more wet weather coming

Today was a lull in the rain, as skies were mostly cloudy. It was dry but breezy in Chico today, with a high temperature of 57 degrees. It was decent weather for the Christmas Preview in downtown Chico this afternoon and evening, albeit a tad bit chilly. I took some pics of the event; I'll post them tomorrow. The fall colors are absolutely gorgeous right now in Chico. It was an interesting juxtaposition of the Christmas lights downtown amidst the maples and sycamores in their fall finery. Anyway, the next storm should arrive Tuesday and linger into Wednesday. I don't know how strong this storm will be, but I believe most of the energy will go to our north, into Oregon and Washington. Right now Turkey Day looks dry and mild, with highs into the mid 60s. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. East southeast wind around 7 mph. Monday A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Monday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Tuesday Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 61. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tuesday Night Rain. Low around 48. Southeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Wednesday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Thanksgiving Day Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Saturday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Rain chances lessen over the next several days

We are in the midst of some moderate to heavy rain as I type this. Chico has received nearly nine-tenths of an inch (.90") since last evening, with winds gusting to 25 mph overnight last night. Once this heavy rain moves through later this morning, lighter showers will linger the rest of the day. Expect breezy conditions today and tonight, generally 20-25 mph winds from the southeast. In the mountains the next 24 hours, expect snowfall to accumulate to 2-3 feet above 6000 feet in the Sierra. It will be mainly rain up to 5000 feet, as this storm is warmer than previous storms. Showers will taper off tomorrow, as rain chances are reduced to 50% chance. Good news for Thanksgiving: Just a slight chance of rain, with highs around 60 degrees. The weather should not affect holiday travel too much. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers. High near 58. Southeast wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight Showers. Low around 47. Southeast wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Sunday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 46. Southeast wind around 11 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Monday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Tuesday Night A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48. Wednesday A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Wednesday Night A slight chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Thanksgiving Day A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Thursday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

latest on stormy weather

From the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS BEGAN SPREADING OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EARLY THIS MORNING WITH THE FIRST COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO MOVE ONTO THE COAST THIS EVENING. SNOW LEVELS TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY WILL BE HIGHER THAN RECENT STORMS...RANGING BETWEEN 6000 AND 7500 FEET. A MUCH MORE PROMINENT STORM SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SATURDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY. SNOW LEVELS WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO BETWEEN 4000 FEET OVER SHASTA COUNTY AND AROUND 6000 TO 6500 FEET OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRA. BETWEEN TODAY AND SUNDAY...1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SACRAMENTO AND NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEYS. AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA...AS MUCH AS 2 TO 3 FEET OF NEW SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW POSSIBLE AT PASS LEVELS. GUSTY WINDS ARE LIKELY AT TIMES THIS WEEKEND ESPECIALLY SATURDAY WHEN THE SECOND FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVES INLAND. IN THE MOUNTAINS...THE COMBINATION OF WIND AND SNOW COULD CAUSE WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. OUTDOOR RECREATIONALISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL DUE TO SLICK ROADS AND WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS TODAY THROUGH LATE SUNDAY. FALLEN LEAVES MAY CLOG DRAINS WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING. PERIODS OF MODERATE PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH BREEZY WINDS MAY BRING DOWN SMALL TREE BRANCHES AND WEAKENED TREES LEADING TO LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. PERIODS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK WITH ADDITIONAL STORMS POSSIBLE. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATED FORECASTS.

rain starting overnight tonight

There's a change in the timing of the rain in the forecast. Now the rain is expected to begin overnight tonight, mainly after 4am tomorrow. The second, more powerful storm is now expected to arrive late Saturday and last into Sunday, rather than Sunday/ Monday time period. Rainfall amounts have been pared back a bit for the valley- 1 to 1.5 inches are now expected between Saturday and Sunday. One to two feet of snow may fall above 6000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Also, breezy to gusty winds up to 30 mph in the valley, and 50 mph in the mountains, may bring down small branches and lead to power outages. These two storms have warmer air associated with them, originating from the Pacific, rather than the Gulf of Alaska. Hence the higher snow levels and abundant moisture. This should be great news for the skiers! Unfortunately, the stormy weather may last into next week, affecting holiday travel. Stay tuned for updated weather forecasts. I will update my weather blog regularly. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Partly sunny, with a high near 69. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tonight Rain likely, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 48. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday Rain. High near 58. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Friday Night Rain. Low around 48. Southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Saturday Rain. High near 60. South southeast wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Saturday Night Rain. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Sunday A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Sunday Night A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 48. Monday A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Monday Night A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 48. Tuesday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Tuesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Wednesday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

nice weather for now... but storminess on the way

If you like sunny, warm weather, well, today is your day. Chico's forecast high today under mainly sunny skies will be 70 degrees. Tomorrow doesn't look bad, either, with partly sunny conditions and temps in the mid 60s. However, Friday through Monday look pretty wet and unsettled. Two storms are expected to affect our area: the first on Friday and lingering into Saturday, and the second, more powerful storm arriving on Sunday. With these two storms, Chico and other valley locations could see two inches (or more) of rain, while the Sierra Nevada above 5000 feet could see two to three feet of snow. Highs during this period will be in the 50s in Chico, and winds could exceed 30 mph, especially on Sunday. Not good timing, as Chico's annual Christmas Preview is this Sunday from 4-8 pm. It's a combined indoor/outdoor activity, so if you plan on going, dress warmly and hold on tightly to your umbrella. More details to follow as the National Weather Service updates the forecast. For now, here's what it looks like for Chico the next seven days: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North northeast wind around 6 mph. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 64. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of rain after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Friday Night Rain. Low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Saturday Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Saturday Night Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Sunday Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Sunday Night Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Monday Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Monday Night A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Tuesday A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 60.

major weather changes ahead

From the National Weather Service: WET AND WINDY WEATHER POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO MONDAY... A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FRIDAY INTO MONDAY. PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS EARLY AS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY FROM THE FIRST STORM. A STRONGER STORM IS FORECAST SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE WARMER THAN THE LAST ONE WITH SNOW LEVELS AROUND 6000 TO 7000 FT TO START BUT MAY FLUCTUATE AT TIMES. SNOW LEVELS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 5000 FT SUNDAY AND MONDAY. BREEZY AND GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE SYSTEMS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION AND STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS AROUND 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE VALLEY AND SEVERAL FEET OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHEST ELEVATION THROUGH MONDAY. THE DETAILS WILL BECOME CLEARER AS THE STORMS APPROACH...STAY TUNED FOR UPDATED FORECASTS. OUTDOOR RECREATIONALISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE END OF THE WEEK. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL DUE TO WET AND SLICK ROADS AND WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY. FALLEN LEAVES MAY CLOG DRAINS WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. PERIODS OF MODERATE PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH BREEZY WINDS MAY BRING DOWN SMALL TREE BRANCHES AND WEAKENED TREES POSSIBLY LEADING TO LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.

still chilly, with chance of rain later this week

The low temperature this morning in Chico dipped to 31 degrees, the coldest low temperature we've had so far this season. It will be cold again overnight tonight, with a low of 32 degrees. We will see a mix of sun and clouds this week, with chances of rain tomorrow night into Tuesday and again Thursday through next Sunday. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s, while lows after tomorrow morning will range from the upper 30s to mid 40s. Here are the specifics for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Light east northeast wind. Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 60. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Monday Night A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Light north northeast wind. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Light and variable wind. Wednesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Thursday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Friday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Saturday A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Saturday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Sunday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.