The weather the past few days has been stellar, with highs mainly in the 70s and 80s (normally this time of year Chico sees highs right around 90 degrees). It'll warm up this weekend, with highs expected in the upper 80s to lower 90s. By early next work week, though, temps back off into the mid 80s. Combined with low humidity, those temps should be very pleasant. The big event happening this weekend is the Taste of Chico, going on tomorrow (Sunday). This is an annual event, always occurring the Sunday after Labor Day. Many local restaurants have booths set up where, with the purchase of a ticket, you can sample some of the items on their menus. Local bands will also play live on stages set up around downtown Chico. It's a lot of fun, and a great local event that adds to the charm of Chico. Get there early to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day. Here's the latest detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 54. South southeast wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. South southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
major deluge
Chico got pounded last evening with a storm that dropped up to an inch (in some spots, more than an inch) of rainfall in less than 30 minutes. The storm remained stationary over Chico for about an hour. I managed to get a couple of nice pictures of the storm clouds over Chico last evening, and I've posted one of those pics to the right. The unofficial Chico weather reporting site south of town measured only .46", but downtown in particular got hit hard with heavy rain. Streets turned into torrential creeks as water overflowed gutters. Some buildings (including my workplace) suffered minor flood damage. What was interesting about this storm was the isolated nature of it (Oroville residents saw no rain, while Paradise residents, eight miles to the east, saw only sprinkles) and the fact that it was stationary over Chico for a long period of time. It was very unusual, and some parts of Chico picked up a whole month's worth of precipitation in just a couple of hours. This should not happen again for the forseeable future as high pressure works its way over our area and stays for the next week or so. Temperatures will warm up (the high in Chico yesterday was only 72 degrees) into the mid and upper 80s by this weekend. However, they should stay below 90 degrees for awhile. That'll make the weather a lot more bearable! Here's the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light south wind.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 51. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 59.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 57.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light south wind.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 51. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 59.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 57.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
City of Chico Adopts Climate Action Plan
This is cool news from the Chico Enterprise Record newspaper:
CHICO -- The Chico City Council made progress toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions Tuesday, directing the creation of a citywide Climate Action Plan and approving initial actions that could help the city reach its ultimate target emissions level.
In 2006, AB 32 was signed into law, mandating that Californian cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
As a result of that action, the city of Chico established the Sustainability Task Force, which, in addition to a number of other tasks, has focused on developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Some of those initial solutions were presented to the council Tuesday night, with Fletcher Alexander, a city intern and Chico State University grad, offering an overview of the city's current and projected greenhouse gas emissions.
Alexander said an emissions inventory accepted by the council in 2008 reported 2005 greenhouse gas emissions to be 516,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Alexander said if no action is taken, that number is anticipated to reach 704,000 tons by 2020 — the same year the city is expected to reach its target reduction goal of 387,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
With those statistics in mind, Alexander and City Management Analyst Linda Herman said city government, local businesses and individual residents need to take a series of steps over the next 10 years to achieve the city's
greenhouse gas emissions goal — identifying the most significant action as the development of a city Climate Action Plan.
The plan is anticipated to include a comprehensive list of actions that can be taken to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, identifying costs, responsibilities, timelines and potential funding sources for those actions.
But the plan itself comes with a price tag, with Herman saying the city has already spent approximately $10,000 in grant funding on developing the plan up until this point.
She estimated the plan would cost an additional $30,000, noting that those costs could be covered by the city's Energy Conservation and Efficiency Block Grant funds. She noted that sum does not include her staff time to work with the Sustainability Task Force.
Regardless of the costs, however, Chico resident Karen Laslo said funding the plan is well worth the benefits it will provide.
"I don't think the Climate Action Plan is much of a sacrifice," Laslo said. "It's the least we can do."
Mark Stemen of Chico agreed.
"It's not about money," Stemen said. "It's about priorities."
He urged the council to make the plan its main priority, saying the city needs to take swift action to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
But Councilor Larry Wahl contested whether a Climate Action Plan, or its subsequent directives, would produce any "tangible benefit" to Chico.
"I do not literally see what this will accomplish ... Will the sky be bluer? Will anything be prettier?" Wahl asked.
Holcombe said he didn't want the city to take the chance that it wouldn't.
"Nature is not waiting and certainly I don't want the city of Chico to wait," Holcombe said.
The rest of the council supported Holcombe.
By a 6-1 vote with Wahl dissenting, the council directed the creation of a Climate Action Plan, simultaneously approving a number of actions to be implemented in the first phase of the plan.
The initial measures largely focus on efforts the city itself can take, including installing LED streetlights and upgrading lighting in city buildings and city facilities.
The construction of the First and Second Street Couplet Project and the Highway 99 Bike Corridor project — projects already under way — are also included on the list of proposed city actions.
Councilor Scott Gruendl noted that the first phase does not impose any regulations on individual citizens or businesses, with Herman saying a "gradual approach" to target goals will be stressed in the Climate Action Plan.
The plan will be developed by city staff and the Sustainability Task Force over the next few months and is anticipated to be presented to the council for approval in early 2011.
CHICO -- The Chico City Council made progress toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions Tuesday, directing the creation of a citywide Climate Action Plan and approving initial actions that could help the city reach its ultimate target emissions level.
In 2006, AB 32 was signed into law, mandating that Californian cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
As a result of that action, the city of Chico established the Sustainability Task Force, which, in addition to a number of other tasks, has focused on developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Some of those initial solutions were presented to the council Tuesday night, with Fletcher Alexander, a city intern and Chico State University grad, offering an overview of the city's current and projected greenhouse gas emissions.
Alexander said an emissions inventory accepted by the council in 2008 reported 2005 greenhouse gas emissions to be 516,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Alexander said if no action is taken, that number is anticipated to reach 704,000 tons by 2020 — the same year the city is expected to reach its target reduction goal of 387,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
With those statistics in mind, Alexander and City Management Analyst Linda Herman said city government, local businesses and individual residents need to take a series of steps over the next 10 years to achieve the city's
greenhouse gas emissions goal — identifying the most significant action as the development of a city Climate Action Plan.
The plan is anticipated to include a comprehensive list of actions that can be taken to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, identifying costs, responsibilities, timelines and potential funding sources for those actions.
But the plan itself comes with a price tag, with Herman saying the city has already spent approximately $10,000 in grant funding on developing the plan up until this point.
She estimated the plan would cost an additional $30,000, noting that those costs could be covered by the city's Energy Conservation and Efficiency Block Grant funds. She noted that sum does not include her staff time to work with the Sustainability Task Force.
Regardless of the costs, however, Chico resident Karen Laslo said funding the plan is well worth the benefits it will provide.
"I don't think the Climate Action Plan is much of a sacrifice," Laslo said. "It's the least we can do."
Mark Stemen of Chico agreed.
"It's not about money," Stemen said. "It's about priorities."
He urged the council to make the plan its main priority, saying the city needs to take swift action to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
But Councilor Larry Wahl contested whether a Climate Action Plan, or its subsequent directives, would produce any "tangible benefit" to Chico.
"I do not literally see what this will accomplish ... Will the sky be bluer? Will anything be prettier?" Wahl asked.
Holcombe said he didn't want the city to take the chance that it wouldn't.
"Nature is not waiting and certainly I don't want the city of Chico to wait," Holcombe said.
The rest of the council supported Holcombe.
By a 6-1 vote with Wahl dissenting, the council directed the creation of a Climate Action Plan, simultaneously approving a number of actions to be implemented in the first phase of the plan.
The initial measures largely focus on efforts the city itself can take, including installing LED streetlights and upgrading lighting in city buildings and city facilities.
The construction of the First and Second Street Couplet Project and the Highway 99 Bike Corridor project — projects already under way — are also included on the list of proposed city actions.
Councilor Scott Gruendl noted that the first phase does not impose any regulations on individual citizens or businesses, with Herman saying a "gradual approach" to target goals will be stressed in the Climate Action Plan.
The plan will be developed by city staff and the Sustainability Task Force over the next few months and is anticipated to be presented to the council for approval in early 2011.
nice weather for September
Usually this time of year Chico still sees high temperatures well into the 90s. But, after a high yesterday of just 87 degrees, Chico will see highs only in the low 70s today under mainly overcast skies. That's another anomaly for this time of year- usually September is a very sunny month, but today the sunshine will be limited. There's even a slight chance we could see a stray shower, but don't hold your breath on that one. The sun returns in full abundance tomorrow as temperatures warm up in response to the sunshine. However, it appears that in the short term there will be no scorching hot temperatures. In fact, temps will be below average for the next seven days. Very nice! I'm hoping this cooler than average trend continues well into the fall. I wonder if La Nina has any role in that? Here's the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Light and variable wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. South wind at 7 mph becoming north northeast.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Light and variable wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. South wind at 7 mph becoming north northeast.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday, September 6, 2010
another cool period
After high temperatures in the mid 90s the past four days, Chico will see temps over twenty degrees cooler by the middle of this week. It will feel more like late October than early September, as a strong cold front pushes through the region. So, one more day (tomorrow) of warm weather before much cooler temps prevail. Even by next weekend, temps will only top out in the mid 80s, which is a good 5 degrees below average. No rain is in the forecast for the next week, so be careful when working with fire outdoors. It is tinder dry out there! Here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 60. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 8 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming east. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 71. South southeast wind around 8 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 55.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 60. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 8 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming east. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 71. South southeast wind around 8 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 55.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
heat will abate
It has been fairly toasty the past two days, with yesterday's high temperature in Chico at 99 degrees and today's high at 97 so far. It looks like Chico will endure two more days of hot temps before cooling down Sunday. By the middle of next week, we could see highs only around 80 degrees as a strong trough of low pressure moves through, ushering in more marine air. In the meantime, though, we'll have to sweat it out. I'm going camping this weekend down in the Napa Valley, so I won't update my blog again until next Monday at the earliest. I'm off to have some enjoyable R&R and have some fun out in nature! Here's the seven day forecast for CHico from the National Weather Service to tide you over until I return:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind between 3 and 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. North northwest wind at 6 mph becoming south.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. South wind at 9 mph becoming east.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind between 3 and 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. North northwest wind at 6 mph becoming south.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. South wind at 9 mph becoming east.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
welcome to September... and the heat
Hot weather is forecast for the rest of this week and even into the weekend for the Northstate. Chico will be flirting with the century mark both tomorrow and Friday, and mid 90s will invade for Saturday. There is hope of a cooldown in temperatures later in the weekend as the strong dome of high pressure that will be providing the heat moves eastward. Unfortunately, it looks like at least some of the holiday weekend will be hot. Labor Day itself should be nice, with highs in the mid 80s. If you have the day off, that would be the day to grill or picnic outdoors. Whatever you do, be safe, have fun and celebrate the time off by reflecting what you do for a living... kind of ironic, no? Anyway, here's the specific Chico seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind between 3 and 6 mph.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Light and variable wind.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind between 3 and 6 mph.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Light and variable wind.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)