chance of thunderstorms in the forecast

It wasn't quite as hot in Chico today as the National Weather Service was predicting, but it was still hot- 98 degrees was the high at the Chico State University Farm on the south end of town. As I type this blog entry it is 97 degrees at the Chico Airport out on the north side of the city. That closed low pressure system I mentioned yesterday has already begun affecting the weather in the Sierra Nevada mountains as thunderstorms have been developing there all afternoon. Thunderstorms there may initially start out dry, but as the moisture from the Pacific Ocean increases, so will the rain with the thunderstorms. These storms will become more numerous this evening through Wednesday, and may affect some valley locations tomorrow through Wednesday, as well. A Red Flag Warning will go into effect for the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills at 11 am tomorrow until 11 pm Wednesday for potential fire starts due to lightning. The Swedes Fire southeast of Oroville continues to burn, and is at nearly 1900 acres. The fire is about 25% contained. Smoke from this fire has been hovering over Chico and most of Butte County all day, and that is probably why the temperatures haven't soared above 100 degrees. Hopefully we'll get some rain to help put this and other fires across Northern California out. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming northeast in the evening. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South wind 5 to 8 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Thursday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Friday Sunny, with a high near 93. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 91. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 90.