It's hard to believe right now, with sunny skies and temps in the upper 70s and lower 80s across the region, but there is a Winter Storm Watch in effect between Sunday morning and Sunday evening for the Sierra Nevada mountains above 5000 feet. Up to 14 inches of snow can be expected above 7000 feet, while 8 inches is predicted down to 5000 feet. In the valley, including Chico, cold core thunderstorms will be prevalent on Sunday, producing small hail, lightning, and heavy rain. High temperatures this weekend will be 10 to 20 degrees below what they are currently. A large and cold low pressure system dropping south from the Gulf of Alaska is responsible for this abrupt change in the weather. At least Saturday should be a decent day! Here are the specifics from the National Weather Service:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind between 11 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South southeast wind between 8 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind between 11 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 61. South southeast wind between 13 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
nice weather the rest of the week; possible showers for the weekend
A rather odd thing happened late Sunday night/ early Monday morning, and I completely missed it: A thunderstorm barreled through Chico and Butte County. It happened between 11 pm Sunday and just after midnight early Monday. I was asleep at the time, and some of my coworkers were amazed I slept through all of the racket. Apparently there was intense lightning and window-rattling thunder, along with heavy rain. Chico received .55 of an inch from this one thunderstorm. It's very unusual to experience thunderstorms in Northern California; it's even more rare to have it happen at night. Apparently there was enough moisture at the surface and instability aloft to create this very isolated thunderstorm. In contrast, today has been gorgeous, with sunny skies and a current temperature of 78 degrees. The rest of this work week should be equally nice, but the weekend looks a bit iffy. A strong trough of low pressure looks to set up shop over Northern California and provide us with below normal temperatures and showery conditions. This looks a bit iffy right now, and we may not receive any rain. Keep checking back for updates. For now, here's what the National Weather Service is saying for Chico the next seven days:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind 13 to 16 mph decreasing to between 5 and 8 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Monday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind 13 to 16 mph decreasing to between 5 and 8 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Monday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Goldilocks weather
I titled my blog entry "Goldilocks weather" because after today the weather won't be too warm or too cold, but just right. The weather will be sunny and mild this week, with temperatures in the 70s and lower 80s from tomorrow through the end of the week. In the meantime, expect chilly weather, with showers a possibility this afternoon and temps not getting out of the lower 60s for highs. Weird weather- Chico goes from highs in the lower 90s on Thursday to the lower 60s today. Mother Nature can't seem to make up her mind! Well, hopefully everyone will have a nice Mother's Day today, despite the weather. Here is the detailed Chico forecast from the National Weather Service:
This Afternoon: Scattered showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. North northwest wind between 6 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North northwest wind between 6 and 9 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
This Afternoon: Scattered showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. North northwest wind between 6 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North northwest wind between 6 and 9 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday, May 6, 2011
cooler, showery weather for Mother's Day
From the National Weather Service:
A LOW PRESSURE AREA OFF THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WILL DEEPEN
OVER THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. THIS WILL BRING COLDER TEMPERATURES
AND SHOWERS TO THE REGION. EXPECT COOLING THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
VALLEY DAYTIME HIGHS ONLY REACHING THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S WHILE
MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES ONLY WARMING INTO THE 40S TO MID 50S FOR SUNDAY.
SOME SHOWERS MAY START TO DEVELOP SATURDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND SATURDAY NIGHT OVER THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY
...FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. THE BEST CHANCES OF SHOWERS WILL OCCUR
DURING MOTHERS DAY. AS UNSTABLE AIR MOVES OVER THE REGION SUNDAY
AFTERNOON THE POTENTIAL FOR VALLEY SHOWERS WILL INCREASE ALONG
WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
SUNDAY NIGHT AND DIMINISH MONDAY EXCEPT IN WESTERN PLUMAS
COUNTY...LASSEN PARK AREA...AND THE WEST SLOPE OF THE NORTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO GENERALLY BE
LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH IN THE VALLEY AND LESS THAN HALF AN
INCH IN THE MOUNTAINS.
SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER ON SUNDAY TO BETWEEN 4500 FEET
OVER THE NORTH TO AROUND 5500 FEET FOR THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE
SIERRA NEVADA. SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER FURTHER SUNDAY NIGHT. SEVERAL
INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO
CAUSE SOME TRAVEL PROBLEMS OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES.
IN ADDITION...AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL BE RUNNING VERY COLD AND VERY
FAST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. EVERYONE GOING INTO THE WATER
SHOULD WEAR A LIFE VEST OR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. CHILDREN
THAT ARE EVEN JUST WADING ALONG A WATERWAY SHOULD WEAR A LIFE
VEST. EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMERS CAN SUFFER FROM HYPOTHERMIA.
PERSONS TRAVELING TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS OR
PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND SHOULD MONITOR THE
FORECAST AND CHECK FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM YOUR NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
A LOW PRESSURE AREA OFF THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WILL DEEPEN
OVER THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. THIS WILL BRING COLDER TEMPERATURES
AND SHOWERS TO THE REGION. EXPECT COOLING THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
VALLEY DAYTIME HIGHS ONLY REACHING THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S WHILE
MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES ONLY WARMING INTO THE 40S TO MID 50S FOR SUNDAY.
SOME SHOWERS MAY START TO DEVELOP SATURDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND SATURDAY NIGHT OVER THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY
...FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. THE BEST CHANCES OF SHOWERS WILL OCCUR
DURING MOTHERS DAY. AS UNSTABLE AIR MOVES OVER THE REGION SUNDAY
AFTERNOON THE POTENTIAL FOR VALLEY SHOWERS WILL INCREASE ALONG
WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
SUNDAY NIGHT AND DIMINISH MONDAY EXCEPT IN WESTERN PLUMAS
COUNTY...LASSEN PARK AREA...AND THE WEST SLOPE OF THE NORTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO GENERALLY BE
LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH IN THE VALLEY AND LESS THAN HALF AN
INCH IN THE MOUNTAINS.
SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER ON SUNDAY TO BETWEEN 4500 FEET
OVER THE NORTH TO AROUND 5500 FEET FOR THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE
SIERRA NEVADA. SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER FURTHER SUNDAY NIGHT. SEVERAL
INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO
CAUSE SOME TRAVEL PROBLEMS OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES.
IN ADDITION...AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL BE RUNNING VERY COLD AND VERY
FAST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. EVERYONE GOING INTO THE WATER
SHOULD WEAR A LIFE VEST OR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE. CHILDREN
THAT ARE EVEN JUST WADING ALONG A WATERWAY SHOULD WEAR A LIFE
VEST. EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMERS CAN SUFFER FROM HYPOTHERMIA.
PERSONS TRAVELING TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS OR
PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND SHOULD MONITOR THE
FORECAST AND CHECK FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM YOUR NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
warm week to be followed by cooler weekend
Today has officially been the hottest day in Chico so far this calendar year, as the high temperature reached 91 degrees. Yesterday was quite warm, as well, as the mercury climbed to 89 degrees in Chico. We will have one more above average temperature day tomorrow before cooler, and possibly wetter, weather invades this weekend. Don't worry; there is no fear of a weekend washout, as there will be only a slight chance of a shower on Sunday. As is typical this time of year, this cooler weather will not last, and we'll be back into the 80s by next week. Here are the details from the National Weather Service:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind at 6 mph becoming south.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South southeast wind between 5 and 9 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind at 9 mph becoming southeast.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 49.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind at 6 mph becoming south.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South southeast wind between 5 and 9 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind at 9 mph becoming southeast.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 49.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
warm and windy
What is up with all this wind? It has been windy since last Friday, with every day since then recording wind speeds in Chico of over 20 mph! It has been warm, as well, but only a couple of degrees above average, with today's high temperature so far at 82 degrees. It's going to get a whole lot warmer the next few days- lower 90s are expected tomorrow and Thursday! Fortunately, it looks sunny but cooler for this weekend, perfect for an art gallery hop! The Chico Visual Arts Alliance (or CHIVAA), is hosting an art exhibit at the funky, Mediterranean-style Matador Motel on the Esplanade this Friday and Saturday. Artwork will be exhibited under the tents and palm trees in the motel's courtyard, as well as in individual motel rooms. The artwork will highlight Mexican-American artists primarily, timed with Cinco de Mayo. Interestingly, Cinco de Mayo is a bigger holiday here north of the border than in some parts of Mexico! Any excuse for a party, I guess. Anyway, here is the latest forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 56. North northwest wind between 5 and 9 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. North northwest wind between 6 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. North wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light northwest wind.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 50.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 56. North northwest wind between 5 and 9 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. North northwest wind between 6 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. North wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light northwest wind.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 50.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
near 90 degrees by Wednesday?
Perhaps. The National Weather Service is predicting a strong high pressure system will build over California this week, raising temperatures and calming the gusty northwesterly winds we've been experiencing the past three days. The winds weren't quite as gusty today as they were yesterday and Friday. Winds those two days were clocked at over 30 mph! However, it has been a gorgeous weekend despite the winds. Yesterday's high temperature In Chico was 74 degrees, and today we broke 80 degrees for the first time in over a month. The forecast looks to continue this warming trend, with mid to upper 80s expected by the middle of the week. A couple of spots may even reach 90 degrees. This mini heat wave is not expected to last, as highs by this weekend dip back into the 70s. Still, beautiful weather is supposed to continue, and we deserve it after a wet and chilly early spring! Here is the detailed seven day forecast for Chico from the NWS:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light wind becoming south between 10 and 13 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind at 10 mph becoming north northwest.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. North northwest wind between 8 and 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light wind becoming south between 10 and 13 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind at 10 mph becoming north northwest.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. North northwest wind between 8 and 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)