breaking records all over the place

Wow! This warmth is unprecedented! On Wednesday, the high temperature at the Chico Airport was 79 degrees, shattering the old record of 70 set in 2009. Yesterday's high of 77 degrees at the airport also broke the old record of 75 for the date set also in 2009. And, if we get no precipitation for the rest of the month (which, according to the National Weather Service, is looking increasingly likely), January 2014 will be the driest January ever for Chico. January is normally Chico's wettest month. This will also be the fourth January in a row that we've seen below normal precipitation for the month. Just setting records all over the place, and not good records, either. Temperatures should cool off some over the next several days, but they will still be well above the average of 55 degrees. With this very dry air mass in place, the temperature diurnal (the difference between the daytime high and overnight low temperature) will be astounding- as much as a 40 degree difference from the time you wake up until the time you get off work. In addition, the tinder dry conditions are adding fuel (so to speak) to the high fire danger all over California. Fires are burning in Southern California, and the Northstate is also under extreme fire conditions. Please do not toss your lit cigarette butt out of your car window; it may easily start a fire that could grow quickly. So, be careful out there, enjoy the spring weather in January, and pray for rain. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the NWS: Today Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Saturday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 71. Light north wind. Saturday Night Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. Light and variable wind. Sunday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Sunday Night Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. M.L.King Day Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. Monday Night Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. Tuesday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 70. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.