Back to the grind... and the heat

This holiday weekend was mainly pleasant in Chico, with very little rain and high temperatures in the 70s. In the Napa Valley, where the hubby and I went camping, it rained both Friday AND Saturday afternoon. That's okay; it was pleasant during the morning (albeit a tad chilly), and Sunday was nice all day long. Unfortunately, it's back to work tomorrow, and the heat will return. Perfect timing, I know. High temperatures will steadily increase throughout the rest of this week, with highs by Thursday and Friday in the mid to upper 90s. That's hot! Fortunately the heat does not last, as highs for next weekend fall back into the 80s. Here are the details for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Southeast wind between 5 and 8 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Light south southwest wind. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South southeast wind at 7 mph becoming northeast. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. North northwest wind around 7 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North northwest wind between 3 and 8 mph. Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

cold and unsettled, then sunny and hot

The seven day forecast for Northern California has it all- showers, thunderstorms, snow, wind, and heat. Today has been blustery in Chico, with northwesterly winds up to 30 mph at times. It has been noticeably cooler, as well, with highs today in the upper 70s (normals are in the mid 80s this time of year). Expect the blustery, coolish conditions to continue into Friday, with a chance for thunderstorms in the valley and snow above 6000 feet in the northern Sierra Nevada. A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect at 6 am tomorrow for elevations above 6000 feet. Anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of the white stuff could fall, so if camping in the high country this weekend, be mindful of this. Once this cold core low pressure system moves east on Saturday, dry and warmer weather will return. By the end of next week, we'll be seeing highs in the 90s in Chico. Also, I'm going camping near the Napa Valley this weekend, so there will be no weather posts until next week. Oh, I almost forgot: the Silver Dollar Fair starts tonight at the appropriately named Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. The rides, concerts, livestock exhibits, and cotton candy last through Monday. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Breezy, with a north northwest wind between 17 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. North northwest wind between 8 and 11 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East northeast wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East northeast wind at 8 mph becoming south southeast. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 83. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90.

Rain in the forecast?

We could see some shower and thunderstorm activity on Friday as a cold front moves through our area. Expect snow in the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada Friday and Friday night. If camping in the Sierra this weekend, be aware of the much cooler weather coming our way. In the valley, as mentioned, expect some showers and possibly a thunderstorm Friday and into Saturday. Chances of this occurring are small; however, high temperatures will also cool down late this week in the valley. High temps on Friday in Chico will only be around 70 degrees. As is the case this time of year, temperatures will rapidly warm up into the mid 80s by early next week. Here is Chico's weather forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. North northwest wind between 13 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North northwest wind between 9 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 76. North northwest wind between 13 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 84. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86.

cooler weather this week

The Annular Eclipse yesterday over Chico was amazing! We could not have asked for better sky conditions or timing. Clouds began to roll in from the northwest about half an hour after the eclipse was over. It was interesting to me in that it felt like the temperature dropped a good five to almost ten degrees while the eclipse was happening. I also noticed the southerly breeze calmed a bit (at least at my house in the foothills) while the eclipse was happening, and then picked up again after the eclipse. It was a very cool experience. Speaking of cool, that's what the weather will be by the end of this week. Daytime high temperatures will slowly begin cooling down from their highs in the low 90s yesterday. By this weekend, highs will range from the mid to upper 70s. There will also be a slight chance of a shower Thursday night through Friday evening. Otherwise, Memorial Day weekend looks fantastic. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind between 7 and 10 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind between 6 and 9 mph becoming calm. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northwest wind between 5 and 9 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North northwest wind between 6 and 9 mph. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. North northwest wind around 10 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Friday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Friday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

changes in store

Today and tomorrow will be warm in Chico, with highs in the mid to upper 80s under sunny skies. The weather should cooperate for the annular eclipse tomorrow, which should peak right around 6:30 pm. There may be a few thin high clouds, but otherwise skies tomorrow should be clear. Changes are in store for the middle to latter part of next week, as a series of cold fronts move across Northern California. Highs will only be in the low to mid 70s by late next week. Showers should be confined mainly to the northern mountains. Memorial Day weekend should be dry, with below normal temps in the upper 70s (we should be around 84 for the high this time of year). Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Today was beautiful- heating up this weekend

Today was lovely as far as the weather was concerned. Other than some morning clouds and afternoon haze, it was dry and partly sunny. Temperatures stayed in the 70s this afternoon, making it very comfortable to be outdoors. My husband and I drove into Upper Bidwell Park and did a brief hike this morning. It was very nice. It looks like it will warm up this weekend as high pressure strengthens over our region. Highs in the lower 90s will be likely by Sunday. Temps cool back down early next week to seasonal levels. It will continue to remain dry through the period. This weekend will be busy in Chico as Chico State holds its graduations. There will be thousands of familes in town to watch their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters graduate. Parking will be a nightmare, but hopefully these families will spend their money here and add to Chico's coffers. Here is the detailed forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Light wind becoming north northwest between 14 and 17 mph. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. North northwest wind between 3 and 6 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind. Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 58. South wind at 5 mph becoming northeast. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Not as hot as previously thought

Happy Hump Day! The past two days in Chico have been very nice weather-wise, with sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s/ mid 80s. It will be warm today, but not hot, with highs in the mid 80s. The rest of the seven day forecast looks warm, but not hot, as well. Highs through early next week will hold in the lower to middle 80s while overnight lows will stay mainly in the 50s. Very nice, comfortable readings. Sunshine will abound, with the exception of an isolated thunderstorm tomorrow. Otherwise, expect typically dry weather for this time of year. Here is Chico's seven day outlook from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind between 5 and 7 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southeast wind at 9 mph becoming east northeast. Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East southeast wind at 9 mph becoming southwest. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northwest wind around 9 mph. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.