cold

The low temperature in Chico this morning was 28 degrees. The normal low for this date is 36 degrees. Yeah, it's cold outside! The cold will linger for the next several days as cold high pressure from the Gulf of Alaska exerts control over our weather. It'll be sunny, but highs will struggle to get above 50 degrees (normal high is around 56 degrees), while lows will dip into the mid 20s to low 30s the next seven days. Again, cover the outdoor plants, put a drip on the faucet, and make sure the pets are inside. I know there may be some who see this weather blog who live in much colder climates and scoff, but for us here in Northern California, this is cold! Here is Chico's chilly forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Areas of frost after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind around 7 mph. Saturday Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday Night Areas of frost after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph. Sunday Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 48. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Sunday Night Areas of frost after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 28. Light and variable wind. Monday Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 50. Monday Night Clear, with a low around 31. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 54. Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 34. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 55. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 34. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 54. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Friday Sunny, with a high near 54.

update on cold air and possible snow showers

From the National Weather Service: A COLD GULF OF ALASKA STORM WILL MOVE INTO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY BRINGING SOME PRECIPITATION. THIS WILL BRING SOME RAIN TO THE VALLEY WITH SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE FOOTHILLS. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED AS THE MAIN COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THIS EVENING. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A STRONG MOISTURE TAP SO PRECIPITATION AMOUNT WILL BE RELATIVELY LIMITED. LIGHT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM A TRACE TO AROUND AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FOOTHILLS STARTING LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY. SNOW LEVELS MAY EVEN DROP DOWN TO AROUND 500 FEET IN THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY THURSDAY MORNING BUT LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND A TENTH TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH IN THE VALLEY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH AROUND SACRAMENTO...THE DELTA...AND THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. CLEARING SKIES THURSDAY NIGHT WILL MAKE FOR A CHILLY MORNING FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES FRIDAY MORNING WILL BE ABOUT 5 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S IN THE VALLEY. THE COOL TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH SOME BREEZY NORTH WINDS WILL MAKE IT FEEL EVEN COLDER. PERSONS TRAVELING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MAY ENCOUNTER TRAVEL DELAYS FROM SLIPPERY ROAD. ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER AND ROAD REPORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE. So, don't expect any significant snow accumulations in the foothills tonight and into tomorrow. However, do prepare for the cold temps by covering any tender vegetation or bringing outdoor potted plants indoors. Also, bring your pets indoors as they are susceptible to the cold. This cold weather will last into next week, with highs barely getting above 50 degrees and lows dipping into the upper 20s to low 30s. Brrr!!

colder air coming

From the National Weather Service: A COLD GULF OF ALASKA STORM WILL MOVE INTO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY INTO THURSDAY. THIS WILL BRING SOME RAIN TO THE VALLEY WITH SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE FOOTHILLS. THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A STRONG MOISTURE TAP SO PRECIPITATION WILL BE RELATIVELY LIMITED. PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING THEN SPREAD OVER THE ENTIRE AREA BY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED AS THE MAIN COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THIS EVENING. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY WITH A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS POSSIBLE OVER THE SIERRA INTO EARLY FRIDAY. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 5 INCHES ARE FORECAST FOR THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. LIGHT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM A TRACE TO AROUND AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FOOTHILLS STARTING LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE VALLEY GENERALLY WILL RANGE FROM A TRACE IN THE SOUTH TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH OR LESS OVER THE NORTH. SNOW LEVELS ARE FORECAST TO INITIALLY BE AROUND 3500 FEET OVER THE SHASTA AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON...THEN LOWER TO AROUND 1000 TO 1500 FEET TONIGHT AND AS LOW AS 800 FEET BY THURSDAY. OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA...SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP FROM 4000 FEET THIS EVENING TO AROUND 1500 FEET BY THURSDAY MORNING. GUSTY WEST WIND IS LIKELY OVER HIGHER MOUNTAIN RIDGES WITH LOCAL GUSTS OVER 50 MPH POSSIBLE AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS. CLEARING SKIES THURSDAY NIGHT WILL MAKE FOR A CHILLY MORNING FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES FRIDAY MORNING WILL BE WELL BELOW AVERAGE WITH TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S IN THE VALLEY. THE COOL TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH SOME BREEZY NORTH WINDS WILL MAKE IT FEEL EVEN COLDER. PERSONS TRAVELING INTO THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MAY ENCOUNTER TRAVEL DELAYS FROM SLIPPERY ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITY. ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER AND ROAD REPORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

rain likely for tomorrow

Today will be quite mild, as high pressure dominates ahead of a cold front set to arrive tomorrow. Highs in Chico today should top out in the lower 60s. We haven't been this warm in at leat a month! However, due to the aforementioned cold front, this warmth is only temporary. Rain will enter the picture tomorrow, although not much will fall. The bigger issue with this front will be the colder air behind it, which is originating from the Gulf of Alaska. Highs will drop into the lower 50s tomorrow through next Monday, while overnight lows will dip into the 20s to low 30s. Snow levels could plunge to 1000 feet in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills by late tomorrow night into Thursday morning. There is very little moisture with this cold front, so snow accumulations are expected to be very light. I'll attempt to keep you posted on this developing weather story. For now, here's the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Today Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Light and variable wind. Tonight Increasing clouds, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Wednesday Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Wednesday Night Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Light west northwest wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Friday Sunny, with a high near 50. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

quiet weather for January

Normally January is Chico's wettest month, when a little over 5 and a half inches of rain accumulates during the month. However, it has been largely a quiet month this year, devoid of any big storms. Chico did receive some rain overnight last night into early this morning, accumulating nearly a quarter of an inch in the rain bucket. Other than a chance of showers Wednesday, no rain is in the forecast the next seven days as high pressure takes over our area. High temperatures tomorrow and Tuesday should be right around 60 degrees (nice!); highs for the middle and end of this week will trend downward into the lower 50s. Overnight lows will range from the upper 30s tonight through Tuesday night, and then drop to around freezing the rest of this week. It looks like colder air will filter in behind Wednesday's cold front. It is still winter, of course. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Light and variable wind becoming north around 5 mph in the evening. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 60. Light and variable wind. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the evening. Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

a change in the weather

Just two days ago the forcasters at the National Weather Service were predicting dry weather through next week. Wrong! There is a weak storm system moving towards our area, and should arrive (perfect timing) this weekend. Most of the rain should hold off until after dark Saturday night, so, if you have any outdoor plans on Saturday, I would not cancel them. Showers will linger into Sunday. All told, up to a half an inch of rain may fall in the valley, while 4-5 inches of snow will accumulate in the mountains above 3000 feet. The storm will exit by Sunday afternoon, leaving mainly dry and sunny weather for the rest of next week. High temperatures the next seven days will be in the low to mid 50s (right where we should be for early January), while lows will range from the mid to upper 30s. Here are the details for Chico from the National Weather Service: Today Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph after midnight. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Saturday Night Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Wednesday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

nice and dry

It has been chilly this morning in Chico, with the airport reporting a low of 32 degrees, while the university farm south of town logged a low of 26 degrees! Brrr! Look for dry and sunny conditions the rest of the week, along with a slow warming trend. Lows temps will warm from the mid 20s into the mid 30s by next week; highs will moderate from the low 50s into the mid and even upper 50s by this weekend. No rain is expected through the middle of next week. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight Widespread frost, mainly after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Thursday Widespread frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 53. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Thursday Night Patchy frost after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Calm wind becoming north northeast 5 to 7 mph in the evening. Friday Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.