cool and wet

Happy Halloween! After warm and sunny weather the past couple of days (high temp of 80 degrees Monday; 77 yesterday), there will be a drastic change to the weather starting today. A quick-moving cold front will spread valley rain and mountain snow across Northern California later today and tonight. This is a warm storm, so snow levels will be above 6500 feet and mainly above pass level. Up to six inches of snow will fall above that elevation, while a quarter to a half inch of rain will accumulate in the valley between this evening and tomorrow morning. Showers will taper off by midday tomorrow, and the sun and warmth return for the weekend. For Treat Street today in downtown Chico from 2-5pm, expect mostly cloudy skies and breezy conditions (generally 10-20 mph winds from the south). It will be mostly dry, as the rain will hold off until after dark. Treat Street is an annual Halloween event, in which you can take your little goblins to downtown merchants and receive free candy. Sounds like fun to me! Unfortunately I'll be at work during that time; plus I don't have any little goblins. Anyway, if you are going, bring an umbrella as a back up and wear a jacket. Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight Rain. Low around 53. Southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Monday Sunny, with a high near 75. Monday Night Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Tuesday Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Special Weather Statement

From the National Weather Service in Sacramento: A PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE CALIFORNIA COAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND IS FORECAST TO BRING VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW TO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THE SLOW MOVING WEATHER SYSTEM SHOULD HOLD OFF BRINGING RAIN TO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY UNTIL LATER WEDNESDAY EVENING OR EVEN BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS WILL BE A WARMER STORM...AND NOT AS WET AS LAST WEEK`S STORM WITH SNOW LEVELS GENERALLY LOWERING TO 5500 TO 6500 FEET OVER THE INTERIOR MOUNTAINS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH A COUPLE OF INCHES DOWN TO AROUND 5500 FEET. LOCALLY UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER THE REMOTE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS. RAINFALL IN THE VALLEY IS FORECAST TO RANGE FROM ABOUT A QUARTER TO A HALF OF AN INCH WITH UP TO AROUND AN INCH OVER THE FAR NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

rain likely Wednesday night

This weekend was, as I stated in my last blog, warm and beautiful. Yesterday's high temperature in Chico was 83 degrees, while today's high was 79 degrees. We saw plenty of sunshine both days. More sunshine is on the way for tomorrow and Tuesday, with slightly cooler temperatures than what we saw today. The next chance of rain comes Wednesday night, as a quick-moving storm brushes the Northstate. Otherwise, expect dry and sunny conditions Friday through next Sunday. Here's Chico's detailed seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. East southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Wednesday Night Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Thursday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

warm and beautiful weekend

Wow! Was today the perfect fall day, or what? Sunshine, excellent visibility, and high temps in the mid 70s all combined to make for a gorgeous late October day. Add in some fall color and snow-capped mountains, and it was damn near perfect! It will warm to near 80 degrees both tomorrow and Sunday as high pressure strengthens over Northern California. Monday and Tuesday look nice, as well, with slightly cooler temperatures. The weather will change beginning Wednesday as the next disturbance moves in. Rain will begin Wednesday and last through Friday, with highs dropping into the 60s for highs those days. It's too early to know how potent this storm will be, or how much rain/snow to expect, so keep checking back for updates. For now, here is what the National Weather Service is saying for Chico the next seven days: Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 79. North northwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 78. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph after midnight. Monday Sunny, with a high near 77. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Tuesday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Wednesday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Wednesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Thursday A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Friday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

one more day of showers

Yesterday there were widely scattered showers and thundershowers across the Chico area, but most areas saw a mix of sun and clouds. Today may be the same, except perhaps more in the way of clouds. Another disturbance is moving through, and that could spark more numerous showers. Expect only around a tenth of an inch of rain to fall in the valley today. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 5pm today. Four to seven inches of snow is possible above 3500 feet, so if traveling to the mountains, put on your tire chains and carry a winter survival kit. The sun returns tomorrow, and high temperatures will warm into the 60s and 70s between tomorrow and this weekend. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then showers likely. High near 60. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind 7 to 10 mph. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 9 mph. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Monday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Monday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

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.