perhaps a slight chance of rain by next Thursday?

Perhaps. First, a review of the high temperatures the past three days in Chico and how they compare with the records for those dates. At the Chico State University Farm on Wednesday, January 22nd, the high was 71 degrees, while at the Chico Airport, the high was 68 degrees. Neither of those temperatures broke the record for that date of 75 degrees set in 1968. On Thursday, January 23rd, the high at the Chico State Farm was 77 degrees, and at the Chico Airport, it was 75 degrees; the record high for that date is 75, last set in 1948. The Chico State Farm temperature broke that record, while the high at the airport tied it. Finally, yesterday, January 24th, the high at the farm was 77 degrees; at the airport, it was 73 degrees. The record for that date is 74, set in 1948. The farm's high temp broke the record, while the airport's high was one degree shy of the record. Expect more near record warmth this weekend, with highs both today and tomorrow in the mid 70s. We should be around 57 degrees for the high in late January; this weekend's forecast highs will be running twenty degrees above the average. The record high for January 25th is 70 degrees, set in 1984; the record high for January 26th is also 70 degrees, last set in 1934. Both of those records should be easily broken this weekend. Temperatures will continue to be in the mid 70s through the middle of next week. However, a change in the warm and dry weather pattern is anticipated, as this sprawling high pressure that's been residing in the eastern Pacific Ocean finally begins to break down. The forecast high temperature for Thursday is 70 degrees, while Friday's high is only expected to be in the lower 60s. There is an increasing chance of showers by Thursday, and this chance lingers into next Friday. Right now the forecast states only a slight chance, but we need any chance of rain we can get at this point. So, expect continued warm and dry weather for the short term, but cooler and slightly wetter weather for the long term. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Light northeast wind. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Light east northeast wind. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Thursday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Thursday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Friday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.