back to sunny and warm weather

Well, yesterday was a nice change from all of the sunny and mild weather we've been experiencing. It actually looked and felt like winter in Northern California briefly. However, all Chico got from this storm was a paltry .01"- one one-hundredth of an inch of rain. That's like spitting into a rain bucket! That will be the last bit of rain we will see in quite awhile, as high pressure moves back in to create sunny and very warm conditions. Chico will see temps 10-15 degrees above normal the next several days. Highs are expected to be in the mid 60s to around 70 degrees. With this type of weather, I fear the flowering and fruit trees are going to begin blooming over the next couple of weeks- about a month earlier than usual. We may have an early and short wildflower season, as well. However, if we don't get some significant rain soon, there may not be a wildflower season. Parts of the Sierra Nevada received about 5 inches of snow, but that is miniscule compared to the several feet of snow we should see in mid-January. The native grasses in the foothills should be a deep emerald green by now, but instead are a bland tannish color. This serious situation may become dire very soon, and I'm afraid with climate change this recent weather pattern may become the new normal for us. Could the Breadbasket of America become an arid desert within 150 years? I really hope not. Too soon to tell, anyway. Here is the very dry and warm seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 8 mph. Monday Sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind around 8 mph. Monday Night Clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 7 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 7 mph. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 33. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 67. Wednesday Night Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Thursday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 65. Thursday Night Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. Friday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 63. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.