cool and wet

Happy Halloween! After warm and sunny weather the past couple of days (high temp of 80 degrees Monday; 77 yesterday), there will be a drastic change to the weather starting today. A quick-moving cold front will spread valley rain and mountain snow across Northern California later today and tonight. This is a warm storm, so snow levels will be above 6500 feet and mainly above pass level. Up to six inches of snow will fall above that elevation, while a quarter to a half inch of rain will accumulate in the valley between this evening and tomorrow morning. Showers will taper off by midday tomorrow, and the sun and warmth return for the weekend. For Treat Street today in downtown Chico from 2-5pm, expect mostly cloudy skies and breezy conditions (generally 10-20 mph winds from the south). It will be mostly dry, as the rain will hold off until after dark. Treat Street is an annual Halloween event, in which you can take your little goblins to downtown merchants and receive free candy. Sounds like fun to me! Unfortunately I'll be at work during that time; plus I don't have any little goblins. Anyway, if you are going, bring an umbrella as a back up and wear a jacket. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight Rain. Low around 53. Southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Monday Sunny, with a high near 75. Monday Night Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Tuesday Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Special Weather Statement

From the National Weather Service in Sacramento: A PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE CALIFORNIA COAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND IS FORECAST TO BRING VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW TO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THE SLOW MOVING WEATHER SYSTEM SHOULD HOLD OFF BRINGING RAIN TO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY UNTIL LATER WEDNESDAY EVENING OR EVEN BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS WILL BE A WARMER STORM...AND NOT AS WET AS LAST WEEK`S STORM WITH SNOW LEVELS GENERALLY LOWERING TO 5500 TO 6500 FEET OVER THE INTERIOR MOUNTAINS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH A COUPLE OF INCHES DOWN TO AROUND 5500 FEET. LOCALLY UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER THE REMOTE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS. RAINFALL IN THE VALLEY IS FORECAST TO RANGE FROM ABOUT A QUARTER TO A HALF OF AN INCH WITH UP TO AROUND AN INCH OVER THE FAR NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

rain likely Wednesday night

This weekend was, as I stated in my last blog, warm and beautiful. Yesterday's high temperature in Chico was 83 degrees, while today's high was 79 degrees. We saw plenty of sunshine both days. More sunshine is on the way for tomorrow and Tuesday, with slightly cooler temperatures than what we saw today. The next chance of rain comes Wednesday night, as a quick-moving storm brushes the Northstate. Otherwise, expect dry and sunny conditions Friday through next Sunday. Here's Chico's detailed seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. East southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Wednesday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Thursday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

warm and beautiful weekend

Wow! Was today the perfect fall day, or what? Sunshine, excellent visibility, and high temps in the mid 70s all combined to make for a gorgeous late October day. Add in some fall color and snow-capped mountains, and it was damn near perfect! It will warm to near 80 degrees both tomorrow and Sunday as high pressure strengthens over Northern California. Monday and Tuesday look nice, as well, with slightly cooler temperatures. The weather will change beginning Wednesday as the next disturbance moves in. Rain will begin Wednesday and last through Friday, with highs dropping into the 60s for highs those days. It's too early to know how potent this storm will be, or how much rain/snow to expect, so keep checking back for updates. For now, here is what the National Weather Service is saying for Chico the next seven days: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 79. North northwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph after midnight. Monday Sunny, with a high near 77. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Tuesday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Wednesday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Wednesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Thursday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Friday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

one more day of showers

Yesterday there were widely scattered showers and thundershowers across the Chico area, but most areas saw a mix of sun and clouds. Today may be the same, except perhaps more in the way of clouds. Another disturbance is moving through, and that could spark more numerous showers. Expect only around a tenth of an inch of rain to fall in the valley today. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 5pm today. Four to seven inches of snow is possible above 3500 feet, so if traveling to the mountains, put on your tire chains and carry a winter survival kit. The sun returns tomorrow, and high temperatures will warm into the 60s and 70s between tomorrow and this weekend. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then showers likely. High near 60. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind 7 to 10 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 9 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Monday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Monday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

chilly and showery

Chico received 1.15 inches over the past 24 hours, and the high temperature yesterday did not get above 60 degrees. There was also some severe weather yesterday, as well. Tornado warnings were issued for south Butte County as a funnel cloud was sighted north of Marysville around 3 pm yesterday. There was no damage, but lightning and hail accompanied that storm cell. Expect the cool and showery trend to continue today and tomorrow as this large, sprawling area of low pressure is not finished with us yet. Look for off and on showers today and tomorrow, with chilly highs in the mid to upper 50s. Some thunderstorms are possible again today, as we may see areas of sunshine. That will allow the atmosphere to destabilize and produce more thunderstorms. By Thursday the weather will calm down and the sunshine will return. Temps by the weekend will warm to the lower 70s. The next chance of rain could come next Monday. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers after 11pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Low around 45. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wednesday Showers. High near 59. Southeast wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 9 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Monday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70

wet for first half of the week; dry and sunny thereafter

Rain begins tonight for the valley, while snow is in store for the Sierra Nevada above 5000 feet. A Winter Storm Warning begins tonight a 11 and continues until 5 am Tuesday morning. Six to twelve inches of snow are expected above 5000 feet, while up to two feet of snow may accumulate above 7500 feet. A quarter to a half an inch of rain is predicted to fall in the valley over the next 24 hours, with more accumulations possible beyond that. Showers will persist through Wednesday before drying out on Thursday. Dry weather will continue Friday through next Sunday, with moderating temperatures. High temperatures Monday through Wednesday will not get beyond the mid 50s in Chico. Brrr! We're going from fall (this weekend was gorgeous, with sunny skies and 80 degrees yesterday, and partly sunny and 67 degrees today) to winter in 24 hours! By the end of the week, highs should climb into the 60s and 70s. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Rain after 11pm. Low around 51. East wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southeast 12 to 17 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. High near 57. Southeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers after 11pm. Low around 47. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tuesday Night Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

wet next week

This weekend could be our last shot at some sunny, mild weather for awhile. A cold (relatively speaking) storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward over the next couple of days. By late Sunday, this low pressure system and accompanying cold front will begin affecting our weather here in the Northstate. Rain is likely for the valley and foothills Sunday night, while snow will fall in the Sierra Nevada above 5500 feet. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from late tomorrow (Sunday) through Tuesday for 6-12 inches above 5500 feet. I am confident the watch will change to a warning over the next 24 hours. As the front pushes through our area on Monday, expect showers and breezy conditions; winds will be out of the south around 15-20 mph, with gusts to 30 mph. There will be a chance of showers each day Tuesday through Thursday. Calmer, drier weather should return by next Friday. High temperatures today will be in the mid 70s, while tomorrow temps drop to around 70 for the high. Highs Monday through Thursday will dip into the mid 60s, but Friday's high temp should reach 70 degrees. Bring on the stormy weather! Seriously, though, be careful driving Sunday night into Monday. Oil that has built up on the roads over the past several months will cause them to become very slick when combined with the first rains of the season. Ease your speed and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Sunday Night Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Showers. High near 64. South southeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Tuesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 70.

Special Weather Statement

From the National Weather Service: THE FIRST MONTH OF AUTUMN HAS BEEN QUITE MILD THIS YEAR WITH MOST OF THE DAYS OVER THE LAST MONTH SEEING DAYTIME HIGHS ABOVE SEASON NORMALS. IF FORECAST MODELS ARE CORRECT...THIS MILD WEATHER PATTERN IS ABOUT TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THANKS TO A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM EXPECTED TO DROP OUT OF THE GULF OF ALASKA. A SLIGHT DROP IN DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MORE COOLING GOING INTO THE WEEKEND. AS THE MAIN LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BECOMES ESTABLISHED OFF THE COAST ON SUNDAY...CLOUDINESS AND COOLER AIR WILL BRING DAYTIME HIGHS DOWN TO SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. A FRONTAL BAND ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY FORECAST TO SWING THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THIS FRONTAL PASSAGE IS EXPECTED TO BRING PRECIPITATION TO MOST OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WEATHER MODEL PROJECTIONS RANGE THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL MONDAY INTO TUESDAY BETWEEN ABOUT A QUARTER AND A HALF AN INCH IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THIS RAINFALL WILL TRANSLATE INTO SNOWFALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS WITH THIS COLD SYSTEM WILL BE FAIRLY LOW FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR RANGING FROM ABOUT 5000 FEET OVER SHASTA COUNTY TO AROUND 6000 FEET OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. THIS PUTS SNOWFALL DOWN TO THE MAJOR TRANS-SIERRA PASSES WHERE A FEW TO SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW COULD EASILY PRODUCE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON WHEN DRIVERS COULD BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM BUT ALL CURRENT INDICATIONS POINT TOWARDS NEXT WEEK STARTING OUT MUCH WETTER AND COOLER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

rain looking likely

It was another warm day today, with the high temperature in Chico at 89 degrees. This follows yesterday's high of 91 degrees. The cooldown begins tomorrow, as highs will be right around average for mid-October. Then it will cool down even more by the weekend. Highs by Sunday will be in the lower 70s. By Monday, a cold front will move through, bringing us even cooler weather, and a decent chance of the wet stuff. Rain lingers into Tuesday, with a chance of showers Wednesday and next Thursday. Highs next week will remain in the 60s. Here is Chico's wet and cool forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East southeast wind around 7 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind around 6 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Monday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Monday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Tuesday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Tuesday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Wednesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

warm and dry today, but cooler this weekend

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Sacramento Valley (including Chico) until 7 pm this evening. This is due to gusty, dry winds from the northwest combined with very low humidity and warm temperatures that could contribute to dangerous fire potential. Do not do any agricultural or backyard burning today. Highs today will push 90 degrees, 11 degrees above the average of 79 degrees for October 17th. However, this heat will be short-lived as a trough begins to affect our weather by this weekend. There may even be a chance for some rain next week. This could be our first rain of the season. Let's hope it happens, as it is bone dry out there. High temperatures for this weekend will drop into the 70s, while highs next week may not get above 70 degrees! Nice! Bring on the fall weather! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 49. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. East southeast wind around 7 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 71.Sunday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.Monday A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.Monday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Red Flag Warning for high fire danger

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING BELOW 1000 FEET FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM PDT WEDNESDAY. * AFFECTED AREA...THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND DELTA REGION...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215...216...217...AND 218. * WINDS...NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH IN THE WESTERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 5 TO 10 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES COMBINED WITH FUEL CONDITIONS AT CRITICAL LEVELS WILL LEAD TO ENHANCED FIRE DANGER...ESPECIALLY FOR FINE FUELS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

heating up

This weekend beautiful weather abounded here in the Northstate. Chico's high temperature yesterday was 79 degrees, while today's high was 80 degrees. Sunshine was abundant both days, although there was some late day clouds that rolled in today. These clouds are associated with the southern end of a powerful cold front affecting the Pacific Northwest with rain and wind tonight. This cold front, ironically, will heat us up this upcoming week. That's because winds behind this cold front will shift to the north/northwest by Wednesday and Thursday. Northwest winds are downsloping winds here in the Scaramento Valley, which rush down off the Trinity Mountains and are funnelled into the valley. This allows the air to warm rapidly- hence highs by Thursday pushing 90 degrees. Once these winds abate, so will the heat. Highs by next weekend will be back in the 70s- about where we should be this time of year. Low temps through the period will be in the mid 50s. Here is Chico's detailed forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Light and variable wind. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Light and variable wind becoming north around 6 mph after midnight. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 86. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 54. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 89. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Friday Sunny, with a high near 82. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

still loving this fall weather

This weather has been lovely the past week. Yesterday afternoon was a bit breezy, with winds from the southeast between 20-25 mph. The winds were from a low pressure system to our south, which was spitting out raindrops to places such as the San Francisco Bay area. That low pressure system will not affect us here in Chico, as it continues to move to our south and east. The result is more of the same kind of weather we've been experiencing- sunny and mild. Today's high is only expected to be in the upper 60s! We usually don't see these kinds of temps until November. Be forewarned: next week the heat will return, albeit briefly. Highs by the middle of next week will approach 90 degrees! Thankfully, this time of year, the heat doesn't usually last more than a couple of days due to the lower sun angle and shorter amount of daylight hours. It's another busy weekend full of all kinds of events in Chico. Just a quick rundown of a few of them: Focus Film Festival, highlighting films and documentaries which explore the theme of diversity and inclusion, began last night at Sierra Nevada Brewery and continues tonight through tomorrow at Colusa Hall on the Chico State campus; the Harvest Sidewalk Sale, in which downtown Chico merchants take their wares outside to the sidewalks both Saturday and Sunday; the Second Saturday Artabout, in which art galleries throw open their doors in a specific area of Chico for the public to peruse for free (this weekend the neighborhood of SOPA, or South of Post Office, will be the designated hotspot); the Parade of Lights downtown, in which floats, marching bands, car clubs, and non- profit organizations parade through downtown with festive and colorful lights, is Saturday night; Autumnfest at Patrick Ranch, south of Chico on the Midway, which includes pumpkins for picking, hayrides, children's activities, and tours of the historic farmhouse, kicks off Saturday and runs through the end of October; and the North State Symphony will hold a chamber concert at Rowland- Taylor Recital Hall on the Chico State campus Sunday afternoon. Don't forget there are also various arts- related events happening under the Artoberfest umbrella. Whew! Lots going on in our small city! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 89. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 87.

lovely weather continues

I don't know what else to say, other than this has been the best stretch of weather we've seen in quite some time. The past two days have seen high temps in the mid 70s, and that trend will continue. It will start to warm up into the low 80s by early next week, but, all in all, a nice pattern of fall weather. Some of the trees in Chico are just beginning to turn into their fall color. I can't wait until the leaves begin falling! Here is Chico's detailed seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. South southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

beautiful fall weather

This weekend has been absolutely fantastic in Chico, as far as the weather is concerned. Both yesterday and today have been sunny, with highs in the mid to upper 70s (normal high for October 7th is 84 degrees). This spectacular fall weather will continue for the next seven days, with sunny skies and mild temperatures. Highs should be mainly in the 70s, with lows hovering in the mid 40s to around 50 degrees. If you (like me) have an office job, it sure is going to be tempting to shrug off work and enjoy the weather this week. Here is Chico's fine fall forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 6 mph becoming east in the evening. Columbus Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 5 mph becoming east in the evening. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Lots happening this weekend!

Wow! There is an abundance of events happening in the Chico area this weekend. Here's a quick rundown of some of the events: Oktoberfest is happening tonight and tomorrow at (the world famous) Sierra Nevada Brewery; the National Yo-Yo Competition will take place all day tomorrow (Saturday) at the Downtown Plaza in Chico; it's the first weekend of Artoberfest (see my link to the right for specific events related to this); Johnny Appleseed Days (a celebration of the apple harvest) and Blues and Brews Festival occur this weekend in Paradise; Perry Mason Days (yes, THAT Perry Mason) in Oroville all this weekend; Autumnfest at the Patrick Ranch Museum south of Chico in Durham; and the Sierra Oro Farm Trail, where you can visit various farms and get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of farm life, is happening this weekend at various locations around the Chico area. For more listings of events, check out both the Chico E-R and News and Review links on my home page. There is some fabulous fall weather to go along with all of these events, with sunny skies and highs in the 70s both Saturday and Sunday. Get out and enjoy! Have a great weekend, Chico!

Loving this weather!

After about three straight weeks with temperatures at 90 degrees or above, we finally had a below average high temperature today. The high at the Chico Airport this afternoon reached 84 degrees, one degree below the average of 85 degrees. It's expected to be even cooler the next several days as southerly flow brings up cooler marine air from the Delta. In fact, highs are going to be below average through the middle of next week. Nice! Even overnight lows the next seven days will be at or below average (52 degrees is the average low for early October). Fall is finally here! Next comes the changing of the leaves on the trees. As you can tell (and I've said this numerous times in previous posts), I love fall! It's my favorite time of the year. The stifling heat of summer in the Northern Sacramento Valley gives way to refreshingly cooler air. The days are shorter, and the leaves begin showing their true autumn colors. It's simply wonderful! Okay, I'm done. Here's Chico's fabulous fall forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 54. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light east southeast after midnight. Friday Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Columbus Day Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

nice cool down coming

After a hot start to October (97 degrees yesterday in Chico), expect a nice cool down the next several days. We'll have a couple of more hot days, but after that, temperatures will actually be below average! Low to mid 80s will rule Thursday through next Monday, while lows will will dip into the lower 50s. That will seem downright cold after highs in the upper 90s the past couple of days! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 56. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east southeast in the evening. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Columbus Day Partly sunny, with a high near 80.