Here's a pic of the fog in the valley this past Friday, January 7, 2011, from my back porch. This is facing west/ southwest, about a half hour after the sun set. You can (hopefully) see the sea of fog with the Coast Range poking up over it. This is the view from my back porch! Back to the recent weather, yesterday was just gloomy all day long. The fog was thick at my house, while in Chico, 1300 feet below my house, it was overcast all day. Today the fog broke and the sun came out. It made for a beautiful, if chilly, day. Temps were stuck in the mid 40s all day in Chico, despite the sunshine. It looks like another pattern shift is setting up, with unsettled weather beginning midweek and lasting into next weekend. We may not see any big storms, but it looks like rain is a certainty, especially Thursday. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service for Chico is after the pic:




Tonight: Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North northwest wind around 7 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 7 mph.

Monday Night: A slight chance of sprinkles after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North northeast wind around 7 mph.

Tuesday: A chance for sprinkles, then a chance of rain after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 51. East northeast wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Southeast wind between 5 and 9 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 41.

Thursday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Friday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Friday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Sunday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

freezing fog possible

If you have to be out and about early this morning, be aware that there could be some patchy freezing fog and/or black ice on the roads, especially in sheltered areas and in the foothills. I live in the foothills east of Chico, and the road I live on was extremely slick and frosty yesterday morning. Basically what I'm trying to say is: Be careful while driving.The sun never came out in Chico yesterday due to the very thick overcast blanketing the valley. It looked like a sea of white from my house, with the Coast Ranges poking through the dense fog layer. I took a couple of pics with my new camera, and as soon as I can figure out how to download them, I'll post them on my next blog entry. The National Weather Service states that there will be sun this afternoon, but we'll have to wait and see. Currently there is thick fog in Chico and surrounding areas, with temps ranging from the upper 20s to mid 30s. Temps will be chilly this weekend- only in the 40s (we should be around 54 degrees this time of year). Temps will begin to moderate as we get into next week. A series of storms will begin to affect our weather by the middle of next week, and we could see rain well into next weekend. Of course, all this could change, so keep checking back for updates. For now, here's what the NWS is saying for Chico:

Today: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Light south wind.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. East southeast wind at 5 mph becoming northwest.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind at 5 mph becoming east.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind at 6 mph becoming west.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 54.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 36.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 39.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

morning fog, afternoon sun

We're experiencing typical January weather in Chico lately, with foggy mornings giving way to hazy sunshine in the afternoon. The high temperature in Chico today was only 45 degrees due to the dense morning fog and overcast. There is a Dense Fog Advisory in effect for the Sacramento Valley, including Chico, through 10 am tomorrow. Visibilities will range from a quarter of a mile down to zero in some locations, so use those low beams and reduce your speed. There is a chance a couple of winter storms may pass through by the middle of next week. Until then, enjoy the sunshine this weekend. Here's the forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Areas of dense fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy during the early evening, then becoming cloudy, with a low around 34. Light east northeast wind.

Friday: Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Light north northwest wind.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light and variable wind.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. South southwest wind around 6 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Monday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 38.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

frosty mornings, sunny afternoons

That just about sums up the weather the past couple of days. Morning lows have been chilly- mainly in the the 20s to lower 30s, while afternoon temps have been in the mid 50s. This trend should continue for the next seven days, with the chance of rain completely removed from this weekend's forecast. Be careful when driving to work tomorrow- a Dense Fog Advisory will be in effect from 10 pm this evening until 10 am tomorrow. Visibilities in some areas of the valley may lower to less than a quarter of a mile. Allow some extra time for tomorrow morning. Otherwise, enjoy the nice, balmy January weather. Here's the Chico seven day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 31. East northeast wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Wednesday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 55. North northwest wind between 3 and 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind around 6 mph becoming east.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

nice, uneventful weather

Today in Chico started out gray and gloomy, with light rain showers persisting into the early afternoon. By late afternoon, the clouds parted and the sun came out. The temperatures responded, climbing from the mid 40s around noon to the mid 50s around 4 pm. It should be partly cloudy tonight (the National Weather Service is forecasting a slight chance of a shower before 10 pm) with lows in the low to mid 30s. Much of the upcoming work week looks very nice, with sunny skies and seasonable temps. A chance of rain returns for next weekend, but we'll worry about that then. For now, let's enjoy the return of the sun! Here's the seven day forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 33. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Monday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Light north wind.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 55.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

rainy start to the new year

Well, there wasn't much snow in Chico today, although some colder valley areas did see some snow early this morning. The foothills east of Chico above about 1000 feet saw anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow. Temps have warmed into the lower 40s in many areas today, and the next storm moving in tonight and lingering tomorrow will bring rain to most lower elevation locations. Once this next storm exits late tomorrow, look for abundant sunshine and milder temperatures for much of the next work week. The next chance for rain won't be until next weekend, and it'll be a slight chance, at that. Here are the details from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 6 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Happy (cold and white) New Year!

Happy 2011! To kick off this new year, Chico could get a little snow this morning! About two to three inches of snow have fallen at my house at 1500 feet in elevation. Some parts of the valley floor could see an inch of the white stuff! More info from the National Weather Service:

A Winter Weather Advisory Remains In Effect Until Noon PST Today.

• Timing: Rain Will Spread Across The Region This Morning. Light
To Moderate Snow Showers Will Fall New Year's Morning As Snow
Levels Drop Below 500 Feet. Snow Will Taper Off To Scattered
Rain And Snow Showers Late This Morning As Snow Levels Rise
Above 1000 Feet.

• Main Impact: Early New Year's Revelers Will Encounter Snowfall
Along Interstate 5 And Toward Chico Toward The Sutter Buttes.
Accumulating Snow Will Occur Over The North Valley And Likely On
The Periphery Of The Valley And On The Sutter Buttes.

• Snow Accumulations: 2 To 4 Inches Above 1000 Feet By Noon
Saturday. Up To 1 Inch May Fall In The Valley Early This
Morning.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions...

A Winter Weather Advisory For Snow Means That Periods Of Snow
Will Cause Primarily Travel Difficulties. Be Prepared For Snow
Covered Roads And Limited Visibilities...And Use Caution While
Driving.