heat wave coming

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. My internet service has been down. Ah, the joys of living in the country. Anyway, Chico received nearly a half inch of rain over the past two days, mainly late Monday into early Tuesday. It was cloudy and gloomy both Monday and Tuesday. Many people I spoke with loved this recent weather. I, personally, missed the sunshine. Well, I'm going to get what I have missed, along with a copious amount of heat. Starting Friday and lasting through at least next Wednesday, high temperatures will top out over 100 degrees each day. The National Weather Service is predicting highs on Tuesday of next week could reach 110-112! Overnight lows in Chico will only bottom out in the low to mid 70s. To add insult to injury, the humidity levels will increase, making it feel even more uncomfortable. Afternoon thunderstorms may develop over the mountains with the increased humidity, possibly sparking fires caused by lightning. In other words, get ready for some miserable weather conditions over the next several days. Remember hot weather tips, including: drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks in the shade, wear light-weight, light-colored clothing, and check frequently on pets and the elderly. Here is the hot and steamy forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 67. Light and variable wind. Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Clear, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 70. Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 104. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 107. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Tuesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 108. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Wednesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 105.

mild and wet, then sunny and hot

The weaker storm I had mentioned in yesterday's blog post has primarily moved east of us. It dropped only a few sprinkles across the area this morning. The sun has returned at present, and the temperatures have risen from the mid 60s a few hours ago into the mid 70s currently. Winds have also picked up, blowing out of the southeast around 15 mph and gusting to nearly 25 mph. Clouds should increase after sunset this evening as the next, more powerful storm advances towards us. Rain should begin during the overnight hours, especially towards sunrise tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service is still holding to their forecast of up to an inch of rain in the valley (including Chico) and perhaps an inch and a half to two inches of rain in the foothills (such as Paradise and Magalia). Breezy southerly winds will accompany this storm, gusting up to 30 mph. By Tuesday, look for more showery-type weather and highs in the mid 70s with a few more sun breaks than Monday. Wednesday through next weekend look sunny, and high temps will increase from the upper 80s Wednesday to near 100 degrees for next weekend. Talk about whiplash weather- we go from April to July in the space of three days! Here is the latest seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday Rain. High near 68. South southeast wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Rain. Low around 60. Southeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tuesday Showers, mainly before 11am. High near 76. Southeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Tuesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 94. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

winter-like storm for the first week of summer

A significant weather pattern shift is on its way beginning tomorrow for Northern California. An "atmospheric river" of moisture is aiming at us and will direct a potent (for this time of year) storm our way. A fairly weak storm will swing through tomorrow, giving Chico a slight chance of a rain shower and increasingly breezy conditions. The bigger, more powerful storm will come in early Monday and linger into Tuesday. Up to an inch of rain could fall in Chico between late Sunday and late Tuesday. Winds will be gusty from the southeast, with speeds up to 30 mph. Hold on, I have to go and check the calendar; is it June or February? Snow may even fall in the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada, but generally above pass level. Is this what climate change looks like? Normally Chico averages about six-tenths of an inch of rain for the whole month of June- we may see almost double that amount in just two days! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 93. West northwest wind around 9 mph. Tonight Increasing clouds, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north northeast in the evening. Sunday A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South southeast wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Sunday Night Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Rain. High near 66. South southeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Monday Night Rain. Low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Tuesday Showers, mainly before 11am. High near 75. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Tuesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Wednesday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 93. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Friday Sunny, with a high near 94.

an extended period of rain in the forecast?

That's almost unheard of! First, the temperatures. The past two days have been beautiful, almost fall-like, in Chico, with highs in the upper 70s both Tuesday and yesterday. Expect a warming trend beginning today, with highs in the mid 80s (still not bad for this time of year), and upper 80s for tomorrow, the first full day of summer. It will be fairly warm this weekend, with lower 90s on Saturday. However, a change in the weather pattern will begin Sunday, when a chance of rain (what?) will enter the picture, with highs only topping out in the mid 80s. That chance of rain will continue through Tuesday, as a plume of deep moisture from the Pacific moves east over Northern California. The National Weather Service is stating some rainfall records could be broken. But, one must put this statement in perspective: rainfall rates this time of year are very low; it wouldn't take much for those rainfall records to be broken. That said, you may need to retrieve that umbrella from storage when going to work on Monday and Tuesday. More details to follow as this forecast gets fine-tuned. For now, here's what the NWS is saying for Chico: Today Sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 58. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the evening. Friday Sunny, with a high near 88. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Friday Night Clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 92. North wind around 7 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Sunday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Monday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Monday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Tuesday A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Tuesday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 90.

Delta Breeze influence

Yesterday was nice in Chico as far as the weather is concerned, with breezy southerly winds and highs in the upper 80s. That's right where we should be for mid-June. It is expected to be even cooler today, with increasing southerly (Delta) breezes, which will allow temps to only reach around 80 degrees. Those breezes could be locally gusty, perhaps up to 20 mph. That will be the same forecast for tomorrow before temps warm back up Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Saturday will be the peak temperature day, with highs in the mid 90s. Again, nothing we Chicoans can't handle. As per usual this time of year, no rain is in the forecast, just bright sunshine and clear, blue skies. Here's Chico's detailed seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west in the morning. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55. North wind around 7 mph. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Friday Sunny, with a high near 90. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 94. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Father's Day looking nice and dry; temps cool this week

Sorry I haven't been posting very much lately; I had a root canal last week that took longer for me to recover from than initially thought. Plus, the weather is so boring this time of year that it doesn't change much from day-to-day. How many times can I write "Sunny, with warm temperatures" over and over? Anyway, today, Father's Day, should be really nice, with sunny skies and near seasonable temperatures around 90 degrees. The weather should be great for taking dad out to an outdoor brunch or a hike in Upper Bidwell Park (or a fishing trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains!). Looking ahead towards the next few days, a trough of low pressure will invade the Pacific Northwest, allowing our high temperatures to cool down into the lower 80s (we should see highs in mid-June in the upper 80s). Don't worry, we won't see showers here, unlike in Portland and Seattle. This trough will allow the Delta Breeze to increase, pumping up some cooler marine air from the south right into the central Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills. By mid-week, the Delta Breeze will shut off, causing temps to rise. However, we're not looking at tremendous heat, with highs in the lower 90s. Nothing we Chicoans can't handle this time of year. Here's the seven day outlook for Chico from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight. Monday Sunny, with a high near 86. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South southeast wind around 11 mph. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 80. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 85. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Friday Sunny, with a high near 90. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 92.

temperatures more at average

Yesterday's high temperature in Chico was 84 degrees, three degrees below the average of 87 for June 11th. We should see highs right around the average for the next several days, which will be nice after experiencing the roller coaster temps of the past several days. Another dip in the temps is expected by early next week; we may see temps in the upper 70s by next Tuesday! Nice! Here are the details from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 85. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind 8 to 10 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 88. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 85. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Monday Sunny, with a high near 81. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 79.

rain and thunderstorms followed by warm (but not hot) and dry weather

I admit, I was nervous when I awoke to lightning and thunder this morning just after 5 am. I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills to the east of Chico, and any lightning strike could ignite a fire. There were reports of eight small fires in the Chico area ignited by lightning this morning, but all are currently either out or contained. Chico Airport received .06" of rain from these storms, and the high temperature was 73 degrees. That is a 38 degree temperature difference compared with the high temperature 48 hours ago! The low pressure area responsible for this morning's thunderstorms has been slow to move out, and it was unusual to see several clusters of thunderstorms re-form over the same general area this morning. Presently, most of the storms have dissipated, and we should see a return to sunny and dry conditions for the next seven days. Highs will creep from the upper 70s tomorrow into the upper 80s by Friday. Another cool down will occur over the coming weekend, dropping temperatures back into the lower to mid 80s. There are no rain or thunderstorms expected with this next cool down, however. I'm just glad there are no raging fires or oppressive heat for the near future! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South southeast wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast in the evening. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 86. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Friday Sunny, with a high near 89. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 87. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 84. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

another record broken

Chico officially hit 111 degrees at the airport yesterday, crushing the old record high of 106 degrees set in 1955. That was also the hottest temperature we've seen since 2006, during the record-breaking heat wave of July of that year. We will finally see some relief from the heat beginning today, as highs are only going to be in the lower 90s. It will be even cooler tomorrow, as highs barely get above 80 degrees. However, there is a chance of thunderstorms today and tomorrow. That will increase the fire danger, as dry lightning strikes are possible. Temperatures will warm back up into the upper 80s and lower 90s for mid and late week this week, but no more triple digit heat for awhile. Now that's how I spell relief! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South southeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 88. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 58. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 88. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 59. Friday Sunny, with a high near 92. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 91.

record breaking heat

We blew the old record high temperature away yesterday. The high temperature in Chico yesterday afternoon was 108 degrees, shattering the old record for the date of 104 degrees set back in 1973. Wow! We will probably break today's record high of 106 degrees, as we are looking at highs topping out around 110 in Chico. Some areas of the valley north and west of town could see readings between 110-115! Do not fear, for cooler weather is coming. A trough of low pressure will infiltrate our area tomorrow and Monday, bringing cooler weather (as much as 25 degrees cooler than today) and a chance of thunderstorms to both the valley and mountains. Oh, speaking of the mountains, you can't even escape the heat there, either. Highs in some mountain locations today could flirt with low to mid 90s! Again, cooler weather is coming, with mid 90s tomorrow and mid 80s for Monday. Expect temps to remain at or slightly below 90 degrees for the majority of the next work week. Stay cool today, and remember these hot weather tips: drink plenty of water; avoid the outdoors, especially in the afternoon between 1 and 6 pm; check on the elderly and pets; and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Have a great weekend!

relief from the heat coming

We just have to get through the next few days. High temperatures between Saturday and Monday are expected to drop by 23 degrees! Thank goodness for the Delta Breeze. Winds will be out of the northwest today and tomorrow, aiding in the hot, dry conditions. However, winds are not expected to be as strong in the valley as previously thought, so the fire risk is low. However, fire danger is high in the nearby foothills, so outdoor burning is not recommended there. In the meantime, stay safe from the heat: stay indoors as much as possible; check on the elderly and pets; drink plenty of water; and wear light-weight, loose-fitting clothing. Oh, and look forward to Monday! Here's Chico's latest forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 105. Light north northwest wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with a low around 72. North wind 7 to 9 mph. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 109. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming east northeast in the evening. Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 88. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 89.

update on the impending heat wave

Yesterday was a brief respite from the heat, as the Delta Breeze cooled temperatures to the mid and upper 80s. This is only temporary, however, so look for more intense heat by the end of this week. High temps by Saturday could top 110 in Chico and 112 in Redding. Definitely the hottest day of the year so far. There is also a Fire Weather Watch in effect beginning Friday and lasting through Saturday for gusty north winds and very low humidity levels. The good news is this won't be a long-lasting heat wave. Highs by next week should cool down (relatively speaking) into the upper 80s. Be safe this weekend- drink plenty of water, limit outdoor activities, and check on your pets and the elderly often. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 93. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East wind 3 to 8 mph. Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 107. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 110. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

stifling and dangerous heat

From the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: VERY HOT WEATHER FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LATER THIS WEEK... * SYNOPSIS...STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING ACROSS THE REGION WILL RESULT IN VERY HOT TEMPERATURES LATER THIS WEEK WITH RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES LIKELY AT MANY LOCATIONS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. * DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE AROUND 15 TO 25 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AND WILL RANGE FROM AROUND 100 TO 113 IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND MAINLY IN THE 80S AND 90S IN THE MOUNTAINS. FORECAST HIGHS MAY BE THE HIGHEST SEEN SINCE 2006. * OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE WARM RANGING FROM THE MID 60S TO UPPER 70S IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WITH 50S AND 60S IN THE MOUNTAINS. * COMPLETE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN THE MORNING IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT SENSITIVE GROUPS INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND SMALL CHILDREN LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT. Please heed this advice. Today's high temperature in Chico was 101 degrees. This heat is no joke; please take it seriously. Forecast highs in Chico on Saturday are expected to reach 109 degrees. Even with the lack of humidity, the heat index will still be around 104-105 degrees. Interestingly, today's high in Sacramento, a mere 90 miles south of Chico, was 89 degrees. That's because the Delta Breeze cooled down Sacramento's temperatures. Unfortunately, the Delta Breeze did not go far enough north to affect our temperatures. Hopefully this heat will abate by sometime next week. Stay cool!

the heat takes up residence

Chico hit the century mark for the first time this calendar year yesterday. The official high temperature at the airport was 100 degrees yesterday afternoon. Guess what- the heat isn't going anywhere anytime soon. We may not see temps as high as yesterday's, but still expect mid to upper 90s for at least the next seven days. Interesting that just a week ago highs were in the 70s, and now we're talking about upper 90s. Blech! I hate the heat. Thankfully, I have an indoor job. Unfortunately for those who have to work outside- such as landscapers and construction workers, it's not going to be pleasant this upcoming work week. If you must be outdoors, drink plenty of water and try to take frequent breaks in the shade. Fortunately this time of year, it cools off nicely in the evening once the sun sets. Overnight lows will drop into the 60s. Here is Chico's hot forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Monday Sunny, with a high near 95. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Monday Night Clear, with a low around 62. West wind around 5 mph becoming south southeast in the evening. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 95. 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 66. Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.