wintry weather likely

This may not affect the city of Chico, but many foothills communities east of Chico will definitely be impacted by this approaching storm. The timing is such that many people who live in the foothills, such as Paradise and Magalia, and work in Chico may have their Thursday afternoon and/or Friday morning commute affected by heavy snowfall. Here's the latest bulletin from the National Weather Service in Sacramento:

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST
SATURDAY ABOVE 2000 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THURSDAY TO 4 AM
PST SATURDAY BELOW 2000 FEET...
...WINTER STORM WATCH NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING ABOVE 2000 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW...AND IS IN EFFECT
FROM 1 PM THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 2000 FEET HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED.
THIS WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 2000 FEET IS FOR SNOW...AND
POSSIBLY BRIEF PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN...AND IS IN EFFECT FROM 1
PM THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES DOWN TO 1000 FEET...AND 4 TO 8
8 INCHES AROUND 2000 FEET ELEVATION AND A FOOT OR MORE AROUND
3000 FEET.

* ELEVATION: SNOW DOWN TO AROUND 1000 FEET...HEAVY SNOW ABOVE 2000
FEET.

* TIMING: LATE THURSDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: GRASS VALLEY...NEVADA CITY...SONORA...AUBURN.

* WINDS: SOUTHERLY 10 TO 20 MPH.

* IMPACTS: SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE AT
UNUSUALLY LOW ELEVATION. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS
POSSIBLE. POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.


Be prepared for this dangerous storm now. Try to make plans in advance of what to do about work. Prepare to stock up on food supplies and plan on power outages that may last a few days. The time to plan is NOW.