is it summer already?

Well, no, but Mother Nature thinks it is. More on that in a moment. The high temperatures have been above average the past few days in Chico, with highs ranging from the upper 70s to mid 80s (the high was 84 degrees in Chico today). Now, more about the summer reference. Highs will continue to heat up over the next seven days in the Sacramento Valley, pushing 90 degrees tomorrow, and perhaps the mid to upper 90s by the end of next week! Yikes! We should be in the mid to upper 70s for average highs this time of year. Keep in mind that the area streams and rivers are running cold with the recent snowmelt. The water may be tempting to jump into this warm weekend, but the water temperature may only be in the 40s or 50s Fahrenheit. Your muscles may begin to cramp if you stay in the cold water for very long. You can probably dip your toes in without much harm, but be wary of jumping right in. For cycling enthusiasts, the Chico Velo Wildflower Century is this Sunday morning. It's a bicycle event (I don't think it's considered a "race"), with different levels ranging from very challenging to beginners. The routes wind throughout Butte County, and begin and end at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico. It's an annual event that has been going on for over 30 years now. For more info, visit the Chico Velo website. If doing any other outdoor activities this weekend, be mindful of the warm temps and take it easy. If you want to get that jog or hike in, it's a good idea to do it early to avoid the heat of the afternoon. Have fun, but be careful this weekend! Here's Chico's seven day outlook courtesy of the National Weather Service: Tonight Clear, with a low around 52. Light and variable wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north after midnight. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 87. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest in the morning. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph. Monday Sunny, with a high near 88. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 88. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 90. Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 52. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 91. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 53. Friday Sunny, with a high near 94.