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.