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.