no rain for awhile

Chico received a paltry .03" of rain late Sunday/ early Monday of this week. That's all the rain we will see for awhile as high pressure asserts itself over our area. It has been abnormally cool the past few days, as well, with Monday's high only getting to 59 degrees and yesterday reaching 62 degrees. We should be at 72 degrees for the end of October. As high pressure builds the next few days our temperatures will begin to climb, from the upper 60s today to the mid 70s Friday. A series of storms will move through the Pacific Northwest over the next several days, not providing us with any rain but affecting our temperatures. Highs will cool down this weekend into the 60s again with the passage of a rather potent storm that will bring heavy rain and wind to parts of Washington and Oregon on Saturday. Halloween looks high and dry, and the little ones should have no weather-related concerns when trick-or-treating tomorrow. For a safe and fun Halloween, take the little monsters to downtown Chico for the annual Treat Street. Various participating businesses will be handing out treats to all the kids who are trick-or-treating. It runs from 2pm until 5pm tomorrow. Here is Chico's dry and sunny seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with a low around 42. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the evening. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 43. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the morning. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

unsettled and cooler

It was much cooler today in Chico than it was yesterday. The high yesterday was 81 degrees; the high today was 72 degrees. It has been breezy today, as well, with southerly winds gusting to 25 mph. As this low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska draws closer, it will pull down even cooler air from up north. The forecast high tomorrow is only 57 degrees! We haven't seen a high temperature that cold since last winter! There is a chance of showers for the valley late tonight and into tomorrow, along with an isolated thunderstorm. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, up to eight inches of snow are possible above 6000 feet, with around 4-6 inches above 5000 feet. If traveling to the mountains, bring tire chains and a winter survival kit, just in case. Winds in the valley will shift from the south to the northwest overnight tonight and remain gusty around 20 mph. In the mountains, winds from the southwest will gust to 40 mph and may create whiteout conditions. By Tuesday the storm will exit and the sun will return, but it will remain well below normal (average highs this time of year for Chico are around 72-73 degrees). Overnight lows will also be below the average; there might be some frost advisories put into effect late Tuesday into early Wednesday- stay tuned. Right now Halloween looks dry and mild. Here is the rest of Chico's forecast through next weekend from the National Weather Service: Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Light and variable wind. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 67. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 74. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

update on this storm

It appears the winds won't be as strong in the northern and central Sacramento Valley as previously thought. Still, expect a dramatic change in the weather over the next 24-36 hours. More from the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE WEATHER FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MONDAY AND TUESDAY... * IMPACTS: COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WET ROADS. WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER TRANS-SIERRA PASSES MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. * TEMPERATURES: DAYTIME HIGHS WILL BE MUCH COLDER MONDAY AND TUESDAY...15 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER THAN THIS WEEKEND. * PRECIPITATION: WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN/FOOTHILL SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED VALLEY SHOWERS LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...DECREASING TUESDAY. * SNOW LEVELS: LOWERING SNOW LEVELS TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET BY EARLY MONDAY. * ACCUMULATIONS: 4-8 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000...WITH A FEW INCHES POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET. * WINDS: NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS TO 20 MPH IN THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...SOUTHWESTERLY GUSTS TO 30 MPH IN THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...AND SOUTHWEST GUSTS 50 TO 65 MPH OVER HIGHER RIDGES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. * A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE EASTERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS MONDAY AFTERNOON. * SYNOPSIS: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES SOUTHWARD FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AND UNSETTLED WEATHER INTO THE REGION BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT AND LASTING INTO TUESDAY.

Special Weather Statement from the NWS

DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE WEATHER FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MONDAY AND TUESDAY... * IMPACTS: COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WET ROADS. WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER THE TRANS-SIERRA PASSES MONDAY. * TEMPERATURES: MUCH COLDER HIGH TEMPERATURES MONDAY AND TUESDAY...15 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER THAN THIS WEEKEND. * PRECIPITATION: WIDESPREAD SHOWERS LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...DECREASING TUESDAY. * SNOW LEVELS: LOWERING SNOW LEVELS TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET BY EARLY MONDAY. * ACCUMULATIONS: 4-8 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000 FEET...LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET. * WINDS: NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS 50 TO 60 MPH OVER HIGHER RIDGES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. * SYNOPSIS: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES SOUTHWARD FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AND UNSETTLED WEATHER INTO THE REGION BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT AND LASTING INTO TUESDAY.

below normal temps for next week

Happy Friday, Chicoans! Get ready for some fantastic fall weather this weekend! Highs will be in the upper 70s today through Sunday, with nothing but gorgeous sunshine and light winds. By Monday, the weather will shift to a much cooler, and potentially breezier, pattern. Highs for Monday and Tuesday of next week will not rise above 70 degrees (we should be around 75-76 degrees for late October). Highs will slowly rise to around normal by the middle of next week. What's causing this shift in the weather pattern is a storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska that doesn't have a lot of moisture to work with, but is packing cooler air. So, not much rain in the forecast (it's limited to widely scattered showers in the Sierra Nevada Monday and Monday night) but will drop the temperatures a bit. Monday may be a bit breezy, with northerly winds up to 25 mph from the north. It's another busy weekend full of fun events in Chico. Here is just a sampling: the Chico Independent Film Festival runs now through Sunday at 1078 Gallery; Pumpkinfest happens at the Chapmantown Farmers' Market today from 2-5pm; Les Miserables is being staged by the California Regional Theatre tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2pm; Young Frankenstein plays at Chico Theater Company tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2pm; Autumn Fest continues at the Patrick Ranch south of town all this weekend; Exotic Erotic Party is happening at Manzanita Place tomorrow night, featuring a sexy Halloween dance party; Fall Home and Garden Show at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds from 10am-5pm today, Saturday and Sunday; Haunted Park 5K in Bidwell Park, celebrating Halloween and raising funds for the Jesse Kohen Memorial Foundation, tomorrow at 8:30am; Open Studios Tour continues this weekend, with local artists' studios open all weekend for a chance to view the artists creating their works; and the Post-Apocalyptic Ride, in which Halloween-costumed bike riders ride around downtown, tomorrow night beginning at 7:30pm at Chico's Downtown Plaza. Whew! And that's only a sampling! For more events, check out the Chico News and Review's website link on the right hand side of my blog page (you may have to scroll down a little to locate it). Have a great weekend, Chico! Here's the detailed forecast for our beloved little city from the National Weather Service: This Afternoon Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Light west southwest wind. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 71. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 74.

perhaps a break in the streak of warm weather

Chico has now seen at least seven consecutive days of high temps at or above 80 degrees. Today's high at the airport was 82 degrees- the same as yesterday and the day before. The National Weather Service is calling for highs in the upper 70s the next four days, but I will bet we will see actual highs above 80 degrees into this weekend. By early next week, a weak storm system originating from the Gulf of Alaska will affect our area. It won't bring any rain to lower elevations, but it will significantly cool down our temperatures. The higher mountain elevations may see a slight chance of showers with this storm, but don't expect any moisture here in the valley. Highs by next week will drop into the upper 60s and lower 70s. Nice fall weather! Speaking of fall, the deciduous trees around Chico are putting on a pretty spectacular display of fall foliage (well, spectacular for our area of the country). Hopefully this upcoming cool spell will further encourage this display. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Clear, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Light and variable wind. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

warm and dry streak continues

Yesterday's high temperature in Chico, for the second day in a row, was 85 degrees. The normal high temperature for October 20th is 78 degrees. The morning lows have been chilly, with temps dipping down into the mid 40s. That's actually normal for this time of year. As the nights become longer, the temperatures are allowed more time to drop. Currently the sun rises at around 7:15 am and sets around 6:14 pm. A slight cool down is expected later this week, dropping temperatures slightly into the upper 70s by Wednesday. Again, no rain is in the forecast for the next week or so. We're going to need some big storms this winter to catch up on our precipitation deficit. Area reservoirs are way below normal for this time of year. Hopefully that will happen, but not right now. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 85. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Light and variable wind becoming northeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

a chance of rain in the forecast? maybe not

Looks like that chance for rain by the end of next week is not going to happen, as most of the weather computer models are in agreement this time. It would be nice to get some rain, but we'll get warm and dry weather the next seven days instead. It was very warm in Chico today, with an afternoon high of 85 degrees at the Chico State University Farm on the south side of town. The Chico Municipal Airport, on the north side of town, recorded a cooler high temp of 82 degrees. Temperatures will moderate into next week, as highs trend downward from the lower 80s into the mid 70s. Overnight lows will stay in the mid 40s. Chilly, but pretty average for this time of year. Here's Chico's updated seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Clear, with a low around 45. Light and variable wind. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 45. Light and variable wind becoming east around 5 mph. Monday Sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. East northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 79. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 45. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

above average temps through this weekend

It is currently 82 degrees in Chico, continuing a warm streak of weather we have experienced the past five days. We should be around 78 degrees for the high in mid-October. Dry, sunny, and warm weather will be the rule through the early part of next week. By the middle of next week, temps should start to moderate ahead of a storm system that could potentially alter our weather pattern. Fingers crossed, but Northern California may finally get some much-needed rain by next Friday. Currently not all of the computer models are in agreement over this possibility, so the National Weather Service has put in their forecast for next Friday a "slight chance of rain." Keep checking back for updates. Artoberfest continues this weekend, with a number of artist studios conducting open tours in which you can view artists do their thing. For more info and specific studios that are conducting these tours, please check the Artoberfest link to the right. Otherwise, have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the fall colors! Here's the seven day forecast for Chico from the NWS: Tonight Clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 81. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 80. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west northwest in the morning. Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 47. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Monday Sunny, with a high near 80. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 78. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Friday A slight chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

layer weather

It reached 81 degrees in Chico yesterday afternoon, after a chilly morning low of 45 degrees. I call this "layer weather," as in you have to wear layers during the day- coat or jacket in the morning as you head off to work, and ending up with short sleeves by the time you leave work to return home. This "layer weather" will continue for the next several days, with highs near 80 and lows in the 40s. High pressure is large and in charge, so don't expect any rain for awhile. But, if you're a fan of sunny and mild October weather, well, get ready to be giddy! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 77. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 45. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 47. North northeast wind around 6 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 79. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 78. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Monday Sunny, with a high near 77. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 76.

warmer this week

Ah yes, another work week staring us in the face. At least the weather will be nice so we can cope with the work stress. It's going to be warmer than previously thought, as this ridge of high pressure strengthens over us. Sinking air and light winds, along with a relatively high sun angle, will allow temps to warm into the upper 70s to lower 80s this week. We should be around 80 degrees for our average high this time of year, so this is not unusual. Overnight lows will be generally in the upper 40s. No rain is in the forecast as we head into what is typically the start of our rainy season. Have a great week! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Columbus Day Sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind around 8 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with a low around 49. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 6 to 9 mph. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 49. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the morning. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 49. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 78. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Friday Sunny, with a high near 79. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 76.

continued sunny and mild

The gorgeous fall weather keeps on rollin'. I can pretty much sum up the forecast for the next seven days in one sentence: sunny days and clear nights, with highs in the lower to middle 70s and lows in the upper 40s. There, now you're updated. It's another hopping weekend in Chico, as many events are scheduled. Here's a brief rundown of a few select happenings: Autumnfest at the Patrick Ranch, featuring artwork on display, hay rides, farm animals and a pumpkin patch; Harvest Sidewalk Sale in downtown Chico, "showcasing inventory and bargains from your favorite downtown businesses" (Chico News and Review); Parade of Lights, happening tonight in downtown Chico, which, as its name suggests, is a parade featuring cool light spectacles and this year's theme of "Dancin' Through the Decades;" the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend, in which wineries and farms all over Butte County throw open their doors to the public for tours and tastings; the 1078 Fest, occurring tomorrow, which is a fund raiser for the art gallery to purchase a new PA system, and features food and live music at the popular art gallery; and the Monster Dash, a 5k fun-run and fall festival event featuring costumes, face painting, and carnival games, taking place at One Mile in Bidwell Park tomorrow. Also, Artoberfest and Chico Experience Week happenings continue this weekend. There are other events happening all this weekend; to find a complete list, check out the 2013 Best of Chico edition of the Chico News and Review, with a link on the right side of my home page. Chico is a busy little town! Oh, and there are fall colors that are beginning to emerge in Chico right now, so get out your camera and take some gorgeous pics of the foliage! Here's the official seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north in the evening. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 7 to 9 mph. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North northeast wind around 8 mph. Columbus Day Sunny, with a high near 76. North wind around 8 mph. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 46. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 77. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 77. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Friday Sunny, with a high near 76.

breezy and cooler

The past few days in Chico have seen highs in the low to mid 80s with a mix of sun and clouds. It will be cooler and breezy today and tomorrow, as a weak cold front moves through the area. This cold front will bring a few inches of snow to the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, but no rain to our area. Expect mostly sunny skies today, along with north winds to around 20 mph and plenty of sunshine. Highs today will only be in the lower to mid 70s. Our average high this time of year is 83 degrees, but we won't be anywhere near that the next seven days. Mild autumn weather will be the rule, with sunshine and highs in the mid 70s through early next week. Overnight lows will be in the upper 40s. That will encourage the trees in Chico to advance their fall colors! I'm going to need to start taking pics of the fall foliage as peak color may happen by the end of the month- about two weeks earlier than usual. Enjoy this stretch of fall weather! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light west northwest after midnight. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 75. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 75. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Columbus Day Sunny, with a high near 76. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 76.

nice autumn weather

It was a beautiful, warm first weekend of October here in Chico, with yesterday's high temperature of 85 degrees (our average high this time of year) and 83 degrees today. This morning's low was a chilly 45 degrees (we should be around 50 for early October). Looking ahead over the next several days, it will begin cooling down, with highs dropping from the upper 70s tomorrow to the lower 70s by Wednesday and Thursday. A weak trough of low pressure will be skirting our area, bringing just a slight chance of a shower midweek, and a dusting to a few inches of snow for the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. By the end of the week, highs will warm into the mid 70s, but that is still well below normal for early October. Overnight lows the next seven days will range from the upper 40s to lower 50s. Perfect fall weather! Here is Chico's extended forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Monday Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the evening. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 7 to 10 mph becoming north northwest in the morning. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 71. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 48. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 74. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 51. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 76.

OMG! I love this time of year!

Sorry, I couldn't contain my excitement. Other than the breezy conditions, the past two days have been simply gorgeous here in Northern California, with sunshine and temperatures ranging from the mid 70s to lower 80s. Combined with the very dry air and low humidity levels, it has been pleasant. Expect more of the same kind of weather, with diminishing winds by tomorrow evening. A Wind Advisory is still in effect until 5 pm tomorrow, and a Red Flag Warning for high fire danger (due to the winds and low humidity) is in effect until Saturday morning. Other than that, look for pleasant weather- sunshine and highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Overnight lows will be in the lower to mid 50s. Some of the deciduous trees in Chico are already beginning to show off some of their fall colors, about three weeks early. This weather is encouraging that, so the fall colors will only become more numerous over time. I'm sure the fall foliage in the Sierra Nevada mountains is already nearing peak color. Normal peak color in the mountains is usually mid to late October. This weekend may be a perfect opportunity to capture that color in photographs. Another reason I love this time of year is the busy calendar- everything from art festivals to corn mazes and hayrides are in abundance right now in the Chico area. A brief listing of some events this first weekend of October: The Corn Maze in nearby Orland, Artoberfest (happening all month at various locations in Chico and surrounding locations), the Focus Film Festival (a festival celebrating diversity in film, with opening night tonight at Sierra Nevada Brewery, then moving to the Chico State campus this weekend), Sierra Nevada Brewery's Oktoberfest this Friday and Saturday, and the big event this weekend- the National Yo-Yo Contest at Downtown Plaza, in which hundreds of competitors from across the country and around the world compete for world yo-yo dominance. It is an action-packed and fun weekend, and the weather will be beautiful. Get out and enjoy what Chico has to offer! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Clear, with a low around 50. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Friday Night Clear, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 52. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming east northeast in the evening. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Monday Sunny, with a high near 79. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 73. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 75. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75.

windy weather

It must be October- a very turbulent and changeable month. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THURSDAY TO 5 PM PDT FRIDAY. * WINDS: NORTH 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * TIMING: WINDS INCREASING BY DAWN THURSDAY MORNING AND PEAK LATE THURSDAY THROUGH MID DAY FRIDAY. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SACRAMENTO...VACAVILLE...CHICO...REDDING. * IMPACTS: DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. UNSECURED OBJECTS MAY BLOW AROUND. DOWNED BRANCHES COULD CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. And, despite the recent rain, it is still dry out there. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM PDT SATURDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 216 CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY IN GLENN, COLUSA, YUBA, NORTHERN SUTTER, AND BUTTE COUNTY BELOW 1000 FT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 217 SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY IN YOLO-SACRAMENTO FAR WESTERN PLACER, SOUTHERN SUTTER AND SOLANO COUNTY BELOW 1000 FT...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 218 CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 264 LAKE COUNTY PORTION OF LAKE-NAPA- SONOMA UNIT. * WINDS...NORTH 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 10 PERCENT DURING THE DAY AND AREAS OF 20 TO 30 PERCENT OVERNIGHT. * TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...BREEZY AND GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ALONG WITH DRY FUELS WILL CREATE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE ANY NEW IGNITIONS COULD SEE RAPID FIRE GROWTH. 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 CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

nice weather for awhile

Welcome to October! It was blustery in Chico the past couple of days, but the Wind Advisory was not warranted. The highest gust occurred Sunday afternoon, with a speed of 35 mph from the south at the Chico Airport. No accumulation of precipitation, either, as the rain stayed far to our north over Trinity and Siskiyou Counties. Today should be sunny after the morning overcast burns off, with highs only in the lower 70s. Highs will remain in the 70s tomorrow and Thursday, as well. A bit of a warm-up occurs late in the week, with highs in the lower to mid 80s Friday through Sunday. Highs will drop back into the 70s for early next week. Sunshine will be the dominant feature in the forecast this week, as no rain is expected the next seven days. All in all, a nice fall forecast. Here's Chico's seven day outlook from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 76. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 49. North wind 7 to 10 mph. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 50. Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Friday Night Clear, with a low around 52. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 81. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 82. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Monday Sunny, with a high near 79.