUN...
VALLEJO...CHICO...PARADISE...GRASS VALLEY...LAKEPORT

* IMPACTS: THESE STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF CAUSING
DOWNED TREE LIMBS...BRANCHES AND OR SMALL TREES...WHICH MAY LEAD
TO LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. THESE WINDS WILL MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT.
LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS MAY ALSO BE TOSSED AROUND BY THESE WINDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 45 MPH POSSIBLE. WINDS THIS
STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

here we go again

Okay, when is spring going to stay? Just when I think the stromy weather is done, Mother Nature pulls a fast one on me and everyone else. More winter-like weather conditions are expected tomorrow through Monday as another storm invades from the Pacific. A Winter Storm Watch has been posted for the Sierra Nevada above 4500 feet, in effect from tomorrow afternoon through Monday afternoon. A foot and a half of new snow is predicted for areas above that elevation, with over two feet above 7000'. If you love to ski, this is your wet dream come true. In the valley (including Chico), expect just plain old rain, with up to a half an inch possible. In both the valley and mountains, prepare for gusty winds both today and tomorrow- up to 40 mph in the valley and 60+ mph in the mountains. If driving through the mountains tomorrow or Monday, make sure you have chains, a winter storm kit, etc. The National Weather Service is forecasting partly sunny skies for today, but, looking out my window, I see grey, overcast skies. Perhaps the sun may briefly appear later today. One thing's for sure- winter is not quite done with us yet! Here's the latest seven day forecast for Chico from the NWS:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a southeast wind 5 to 8 mph increasing to between 20 and 23 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Breezy, with a southeast wind 19 to 22 mph decreasing to between 8 and 11 mph. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Sunday: Rain. High near 55. Southeast wind between 7 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 45. South southeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. South southeast wind between 11 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

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

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.

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

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

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

Friday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.

get ready for more storminess

From the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

WET AND WINDY WEATHER MAY RETURN TO INTERIOR NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA THIS WEEKEND...

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OFF THE CALIFORNIA
COAST THIS WEEKEND...BRINGING WET AND WINDY WEATHER TO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

*TIMING: LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS
LATE SATURDAY. VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW BECOMING HEAVIER
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

*WINDS: GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH OVER THE MOUNTAINS ON
SUNDAY. VALLEY GUSTS UP TO AROUND 40 TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.

*SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: A FOOT OR MORE POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS
SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

*VALLEY RAINFALL: AREAS OF AN INCH OR MORE SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

*POSSIBLE IMPACTS: CHAIN REQUIREMENTS OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. GUSTY
WINDS AND PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN IN THE VALLEY AND
FOOTHILLS SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

nice weather coming to a halt

It looks as though the nice weather Chico's been enjoying the past few days (yesterday's high temperature under glorious sunny skies was 71 degrees) is about to come to an abrupt end by this weekend. We'll squeeze out a few more days of sunny weather, but it will be breezy and relatively cool (normal high for this time of year is right around 70- we'll be slightly below that). Rain is likely for the latter half of the weekend, and most of next week looks like a washout. It will be very chilly during that time, as well, with temps struggling to get above 60! What happened to spring? Here's the Chico seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming north northwest between 12 and 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 42. North northwest wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North northwest wind between 10 and 13 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

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

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

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

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.

calm and dry

Chico picked up .15" yesterday when some isolated showers popped up over Butte County. Today was beautiful, if a bit cool and breezy. At least the sun shone throughout the day, making it feel warmer than it actually was. High temps in Chico barely made it above 60 degrees, but tomorrow should be significantly warmer as temps are expected to climb into the low 70s. The dry weather should stick around through the first half of the weekend, but a weak trough of low pressure will keep things cool and showery from Sunday through the middle of next week. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind around 8 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east southeast.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East southeast wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. North northwest wind around 11 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

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

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

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

Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

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

Monday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

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 63.

drying out

That was quite a storm we got yesterday! In Chico, winds gusted upt to 35 mph from the south/southeast, and .59" of rain fell. Chico is now up to 24.51" for the rainy season, which began last July 1st. Normal annual rainfall in Chico is 26", so we're pretty much on the mark. There is a chance of showers today, but other than that, we should begin to wrap up this rainy season. The rainy season normally begins in mid to late October and tapers off around mid April.I remember when I first moved out here from Florida in 2002, I thought it was strange going months without seeing any rain. I'm more or less used to it now. What I can't get used to is the heat. Sure, the humidity is nothing near Florida, or Indiana (where I'm from), but when it gets above 100 degrees, it no longer matters if it's a dry heat. It's just plain hot! I wonder how hot it will be this summer. The summer of 2006 was quite hot, with 11 straight days of temperatures above 100 degrees in July of that year. The hottest temperature in Chico that year was 113 degrees, just 4 degrees shy of the all-time record. Hopefully this summer won't be like that, but we'll have to see. Anyway, here is the sunnier forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 52. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: Isolated showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. East southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind around 9 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North northwest wind around 7 mph.

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

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

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

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

cold storm

There are some really low snow levels with this incoming storm! Snow levels late this afternoon and tonight will lower down to 2100 feet. That's Upper Paradise and all of Magalia. People in those communities should get ready for anywhere from 1 to 5 inches of snow. Elevations above 4000' may see a foot of new snow with this storm. That's on top of what has already fallen since Friday. It's no surprise then that a Winter Storm Warning has been posted for both the Sierra mountains and the Sierra foothills above 2000' beginning this afternoon and continuing through tomorrow morning.There's also some wind associated with this system, and a Wind Advisory is up for the Sacramento Valley from Marysville north to Redding (including Chico). Winds could gust to 40 mph late this afternoon as the cold front moves through. I don't think there's much rainfall with this storm, however. I predict about a third of an inch may fall, mainly starting around noon. If you want to have an Easter egg hunt, I suggest you do it this morning! I have to brag a little- I predicted that on Friday Chico would see between a quarter and a half inch of rain. Well, Chico received .47"- just under half an inch. Yay me! Anyway, get ready for a stormy and chilly Easter. High temperatures today in Chico will only hit 50 degrees. Showers linger into tomorrow, then it clears out and warms up into the 60s Tuesday through Thursday. It appears a weak storm may affect us by late week, but I'll update as needed. Happy Easter!

here we go again

From the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM PDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM PDT SUNDAY.


* WINDS: SOUTHERLY WINDS IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SACRAMENTO
VALLEY ARE FORECAST TO BE SUSTAINED AROUND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH LOCAL
GUSTS UP TO AROUND 40 MPH.

* TIMING: SUSTAINED STRONG WINDS SHOULD BEGIN AROUND NOON AND
CONTINUE THROUGH 9 PM IN THE EVENING. LOCALLY STRONG GUSTS ALSO
POSSIBLE DURING THIS PERIOD.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHICO...REDDING...RED BLUFF

* IMPACTS: WINDY CONDITIONS COUPLED WITH STRONG GUSTS CAN CAUSE
TREE BRANCHES TO FALL AND/OR DOWN SMALL TREES WHICH MAY LEAD TO
LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS COULD BE PICKED UP AND
TOSSED AROUND BY WINDS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS
POSSIBLE AROUND 40 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING
DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA
CAUTION. LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS SHOULD BE SECURED.

crappy Easter weather

Hey, I call it like I see it. The storm from yesterday is now gone. It left us with winds gusting to nearly 30 mph and almost a half inch of rain (.47", to be exact). It was cold and blustery yesterday, with temps not getting above 50 degrees (we should be in the upper 60s this time of year). Today should be quieter (or is that more quiet?), with partly sunny skies and temps still on the coolish side. Another storm brings more crappy weather tomorrow, just in time for those outdoor Easter egg hunts. Most of the rain should hold off until late morning, so get those egg hunts done first thing if you don't want to get wet. There shouldn't be as much wind with this next system as with the last one, but still expect occasional breezy conditions. After some lingering showers on Monday, the rest of next week looks fine, with sunny skies and a bit of a warming trend. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. North northwest wind at 6 mph becoming south.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. South wind at 9 mph becoming northeast.

Sunday: Rain likely, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 53. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph increasing to between 17 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 35. South southeast wind between 9 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. South southeast wind between 11 and 13 mph.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

another day, another storm

I only have a little bit of time to talk about today's stormy weather before I have to get ready for a long day at school. The Wind Advisory issued yesterday for Chico has now been extended into this evening-9pm will be when it will expire. Expect southerly winds up to 35 mph. A Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra east of Chico is in effect until 1am tomorrow for elevations above 4000'. Six to twelve inches are possible above that elevation, with over a foot possible above 7000'. Expect a quarter to nearly a half inch of rain in the valley with this quick- moving storm. Another storm is expected on Easter Sunday, but it dries out and warms up by midweek next week. High temps today through Monday will only be in the low to mid 50s. Temps warm into the mid 60s to around 70 for the middle of next week. Gotta go!

Wind Advisory for strong winds tomorrow

From the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM PDT FRIDAY FOR
THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM PDT FRIDAY.

* WINDS: STRONG SUSTAINED SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH
GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH FROM MARYSVILLE UP TO REDDING. BREEZY
CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE SACRAMENTO AREA...BUT SHOULD
STAY BELOW ADVISORY LEVEL CRITERIA.

* TIMING: WINDS SHOULD INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY BY MID MORNING
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS OCCURRING FROM
LATE MORNING THROUGH MID AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS: RAIN IS LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY THESE STRONG WINDS...SO BE
PREPARED FOR ANY POWER OUTAGES AS POWER POLES MAY BLOW OVER DUE
TO WINDS ALONE AND/OR MAY SUCCUMB TO VEHICLE IMPACTS DUE TO SLICK
ROADWAYS.

It's expected to be wet and windy tomorrow and again for Easter Sunday as two strong storms will roll into Northern California. Take heart, though- beautiful, sunny weather will return by early next week, with high temps climbing into the lower 70s Tuesday through next Thursday.

no April foolin'?

This is what the National Weather Service is saying about this holiday weekend's weather:

PERIODS OF WET WINDY WEATHER OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND...

TWO PACIFIC STORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND BRINGING GUSTY WIND WITH RAIN AT THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS WITH SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THE FIRST STORM WILL SPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY
INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO
BE AROUND HALF AN INCH OR LESS WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS IN THE
NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS
POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO NIGHT. UP TO
A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH
THIS STORM. SNOW LEVELS WILL RANGE FROM 4000 TO 5500 FEET FRIDAY
AFTERNOON BUT WILL LOWER TO 2000 TO 3000 FEET BY SATURDAY MORNING
AS THE PRECIPITATION IS WINDING DOWN.

THIS STORM WILL ALSO BRING STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND
FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY EVENING. VALLEY WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. WIND ADVISORIES MAY BE ISSUED FOR
THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. IN THE FOOTHILLS AND
MOUNTAINS...LOCAL WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 60 MPH OR HIGHER WILL BE
POSSIBLE.

A BRIEF BREAK IS EXPECTED SATURDAY BEFORE A SECOND STORM ARRIVES
EASTER SUNDAY AND PERSIST INTO MONDAY. THIS STORM LOOKS TO BE
WETTER AND COLDER AND COULD BRING GREATER PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS TO
THE VALLEY AND MOUNTAINS.

PERSONS PLANNING TRAVEL OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND...ESPECIALLY
THOSE HEADING INTO THE MOUNTAINS...SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR
POSSIBLE ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS. CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER AND
ROAD INFORMATION PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

I don't know- after this past week's forecast debacle, I'm wary of whatever the NWS states. Hopefully (well, for me, anyway- I do love some stormy weather!) the forecast is no April fool's joke. However, if the forecast is accurate, that means some wet Easter bonnets and egg hunts. Sorry, kids.