wet next week

This weekend could be our last shot at some sunny, mild weather for awhile. A cold (relatively speaking) storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward over the next couple of days. By late Sunday, this low pressure system and accompanying cold front will begin affecting our weather here in the Northstate. Rain is likely for the valley and foothills Sunday night, while snow will fall in the Sierra Nevada above 5500 feet. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from late tomorrow (Sunday) through Tuesday for 6-12 inches above 5500 feet. I am confident the watch will change to a warning over the next 24 hours. As the front pushes through our area on Monday, expect showers and breezy conditions; winds will be out of the south around 15-20 mph, with gusts to 30 mph. There will be a chance of showers each day Tuesday through Thursday. Calmer, drier weather should return by next Friday. High temperatures today will be in the mid 70s, while tomorrow temps drop to around 70 for the high. Highs Monday through Thursday will dip into the mid 60s, but Friday's high temp should reach 70 degrees. Bring on the stormy weather! Seriously, though, be careful driving Sunday night into Monday. Oil that has built up on the roads over the past several months will cause them to become very slick when combined with the first rains of the season. Ease your speed and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Sunday Night Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Showers. High near 64. South southeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Tuesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 70.