active weather pattern

Chico experienced a thunderstorm yesterday evening that contained small hail, thunder and lightning, and heavy rain. The storm was very isolated, and skirted the east side of Chico as it moved south toward Oroville. I was driving into the storm last night as I was coming home from work. I thought I was back in Florida! I almost stopped to pull to the side of the road to wait out the heavy rain as I could not see very well. Within moments, however, the rain eased as I was driving out of the storm. Also yesterday morning, there was a Wind Advisory posted, as winds gusted up and over 30 mph. The winds eased after 9 am, and the sun even shone through the clouds for the afternoon. Expect a brief lull before more storms arrive later this week. Today and tomorrow will be sunny, but chilly, with highs only in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Wednesday night, rain returns, and will last through Sunday. It appears we'll be measuring rainfall in inches in the valley, and feet of snow in the mountains. Speaking of snow, some of the precipitation in the Redding and Shasta Lake areas (well north of Chico) may fall as snow. That's because it is expected to be very chilly tonight and tomorrow night in those areas, so Redding may see 2-4 inches of snow Wednesday night before transitioning to all rain by Thursday. No snow is expected for Chico, but some foothills locations such as Magalia may see snow initially before turning over to rain late Wednesday into early Thursday. It will also be very breezy Thursday, with southeasterly wind gusts reaching 40 mph for the valley. Calm weather returns by Christmas Eve. Here is Chico's detailed forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. North northwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Tonight Patchy frost after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind around 7 mph. Wednesday A 10 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind. Wednesday Night Rain likely, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 34. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Thursday Rain. High near 45. Southeast wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Thursday Night Rain. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Friday Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Friday Night Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 41. Saturday Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Saturday Night Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Sunday Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Sunday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

a very wet period ahead

Well, the weather forecast has changed again. Now it looks like we are entering a very wet and unsettled period. Yesterday was wet in Chico, with .20 of an inch falling. Highs yesterday were stuck in the lower 40s, with 30s for highs in the foothill communities east of Chico. Warmer air will overtake the region later today, pushing snow levels up to above 3000 feet. There may still be some leftover snow showers down to 1700 feet this morning, though, so be careful on the roads. Rain remains in the picture tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday before we see a slight break on Wednesday. However, we may see more powerful storms beginning Thursday and lasting through the weekend before Christmas. At this time, it's hard to predict how much precipitation will fall over the next seven days, so keep checking back for updates. At least for the next 24 hours, expect rain and breezy conditions for Chico as the first of many storms affects us this coming week. Here are the specifics from the National Weather Service: Today Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight Rain. Low around 44. Southeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Rain, mainly before 4pm. High near 50. South southeast wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Monday Night Showers likely, mainly after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 35. East southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Light west northwest wind. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Wednesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Thursday Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Thursday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Friday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Friday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Saturday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

snow for Paradise

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES. * TIMING: THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: PARADISE. * WINDS: LIGHT WINDS. * IMPACTS: SLICK ROADS. CHAIN REQUIREMENTS AND TRAVEL DELAYS POSSIBLE. 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. If you live in Paradise and are shopping in Chico this afternoon, be careful heading home up the Skyway, as snow may be falling. Slick roads are a possibility driving in the foothills east of Chico this evening and overnight. Use caution.

wet and chilly weather

It was quite chilly today in Chico, with a high temperature of 50 degrees. It will be quite chilly tonight, as the expected low dips into the upper 20s! Patchy frost is possible tomorrow morning, so cover any tender vegetation. Rain is likely for much of this weekend and into early next week as a series of storms move through our region. The next dry day looks to be next Wednesday; the dry weather should stick around into next weekend. However, the cold air pouring in from the Gulf of Alaska will stick around through much of the forecast period. Hey, it'll get you into the Christmas spirit, right? Speaking of getting into the Christmas spirit, the Northstate Symphony Orchestra is having a Christmas concert this evening in Chico. Also, the Nutcracker is being staged by the Chico Community Ballet all this weekend at Laxson Auditorium. Check out the Chico News and Review for times and ticket info. Have a safe and merry weekend! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Calm wind. Saturday Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Patchy frost before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Light south southeast wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Saturday Night Rain likely, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Sunday A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Sunday Night A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Monday Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Monday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tuesday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Tuesday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Wednesday Night Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Thursday Night Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

feeling like Christmas

If at least not LOOKING like Christmas (no snow on the ground-- it doesn't snow in Chico very often). As I type this, it is 33 degrees in Chico. Brrr! Not much rain fell with this last system-- less than a quarter of an inch in Chico-- but more wet weather is on the way. It looks like the best chance for rain at this time is Saturday night. It will remain chilly, with highs only climbing into the low 50s after lows in the mid 30s both Friday and Saturday mornings. Lows climb into the upper 30s/ lower 40s Sunday morning through Tuesday morning as somewhat milder Pacific air is brought in by subsequent weather systems. These additional systems will also bring more showers to our area. It doesn't look like a pleasant weekend to go holiday shopping, but, thankfully, most of the shopping is indoors! Here's Chico's seven day outlook from the National Weather Service: Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Tonight A 10 percent chance of rain after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Light northeast wind. Friday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Light and variable wind. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Calm wind. Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Sunday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Monday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Monday Night Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Tuesday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Tuesday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Wednesday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

becoming chilly and unsettled

The nice stretch of dry, mild weather will be coming to an end today. It'll be mostly sunny, but a chance of showers will creep into the area late this afternoon. A cold front will be sweeping through our region tonight, bringing rain and breezy conditions with it. We won't see the drenching rains from a little over a week ago with this storm, though. Behind the front, temperatures will drop, with highs only in the upper 40s tomorrow with light rain showers. The snow level will drop to around 2500-3000 feet by Wednesday morning. Expect up to a foot of snow above 5000 feet, with 3-6 inches down to 3000 feet by Wednesday afternoon. It will remain chilly and unsettled through the weekend, with another potent storm for Saturday. It's definitely beginning to look and feel like Christmas! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today A 30 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Light east southeast wind becoming south southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Rain, mainly after 10pm. Low around 40. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Wednesday Showers, mainly before 4pm. High near 49. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Wednesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Light and variable wind. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Friday A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Friday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Saturday A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Saturday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Sunday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Sunday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Monday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

mild days, cold nights

The Dense Fog Advisory issued for the Sacramento Valley yesterday morning was not needed, as there were never any problems with visibility in Chico. Oh, well. Yesterday was beautiful in Chico, with partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 62 degrees (normal for December 8th is 58). It sure has been chilly in the mornings, though. Lows have been dipping into the mid 30s (normal for this time of year is 37). OK, so we're not that much off the mark as far as actual vs. average lows, but it has still been chilly. The mild days/ chilly nights scenario will continue the next few days, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s. A cooldown will begin midweek, with highs by Wednesday in the mid 50s, along with a chance of rain. High temps will remain in the 50s through next weekend. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 64. North northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 6 mph. Monday Sunny, with a high near 63. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Light and variable wind. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Wednesday A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Wednesday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Saturday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.