not a bad weekend

Yes, it will be warm, but temps will be around average for late July/ early August. Besides, it could be hotter. Highs this weekend and into next week will hover between 92-95 degrees (normal temps for this time of year are 93-94 degrees). Mornings will be chilly- in the upper 50s to low 60s. This morning's low was 57 degrees- definitely sweater weather! The normal low this time of year is around 61 degrees. No major events will be happening in Chico this weekend. It's sort of the quiet time before college students once again flood this little college town in three weeks. Chico's resting up in preparation for the deluge. For now, enjoy the quiet, take a hike in Upper Bidwell Park, and enjoy the not-too-hot weather. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 8 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 7 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

near seasonable temperatures

The Thursday Night Market in downtown Chico runs through 9pm tonight, so if you have the time, go and check out the many activities and farm-fresh produce. It's a great community event that runs every Thursday through the end of September. Weather-wise, we should see seasonable temps for the next several days, along with plenty of sunshine. Chico is one of the sunniest cities in the nation (according to a source I cannot remember right now), and we will live up to that reputation big-time over the next week. In fact, it's pretty safe to say we will see sunny days every day through the end of September. The rainy season normally begins around late October, but Chico has seen the rain begin to fall as early as early October. For now, enjoy the sunshine. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 60. South wind between 6 and 9 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 4 and 7 mph.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 62. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east northeast.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

milder temperatures

It has been much cooler the past couple of days in Chico. The high temperature yesterday was 88 degrees; the high so far today has been 85. That's about 13 degrees below where we were over the weekend. Milder air will continue to remain in the forecast for the next few days as a southerly flow increases both the marine air and the humidity. Thunderstorms are still affecting the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains today, just as they have for the better half of a week. Monsoonal flow has travelled northward from the desert southwest all the way into the Washington Cascades today. So, if you're heading into the mountains, especially the far northern Sierra Nevada and the Cascades, expect some isolated but slow moving storms. Hopefully these storms won't produce much lightning and spark some serious wildfires! Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 60. South southeast wind between 3 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. South wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. South southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

hot summer rolls on

It's been awhile since I last updated this blog, so let me catch up. The high temperatures for the last three days in Chico: Thursday's high was 93; Friday's high was 96; and today's high was 98. Expect tomorrow to be the hottest day of the next seven, as temperatures flirt with the triple digit mark. As hot as it's been here in the Sacramento Valley, it has been just as hot across the eastern U.S. In fact, it has felt hotter than here in places such as Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Those cities have recorded heat indexes of around 110 degrees today. Can you say oppressive? This heat is no laughing matter, and it looks like it will continue, albeit just a touch cooler than the past few days. Back here at home, temps will also moderate. We'll see highs next week into the middle 90s. Still hot, but not too much above normal (average high for Chico in late July is 94 degrees). Just keep thinking: Fall will be here before I know it...

Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South southeast wind around 7 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South southeast wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South southeast wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

not so hot today

Chico saw its first below 90 degree day in quite a while today- 89 was the high. The Delta breeze kicked in this morning, transporting the cooler marine air from the Pacific Ocean right on up the Sacramento Valley. It's Mother Nature's air conditioning, as I like to call the Delta breeze. Unfortunately, it won't last. Tomorrow through the weekend we're right back to the heat, with highs in the mid to upper 90s. At least the nights will be pleasant- mainly in the mid 60s. You can crank up the air conditioning during the afternoon (say around 2pm), then turn it off and open the windows before retiring to bed. That's the nice thing about summer in Northern California- lack of oppressive humidity. One can sleep quite comfortably at night with temps in the 60s and low humidity levels. Here's the hot forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind between 11 and 14 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. South southeast wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Northwest wind at 7 mph becoming southwest.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 7 mph becoming east.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

the heat rolls on

The heat continues in Chico. Yesterday's high temperature was a scorching 99 degrees (normal is 93 degrees), while the current temperature is 94 degrees. There is no end in sight for this above average temperature pattern, so just find some shade or air conditioning and endure it. Of course, it could always be hotter this time of year, and has been. This time four years ago it was 100 degrees or above for 11 days in a row! The hottest temperature in Chico during that period was 113 degrees. The all-time record high for Chico is 117 degrees, which occurred during July 1972. So, yeah, it does get hot here in the northern Sacramento Valley. Fortunately, you don't have to go too far to escape the heat. Most Chicoans head north up Highway 32 to the cooler forested mountains. We also have Lake Oroville, an artificially created lake a few miles away. The Sacramento River is a mere 5 miles to the west. Or, do as I do and stay indoors in the air conditioning. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south between 4 and 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light south southwest wind.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

what cool down?

Yesterday broke Chico's streak of triple digit high temperatures (which stood at 2 days), as the high yesterday was only 99 degrees. Get used to it, because that's pretty much the pattern for this upcoming week. Weather forecasters had thought that a trough in the Pacific Northwest would affect us here in Northern California by lowering our temperatures a good 10-15 degrees from late last week's highs, but alas, no. It will cool down from last week, but only by a few degrees. Expect temps to remain in the mid to upper 90s through at least Friday. It may cool down (cool being a relative term) to the lower 90s by this next weekend. Oh, well. It is July, after all. And, Chico isn't alone in suffering from this heat. I heard yesterday that at least one city in 48 states recorded a high temperature of 90 degrees or hotter. Forty- eight states! That is unprecedented. Climatologists blame a lingering El Nino and global warming for this trend of hotter weather covering more territory. This is our future, folks. This won't be our grandchildren's future, but ours. A lot of people dismissed global warming this past winter with all of the cold air and snow. I believe that global warming enhances snowfall and colder temperatures in the winter, as well as giving us hotter, longer summers. It's all about extremes. Plus, if one looks at climate data over the past forty years, many cities have recorded twice as many record high temperatures as record low temperatures. That particular debate rages on, however, with some arguing that's merely because of the urban heat island effect, rather than global warming. I would refute that argument by looking at the worldwide trend of warming temperatures. Several of the past 15 years have been some of the warmest on record globally. That is what we should be paying attention to. It's concerning, and I fear this trend is irreversible at this point. Now we just sit back and see how much destruction global warming will bring. And on that happy note, here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 67. South southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. South southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

it's hot!

That's about all I can say about the weather the past few days here in Chico. Yesterday's high temperature was 101 degrees; today's high was 103. As I type this, it is still 102 degrees in Chico. We should see triple digit heat for a couple of more days, but a trough digging into the Pacific Northwest will drop temperatures by up to ten degrees early next week. No rain is in the forecast (rain is rare this time of year), but the heat will be reduced. A Slice of Chico is tomorrow. It's an annual celebration of local commerce where downtown merchants (many of them locally owned) have a sidewalk sale and put some of their merchandise out onto the sidewalks at a reduced price. The "Slice" is a free slice of watermelon handed out to eat while perusing the merchandise. It's part of what makes Chico special. Support downtown businesses and cool off with a cold slice of juicy watermelon. If you get too hot, you can always dash inside the stores! Here's the Chico seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 70. South southeast wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. East southeast wind at 6 mph becoming southwest.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 6 mph.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind at 8 mph becoming east northeast.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93.

Have fun this weekend, and stay cool!

special weather statement regarding heat

From the National Weather Service office in Sacramento:

TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES CONTINUE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND
SOME FOOTHILL LOCATIONS...

TEMPERATURES SOARED TO 100 TO 110 DEGREES TODAY IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY. THERE WILL BE CONTINUED WARMING ON FRIDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE OVER THE REGION STRENGTHENS AND COOLING FROM THE BAY AREA
REMAINS VERY WEAK AT NIGHT. THE WARMEST DAYS THROUGH THIS HEAT
WAVE WILL BE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN
100 AND 110 DEGREES.

NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM AND GENERALLY IN THE MID
60S TO MID 70S FOR MOST LOCATIONS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND
FOOTHILLS...WITH SOME OF THE WARMER FOOTHILL LOCATIONS ONLY
COOLING OFF AT NIGHT INTO THE UPPER 70S.

ON SUNDAY A LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL HELP
TO DROP TEMPERATURES A LITTLE...HOWEVER MOST LOCATIONS ARE STILL
EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE 100 DEGREES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THE
FOUR DAYS OF HEAT WILL BE BROKEN BY MONDAY AS THE LOW DEEPENS
ENOUGH OVER THE WEST COAST TO BRING COOLER AIR TO THE REGION.

TO HELP AVOID ANY HEAT DISORDERS...PERSONS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...WEAR LIGHT COLORED
CLOTHING...USE SUNBLOCK AND DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS.
ALSO REMEMBER TO NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN AND PETS IN AN
AUTOMOBILE...EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME AND CHECK ON THE
ELDERLY.

where's the heat?

Okay, for days it seems the National Weather Service has been forecasting blazing heat. So far, though, temps have been at or below average. The normal high for this time of year is around 92 degrees; yesterday's high was 93, and today so far the high has been 85. Southerly winds have been transporting cooler marine air from the Delta into our region. So, when is it going to get hot? Well, according to the NWS, as soon as tomorrow. Highs are expected to still be near 105 in some areas this weekend. If you have any outdoor plans for that time, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and don't overdo any physical activities. Also, keep checking back in to see if the forecast has changed. It probably won't, but with the NWS's track record of late, it wouldn't hurt. Here is the latest Chico forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 62. South southeast wind between 7 and 10 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. South southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. South southeast wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 67.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

unrelenting heat

You know it's going to be a hot day when the temperature reads 80 degrees BEFORE 8AM! Of course, Chico has nothing on New York City, when that city reported a low temperature of 84 degrees earlier this past week. Still, my point is, it's gonna be hot! Chico is entering its usual hottest time of the year (just like much of the Northern Hemisphere, duh), and this week's highs will reflect that. It will get increasingly hotter pretty much every day this week, with highs nearing 105 degrees by next weekend. Merciless sunshine, light winds, and no clouds will help fuel the heat. Does it sound like I hate the heat? Good, because I do! I look at Seattle's forecast for this upcoming week, and I nearly cry with envy. Sigh. I guess thoughts of November will help, when the temps cool into the 60s, there's a light mist falling, and the autumn leaves are gently falling to the ground. Until that time, we'll have to endure. Here's the seven day Chico forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming south southeast between 6 and 9 mph.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. South southeast wind between 6 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. South southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 67.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 67.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103.

typical summer weather for Chico

Earlier this morning the National Weather Service updated Chico's forecast for today, lowering the expected afternoon high temperature down to around 90 degrees. They even threw a 20% chance of a shower in, just for some excitement. The shower never happened, but the high today was 92 degrees, so the NWS wasn't too far off the mark. Their forecast for the next seven days has stayed consistent, and it is still predicted to get hot for this weekend and early next week. Sunny skies will dominate the next seven days, which is typical this time of year. In the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Mountains, expect some afternoon thunderstorms the next few days, as monsoonal moisture flows up from the south. It's pretty cool to see the towering thunderheads build up over the mountains from Chico. It's rather pretty, I think. Anyway, the big event happening in Chico this weekend is the Chico Brewfest at Manzanita Place tomorrow (Saturday). There will be lots of beer to taste, along with food and music from the one and only Little Feat. The event will be both indoors in the Elks Lodge and outdoors at the adjacent Manzanita Place. Just be aware that it will be hot tomorrow, so watch your alcohol consumption. As always, have fun this weekend, but be safe. Here's the forecast from the NWS for Chico:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

really hot weather?

I ask because the National Weather service has been predicting for the past few days that temps were going to hover around the 100 degree mark. However, reality puts that forecast to the test: Yesterday's high was only 90 degrees, while today's high was only 93. What has increased is the humidity. I walked outside earlier today and thought I was back in Florida! (That's where I used to live before moving to California.) I wonder if the monsoonal moisture from the south is being transported up into Northern California. Not only is there an increase in humidity, but also an increase in thunderstorm activity over the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. That usually occurs when the monsoon winds begin to blow. However, it normally occurs around late July/ early August. Anyway, the NWS is still promising that it will definitely get hotter as the days progress, so get ready! Don't take my word for it; here's the Chico seven day forecast from the NWS directly:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Light east wind.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind at 5 mph becoming north northeast.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

brief respite from the heat

Emphasis on the word "brief." After a scorching high temperature in Chico of 96 degrees yesterday, today's high so far has been 91 degrees. This time of year, the wind direction makes all the difference. Winds are currently from the south at 10 mph (transporting the cooler marine air northward into the central Sacramento Valley). This relative cool down won't last long, however. The forecast calls for upper 90s and 100s for the next seven days after today. Also, thunderstorms are forming currently over the crest of the northern Sierra Nevada, and you can see the clouds towering into the sky over the mountains east and southeast of Chico. The storms are expected to stay over the crest, producing lightning and small hail. Some of that lightning may spark some forest fires, so if you are travelling to the mountains over the next several hours, keep these storms (and the danger they may create) in mind. As far as Chico goes, just hot, dry weather for the forseeable future. Here's the seven day forecast for the home of Chico State University (I had to mention my Alma Mater!) from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 61. South southeast wind between 6 and 9 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south southeast between 4 and 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 63. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind around 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

new link added

For those of you not familiar with Butte County (or for those who are), and you are curious as to what this area of the country looks like, there is a new link I have added to my blog called Butte County Photos. Just click on the link and it will take you to the Flickr Butte County group page. There you can peruse photos of the diverse, interesting, and beautiful landscapes that make up Butte County (of which Chico is the largest and primary city). Enjoy!

continued hot this week

Yesterday's high in Chico was 99 degrees with breezy northwest winds and blazing sunshine. You can pretty much take yesterday's weather (minus the breeze) and multiply it by seven to get the rest of the week's forecast. High temperatures are expected to stay above 95 degrees through this upcoming weekend, with today being the hottest day. I hope everyone had a good Independence Day yesterday. Chico had two fireworks displays, both of which I watched through binoculars from my back porch in the foothills east of Chico. Both shows (at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds and Nettleton Stadium) were pretty good, as far as small town foreworks displays go. Both lasted around 15 minutes, with the speedway fireworks beginning around 9:25 pm and the Nettleton Stadium fireworks starting around 9:45 pm. They both were early this year; usually they both begin between 9:30 and 10 pm. The visibility was so clear that I also viewed a fireworks show across the valley, about 40 miles from my house. I love living here in Northern California! Anyway, it was a good Fourth, and I hope everyone had a good time. Here is the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. Light and variable wind.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 6 mph.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Happy Independence Day weekend!

Have fun and be safe this weekend, as this great nation celebrates its 234th birthday. Funny, it doesn't look a day over 200! Okay, bad humor aside, it will be hot in Chico this weekend and all of next week, as a strong ridge of high pressure camps out indefinitely over the western U.S. Expect sunny skies, breezy north winds (at least for this weekend), and hot temps that will range between 95 and 100 degrees through next Friday. One other Fourth of July event I didn't mention in yesterday's post is the free Independence Day celebration at One Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park tomorrow. Expect games, food, and even a pancake breakfast among the tall oak and sycamore trees. Once that's over, head up into the foothills and find a good spot to watch two fireworks displays over Chico- Silver Dollar Speedway (after the races have concluded, around 10pm), and Nettleton Stadium on the Chico State University campus (after the Outlaws game). Or, watch the fireworks over the water at Lake Oroville's fireworks spectacular. For more events this weekend, check out the News and Review's website at the link provided on the right hand side of this web page. Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. North northwest wind between 9 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 63. North northwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Independence Day: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. North northwest wind between 7 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind between 7 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. North wind at 5 mph becoming west.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95.

extended heat spell

Starting this weekend, Chico will see an extended period of forecast high temperatures in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees. This heat spell will last at least through next Thursday. Enjoy today's high of 89 degrees, because that'll be the coolest we'll be for awhile. Of course, as is usual this time of year in this part of the country, it will remain dry and sunny for the next seven days. We most likely won't see rain again until October, at the earliest. Oh, well. At least we don't experience weeks of gloomy weather like in the Pacific Northwest. All the same, it's difficult to enjoy the outdoors when the sun is baking you to a crisp. In happier news, the fireworks display over Lake Oroville is back on after a one year hiatus. Add that to the list of fireworks shows in Butte County, in addition to the fireworks displays at the Silver Dollar Speedway and Nettleton Stadium (which will occur after the Chico Outlaws baseball game). Have fun this weekend celebrating our nation's 234th birthday, but be safe, as well. Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind between 7 and 9 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 60. North northwest wind between 6 and 11 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 93. North northwest wind between 9 and 14 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 63. West wind around 8 mph becoming north.

Independence Day: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. North northwest wind around 9 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

it's already July

Time does fly when you're busy. The weather in Chico yesterday was seasonable, with sunny skies and a high temperature of 91 degrees. It should remain that way for the rest of the work week before temps heat up into the triple digits again for the holiday weekend, especially Sunday and Monday. Heading into next week, it doesn't look like we'll see any relief from the hot temperatures. It could be worse- four years ago Chico saw one of its longest stretches of 100+ degree weather, when it was 100 or above for the high eleven days in a row! That was brutal. Nothing like that anytime soon this year, but still expect temps around 100 from Sunday well into next week. Here are the details from the National Weather Service:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 59. South southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 62. West southwest wind around 6 mph becoming north.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94. North northwest wind around 11 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Independence Day: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 66.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.