cold and stormy Christmas weekend

Interesting that we are expected to have a very stormy and wet weekend, yet there is no Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service about it. There IS a statement about heavy snow impacting the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada this weekend. Places such as upper Paradise, Forest Ranch, and Magalia could see over a FOOT of snow between late Thursday and Sunday. Even locations as low as 1700 feet could see several inches of the white stuff late this week. At this time, a Winter Storm Watch has been posted for elevations above 1500 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills for all of this expected snow. This could turn into a Winter Storm Warning over the next 24 hours as the first in a series of storms gets closer. For the valley, expect about an inch of rain with this first storm, due to arrive later tomorrow. Also expect gusty winds from the southeast up to 35 mph. There is rain (or snow- depending on your elevation) all through the weekend, so if traveling for the Christmas holiday, factor in hazardous weather conditions. By Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the rain should end and sunny weather return. Here is Chico's seven day outlook from the National Weather Service: Today A slight chance of sprinkles after 4pm. Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Tonight A slight chance of sprinkles before 10pm, then a slight chance of sprinkles after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Thursday A chance for sprinkles, then rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday Night Rain. Low around 37. East southeast wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Friday Rain. High near 47. Southeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Friday Night Rain. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Saturday Rain. High near 48. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Saturday Night Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37. Sunday Showers. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Sunday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Monday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Christmas Day Partly sunny, with a high near 51.