"Big weather changes are expected" this week

Quoting from the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: PERIODS OF WET AND WINDY WEATHER WEDNESDAY THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND... BIG WEATHER CHANGES ARE EXPECTED BEGINNING MIDWEEK AND CONTINUING THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND AS A LARGE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES TOWARD THE EASTERN PACIFIC. RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS INITIAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION RELATIVELY QUICKLY...BUT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL MORE STORM SYSTEMS LATER IN THE WEEK. THESE STORMS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO MOISTURE FROM THE TROPICAL PACIFIC...MEANING CONSIDERABLE PRECIPITATION TOTALS WILL BE LIKELY. EACH OF THESE STORM SYSTEMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS. SNOW LEVELS WILL START AROUND 6000 FEET WITH THE WEDNESDAY SYSTEM...AND WILL RISE TO 7000 FEET OR HIGHER WITH THE SUBSEQUENT STORMS. FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT THIS SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS WILL IMPACT THE REGION. HOWEVER WITH SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THESE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS AFFECT THE REGION...DETAILS ON TIMING AND INTENSITY WILL BECOME CLEARER OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE: *URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. *MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS MAY BRING DOWN SMALL TREE BRANCHES AND TREES. LOCAL POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE. *ROCK SLIDES OR DEBRIS FLOWS NEAR RECENT BURN SCARS. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATEMENTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS POTENTIALLY HIGH IMPACT SERIES OF STORMS. Get ready now for these potential storms. I don't want to be dramatic, but it's always best to be prepared. Make sure you have batteries for flashlights, all loose objects in the backyard are either brought inside or tied down, clean out fallen leaves from around storm drains, and stock up on some non-perishable foods just in case the power goes out. Me, I love this stormy weather- as long as people don't get hurt and the power isn't out for more than one day! The good news is we are going to get some beneficial moisture to build up our water supply and provide excellent powder for the area ski resorts. The weather for the next three days should be sunny and mild, with high temperatures in the 60s today through Tuesday. Enjoy it while it lasts; it seems we won't see the sun for awhile!

foggy morning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING. * VISIBILITY: ONE-QUARTER MILE OR LESS. * TIMING: FOG WILL PERSIST UNTIL MID TO LATE MORNING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: MARYSVILLE...SACRAMENTO...STOCKTON...MODESTO. * IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ALONG AREA ROADWAYS. HIGHWAYS IMPACTED INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) INTERSTATES 80 AND 5...AND HIGHWAYS 99 AND 4. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN... USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

last of the fall color

Thought I'd post some pictures of the beautiful fall color on the Chico State campus before it all fades away. These pics were taken earlier today during the noon hour under brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the low 60s. The high today in Chico ended up at 67 degrees, five degrees above the average for the date. Again, the fine weather will continue into the middle of next week, but changes are in store for the end of next week. A decent storm system will move in by next Thursday/ Friday time period and hopefully give us some beneficial precipitation. The weather picture will become clearer as we get closer to the end of next week. For now, enjoy this spectacular weather! Have a great weekend!

nice fall weather

Yesterday was beautiful in Chico for Thanksgiving, with sunny skies and a high temperature of 64 degrees. That's just two degrees warmer than the average, so it was nearly perfect. This morning is a bit on the chilly side, with a current temperature of 41 degrees. That's also just two degrees warmer than the average low for this date. The weather will continue to be amazing for your holiday shopping, but it may be difficult to get into the holiday spirit with all of this mild, sunny weather. However, if you still want to hold onto fall, this weather is perfect for you. There is still some nice fall color to see and appreciate around Chico, so you can get out for a walk or hike to work off those extra pounds you may have put on yesterday and enjoy the scenery at the same time. The sun will shine today through the middle of next week, with highs in the low to mid 60s and lows in the 40s. By next Thursday we may see our next chance for rain, with highs dropping back into the 50s. Again, this may change, so check back for updates. For now, here is what the National Weather Service is saying for Chico's seven day forecast: Today Sunny, with a high near 66. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Light northeast wind. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Light north northeast wind. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Monday Sunny, with a high near 63. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Wednesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Thursday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

sunshine in store

This last storm was pretty powerful. Chico saw winds gusting to 35 mph yesterday, and received .51" of rain. I was a little off on my precipitation amount forecast for Chico, as I stated in my earlier post that Chico could receive one inch from this storm. Oh, well. I am not a professional meteorologist, and they almost ALWAYS get it wrong! Anyway, hopefully they're not wrong on this forecast, because, with the exception of today, the next several days look fabulous. Today will be showery, as this low pressure system that was responsible for the wind and rain yesterday lingers over our area. It shouldn't rain ALL day, and I predict the sun may shine a bit later today. The winds will continue to ease throughout today, as well. It will be dry and sunny for Thanksgiving, with highs in the mid 60s. That's just a tad warmer than where we should be this time of year, but I won't complain. In fact, it will remain sunny and mild through the middle of next week, with a slight cooling trend Sunday through Tuesday. Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. High near 60. Southeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Thanksgiving Day Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Light north wind. Friday Sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Monday Sunny, with a high near 60. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Wind Advisory in effect

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS INCLUDING LAKE COUNTY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT. * WINDS: SOUTH 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH. * TIMING: THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: REDDING...CHICO...LAKEPORT...PARADISE AND PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HIGHWAY 99. * IMPACTS: DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS. LOCAL POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. The cold front should move through later today, bringing with it gusty winds and moderate to heavy rain. Chico could see about an inch of rain today. By tomorrow things settle down and Thanksgiving still looks sunny and nice.

pics from last night's Christmas Preview

As promised, here are some pics of the Christmas Preview in downtown Chico yesterday evening. I think it definitely put people into the Christmas spirit, along with the chilly, grey weather. It will continue to be grey and increasingly wet over the next 36 hours. A strong storm system that has been inundating parts of the Pacific Northwest with heavy rain, high winds, and major flooding will slowly sag southward into our area by tomorrow. I don't think we'll see the level of flooding Seattle has seen today, but expect perhaps over an inch of rain in Chico between tomorrow and Wednesday morning. Gusty winds to 25 mph from the south are to be expected, while snow will fall mainly above 7000 feet in the Sierra. By late Wednesday the wet weather should move off to the east of us, and Thanksgiving looks delightful. Highs tomorrow with the rain in Chico will hover around 60 degrees. Same for Wednesday, but warming into the mid 60s for Turkey Day. It should remain dry and seasonal through early next week.