chilly and showery

Chico received 1.15 inches over the past 24 hours, and the high temperature yesterday did not get above 60 degrees. There was also some severe weather yesterday, as well. Tornado warnings were issued for south Butte County as a funnel cloud was sighted north of Marysville around 3 pm yesterday. There was no damage, but lightning and hail accompanied that storm cell. Expect the cool and showery trend to continue today and tomorrow as this large, sprawling area of low pressure is not finished with us yet. Look for off and on showers today and tomorrow, with chilly highs in the mid to upper 50s. Some thunderstorms are possible again today, as we may see areas of sunshine. That will allow the atmosphere to destabilize and produce more thunderstorms. By Thursday the weather will calm down and the sunshine will return. Temps by the weekend will warm to the lower 70s. The next chance of rain could come next Monday. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers after 11pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Low around 45. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wednesday Showers. High near 59. Southeast wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 9 mph. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Monday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70

wet for first half of the week; dry and sunny thereafter

Rain begins tonight for the valley, while snow is in store for the Sierra Nevada above 5000 feet. A Winter Storm Warning begins tonight a 11 and continues until 5 am Tuesday morning. Six to twelve inches of snow are expected above 5000 feet, while up to two feet of snow may accumulate above 7500 feet. A quarter to a half an inch of rain is predicted to fall in the valley over the next 24 hours, with more accumulations possible beyond that. Showers will persist through Wednesday before drying out on Thursday. Dry weather will continue Friday through next Sunday, with moderating temperatures. High temperatures Monday through Wednesday will not get beyond the mid 50s in Chico. Brrr! We're going from fall (this weekend was gorgeous, with sunny skies and 80 degrees yesterday, and partly sunny and 67 degrees today) to winter in 24 hours! By the end of the week, highs should climb into the 60s and 70s. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Rain after 11pm. Low around 51. East wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southeast 12 to 17 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. High near 57. Southeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers after 11pm. Low around 47. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tuesday Night Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

wet next week

This weekend could be our last shot at some sunny, mild weather for awhile. A cold (relatively speaking) storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward over the next couple of days. By late Sunday, this low pressure system and accompanying cold front will begin affecting our weather here in the Northstate. Rain is likely for the valley and foothills Sunday night, while snow will fall in the Sierra Nevada above 5500 feet. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from late tomorrow (Sunday) through Tuesday for 6-12 inches above 5500 feet. I am confident the watch will change to a warning over the next 24 hours. As the front pushes through our area on Monday, expect showers and breezy conditions; winds will be out of the south around 15-20 mph, with gusts to 30 mph. There will be a chance of showers each day Tuesday through Thursday. Calmer, drier weather should return by next Friday. High temperatures today will be in the mid 70s, while tomorrow temps drop to around 70 for the high. Highs Monday through Thursday will dip into the mid 60s, but Friday's high temp should reach 70 degrees. Bring on the stormy weather! Seriously, though, be careful driving Sunday night into Monday. Oil that has built up on the roads over the past several months will cause them to become very slick when combined with the first rains of the season. Ease your speed and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Sunday Night Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Showers. High near 64. South southeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Monday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Tuesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 70.

Special Weather Statement

From the National Weather Service: THE FIRST MONTH OF AUTUMN HAS BEEN QUITE MILD THIS YEAR WITH MOST OF THE DAYS OVER THE LAST MONTH SEEING DAYTIME HIGHS ABOVE SEASON NORMALS. IF FORECAST MODELS ARE CORRECT...THIS MILD WEATHER PATTERN IS ABOUT TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THANKS TO A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM EXPECTED TO DROP OUT OF THE GULF OF ALASKA. A SLIGHT DROP IN DAYTIME TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MORE COOLING GOING INTO THE WEEKEND. AS THE MAIN LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BECOMES ESTABLISHED OFF THE COAST ON SUNDAY...CLOUDINESS AND COOLER AIR WILL BRING DAYTIME HIGHS DOWN TO SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. A FRONTAL BAND ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY FORECAST TO SWING THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THIS FRONTAL PASSAGE IS EXPECTED TO BRING PRECIPITATION TO MOST OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WEATHER MODEL PROJECTIONS RANGE THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL MONDAY INTO TUESDAY BETWEEN ABOUT A QUARTER AND A HALF AN INCH IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THIS RAINFALL WILL TRANSLATE INTO SNOWFALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS WITH THIS COLD SYSTEM WILL BE FAIRLY LOW FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR RANGING FROM ABOUT 5000 FEET OVER SHASTA COUNTY TO AROUND 6000 FEET OVER THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA. THIS PUTS SNOWFALL DOWN TO THE MAJOR TRANS-SIERRA PASSES WHERE A FEW TO SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW COULD EASILY PRODUCE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON WHEN DRIVERS COULD BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM BUT ALL CURRENT INDICATIONS POINT TOWARDS NEXT WEEK STARTING OUT MUCH WETTER AND COOLER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

rain looking likely

It was another warm day today, with the high temperature in Chico at 89 degrees. This follows yesterday's high of 91 degrees. The cooldown begins tomorrow, as highs will be right around average for mid-October. Then it will cool down even more by the weekend. Highs by Sunday will be in the lower 70s. By Monday, a cold front will move through, bringing us even cooler weather, and a decent chance of the wet stuff. Rain lingers into Tuesday, with a chance of showers Wednesday and next Thursday. Highs next week will remain in the 60s. Here is Chico's wet and cool forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East southeast wind around 7 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind around 6 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Monday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Monday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Tuesday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Tuesday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Wednesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Wednesday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Thursday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

warm and dry today, but cooler this weekend

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Sacramento Valley (including Chico) until 7 pm this evening. This is due to gusty, dry winds from the northwest combined with very low humidity and warm temperatures that could contribute to dangerous fire potential. Do not do any agricultural or backyard burning today. Highs today will push 90 degrees, 11 degrees above the average of 79 degrees for October 17th. However, this heat will be short-lived as a trough begins to affect our weather by this weekend. There may even be a chance for some rain next week. This could be our first rain of the season. Let's hope it happens, as it is bone dry out there. High temperatures for this weekend will drop into the 70s, while highs next week may not get above 70 degrees! Nice! Bring on the fall weather! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight Clear, with a low around 49. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. East southeast wind around 7 mph. Friday Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 71.Sunday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.Monday A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.Monday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Red Flag Warning for high fire danger

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING BELOW 1000 FEET FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM PDT WEDNESDAY. * AFFECTED AREA...THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND DELTA REGION...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 215...216...217...AND 218. * WINDS...NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH IN THE WESTERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 5 TO 10 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES COMBINED WITH FUEL CONDITIONS AT CRITICAL LEVELS WILL LEAD TO ENHANCED FIRE DANGER...ESPECIALLY FOR FINE FUELS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.