get ready for the 70s!

And no, I don't mean the decade. High temperatures by the end of this week will reach the middle 70s! That's a good 12 degrees above normal. High pressure will strengthen over Norcal this week, bringing sunny skies and very warm temperatures. Other than a slight chance of showers Saturday night, don't expect a lot of rain the next several days. The long term outlook favors below normal precipitation and above average temperatures over the next three months. Whatever happened to that strong El Nino the weather forecasters were predicting for this winter? In El Nino years, California usually gets inundated with strong storms bringing heavy rain and snow. Not this year. Oh, we had a couple of strong storms last December that caused some localized flooding and minor wind damage. Other than that, it has been very dry this winter. Expect that trend to continue into spring. I fear we may have a very dangerous fire season this summer. Here is Chico's warm seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 66. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 3 to 5 mph. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Friday Sunny, with a high near 73. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Monday Sunny, with a high near 69.

breezy weekend

It was a breezy and cool(ish) weekend this weekend in Chico. Yesterday's high temperature was only 58 degrees, with northwesterly winds gusting to 33 mph. Today was warmer and less breezy, with a high temp of 64 degrees and winds from the northwest between 20-25 mph. Winds have died down this evening, and it should be a clear and chilly night tonight, with lows in the upper 30s. The next seven days look about perfect, with sunny skies and daytime highs in the mid 60s to low 70s. Back east, the Rockies and the Plains states are getting hammered with snow and blizzard conditions, while we here in Northern California are basking in the sunshine and mild temperatures. We could sure use more rain. Hopefully we'll get more soon. For now, here is the dry forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 66. North northwest wind around 8 mph. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 64. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 69. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 36. Friday Sunny, with a high near 73. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

looks like spring is here

Sorry I haven't been updating my blog very much lately. Life sometimes gets in the way. Besides, the weather has been quiet and uneventful here in Northern California the past few days, unlike other parts of the country. We have been blessed with quiet, mild weather lately. The high temperatures the past few days in Chico have surpassed 60 degrees, with beautiful sunshine and fairly calm winds. I took a walk in Bidwell Park yesterday afternoon, and the weather was stunning, with light southerly winds, blue skies, and temps hovering right around 60 degrees. The fruit trees continue to bloom, while some of the deciduous trees are beginning to bud open at this time. Looking ahead towards the next seven days, spring looks like it's here to stay, with highs ranging from the upper 50s today, to the lower 70s by the end of next week. Unfortunately, no rain or snow is expected, so we may end up having a very dry 2013. Hopefully we can get some good- size storms in here before the rainy season ends in April. For now, get outside and enjoy the spring weather! Here's Chico's seven day outlook from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Light and variable wind becoming east around 5 mph in the evening. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Friday Sunny, with a high near 71.

active weather

Wow, yesterday was active weatherwise! Snow in Paradise, a report of a tornado around Red Bluff, hail and heavy rain across the area. Some areas saw some of this active weather, other areas saw little to nothing. There was widespread morning showers across the area yesterday morning, amounting to between .10-.25 of an inch. Fortunately, the weather will be much calmer today, but also much cooler than what we've seen the past several days. We're looking at high temps only in the mid 50s today with sunny skies. Temperatures will gradually warm over the next several days, with highs by this weekend climbing into the 60s. There is a chance of rain between Friday night and Saturday morning; otherwise, expect dry weather the next several days. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Patchy fog before 10am. Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 57. North northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight Areas of frost after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 6 mph. Thursday Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 59. North northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North northeast wind around 6 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind. Friday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

turning colder this week

It was a beautiful weekend here in Chico, with both Saturday and Sunday reporting clear blue skies and high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Say goodbye to this type of weather, for it is leaving and won't be back for awhile. A cold low pressure system originating in the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward, bringing cold and unsettled weather with it. A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada, with some elevations as low as 2000 feet expecting to see a few inches of snow late Monday through early Wednesday. Just plain old showers will affect the valley, with the precipitation beginning late tomorrow night. However, there may be a few thunderstorms popping up over some parts of the valley in the colder, unstable atmosphere on Tuesday. Winds will be gusty, as well, with wind speeds from the south up to 25 mph. Wednesday looks dry but cooler, with highs only in the mid 50s. There is a chance of showers Thursday through Sunday, with highs only in the 50s to around 60 degrees. A far cry from the spring-like weather we've been experiencing, no? Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Light and variable wind. Washington's Birthday Partly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the morning. Monday Night Rain, mainly after 4am. Low around 39. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tuesday Showers before 10am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 10am and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. High near 51. South southeast wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Thursday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Thursday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Friday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Friday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Saturday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

Special Weather Statement about upcoming cold storm

A COLD WEATHER SYSTEM FROM ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA IMPACTS THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH PRECIPITATION MONDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. THE AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION WITH THIS SYSTEM IS NOT OVERLY SIGNIFICANT. HOWEVER...THE SIGNIFICANCE LIES IN THE LOWERING SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO 2000 TO 2500 FEET BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. * EXPECT 6 TO 10 INCHES OVER 3000 FEET DURING THE 30 TO 36 HOUR DURATION WITH OVER 12 INCHES PROBABLE OVER LOCALIZED PEAKS SUCH AS LASSEN PEAK. * POTENTIALLY MORE IMPACTFUL SNOW AMOUNTS IN UPPER FOOTHILLS. EXPECT 3 TO 5 INCHES ABOVE 2500 FEET WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS DOWN TO 2000 FEET. * DUE TO THE COLD NATURE OF THE WEATHER SYSTEM...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR AT LOWER ELEVATIONS THAN USUAL AND MAKING DRIVING CHAINS A POSSIBILITY. INTERSTATE 5 IN SHASTA COUNTY MAY EXPERIENCE A COUPLE INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. THE SAME COLD WEATHER SYSTEM WILL GENERATE RAIN SHOWERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. * GENERALLY 0.25 TO 0.50 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION ARE EXPECTED IN THE VALLEY WITH POTENTIALLY LARGER AMOUNTS WITHIN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. * SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS ARE EXPECTED BE THE MAIN CONCERNS WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

warm weekend, followed by a chilly week

Wow! The high temperature yesterday at the Chico State University Farm on the south side of town was 74 degrees! On Valentine's Day! The normal high for February 14th is 61 degrees. So, yeah, it was warm. The warmth was aided by those gusty, downsloping, northwesterly winds that were clocking in at speeds of over 25 mph during the afternoon yesterday. The winds won't be quite as fierce today, but with sunshine and mild air already in place, highs will have no problem reaching 70 degrees this afternoon. The weekend looks gorgeous, with sunny skies and highs in the mid to upper 60s. Get out and enjoy the blossoming of the almond orchards outside of town. By Tuesday, however, a change will occur as a cold low pressure system drops south from the Gulf of Alaska. Highs on Tuesday will be 20 degrees colder than they were yesterday! Look for the off-and-on showery weather to continue through next Thursday, with highs only reaching the mid 50s. Overnight lows next week will be around freezing, which doesn't bode well for the almond trees that are blossoming currently. We'll have to see how long this cold snap lasts to know the extent of any damage to the almond trees. For now, enjoy the fantastic weather this weekend! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming north northwest in the morning. Tonight Clear, with a low around 39. Northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 68. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west northwest in the morning. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 66. North northeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Washington's Birthday Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Monday Night A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Tuesday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.