Friday, February 25, 2011

lots of exciting weather

Well, exciting for these parts, anyway. Snow actually fell in Chico this morning! Nothing accumulated, but big, wet flakes of snow fell for about 20 minutes right before 8 am this morning. In nearly nine years of living here, I've never seen it snow in Chico. It's not unheard of, however. About fifteen years ago, three inches of the white stuff fell on Chico. Paradise, to the east of Chico, saw anywhere from 5-12 inches of snow with this latest storm. Meanwhile, a line of heavy showers and thunderstorms, capable of producing lightning and small hail, are moving east at 20 mph right towards Chico. The heaviest thunderstorms were about 25 miles north of Chico, so if heading north on highway 99 out of Chico, be aware you may run right into this line of heavy rain. Also, a Hard Freeze Watch is in effect for early Saturday and Sunday mornings. Low temps in the 20s both mornings will cause damage to the flowering almond, apricot, and pear trees. Wrap those exposed water pipes because they are likely to burst otherwise. Wow, heavy rain, snow, thunderstorms, and sub-freezing weather, all within 24 hours. How exciting! Here's the detailed forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

This Afternoon: Rain likely, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: A chance of rain before 10pm, then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of rain and snow before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. North northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 7 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast.

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

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

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

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.

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

Wednesday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

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

Thursday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

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