no rain for awhile

Chico received a paltry .03" of rain late Sunday/ early Monday of this week. That's all the rain we will see for awhile as high pressure asserts itself over our area. It has been abnormally cool the past few days, as well, with Monday's high only getting to 59 degrees and yesterday reaching 62 degrees. We should be at 72 degrees for the end of October. As high pressure builds the next few days our temperatures will begin to climb, from the upper 60s today to the mid 70s Friday. A series of storms will move through the Pacific Northwest over the next several days, not providing us with any rain but affecting our temperatures. Highs will cool down this weekend into the 60s again with the passage of a rather potent storm that will bring heavy rain and wind to parts of Washington and Oregon on Saturday. Halloween looks high and dry, and the little ones should have no weather-related concerns when trick-or-treating tomorrow. For a safe and fun Halloween, take the little monsters to downtown Chico for the annual Treat Street. Various participating businesses will be handing out treats to all the kids who are trick-or-treating. It runs from 2pm until 5pm tomorrow. Here is Chico's dry and sunny seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Clear, with a low around 42. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the evening. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the morning. Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 43. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the morning. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

unsettled and cooler

It was much cooler today in Chico than it was yesterday. The high yesterday was 81 degrees; the high today was 72 degrees. It has been breezy today, as well, with southerly winds gusting to 25 mph. As this low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska draws closer, it will pull down even cooler air from up north. The forecast high tomorrow is only 57 degrees! We haven't seen a high temperature that cold since last winter! There is a chance of showers for the valley late tonight and into tomorrow, along with an isolated thunderstorm. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, up to eight inches of snow are possible above 6000 feet, with around 4-6 inches above 5000 feet. If traveling to the mountains, bring tire chains and a winter survival kit, just in case. Winds in the valley will shift from the south to the northwest overnight tonight and remain gusty around 20 mph. In the mountains, winds from the southwest will gust to 40 mph and may create whiteout conditions. By Tuesday the storm will exit and the sun will return, but it will remain well below normal (average highs this time of year for Chico are around 72-73 degrees). Overnight lows will also be below the average; there might be some frost advisories put into effect late Tuesday into early Wednesday- stay tuned. Right now Halloween looks dry and mild. Here is the rest of Chico's forecast through next weekend from the National Weather Service: Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Light and variable wind. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 67. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 74. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Friday Sunny, with a high near 74. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Sunday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

update on this storm

It appears the winds won't be as strong in the northern and central Sacramento Valley as previously thought. Still, expect a dramatic change in the weather over the next 24-36 hours. More from the National Weather Service office in Sacramento: DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE WEATHER FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MONDAY AND TUESDAY... * IMPACTS: COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WET ROADS. WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER TRANS-SIERRA PASSES MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. * TEMPERATURES: DAYTIME HIGHS WILL BE MUCH COLDER MONDAY AND TUESDAY...15 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER THAN THIS WEEKEND. * PRECIPITATION: WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN/FOOTHILL SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED VALLEY SHOWERS LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...DECREASING TUESDAY. * SNOW LEVELS: LOWERING SNOW LEVELS TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET BY EARLY MONDAY. * ACCUMULATIONS: 4-8 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000...WITH A FEW INCHES POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET. * WINDS: NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS TO 20 MPH IN THE NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...SOUTHWESTERLY GUSTS TO 30 MPH IN THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...AND SOUTHWEST GUSTS 50 TO 65 MPH OVER HIGHER RIDGES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. * A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE EASTERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS MONDAY AFTERNOON. * SYNOPSIS: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES SOUTHWARD FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AND UNSETTLED WEATHER INTO THE REGION BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT AND LASTING INTO TUESDAY.

Special Weather Statement from the NWS

DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE WEATHER FOR INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MONDAY AND TUESDAY... * IMPACTS: COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WET ROADS. WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER THE TRANS-SIERRA PASSES MONDAY. * TEMPERATURES: MUCH COLDER HIGH TEMPERATURES MONDAY AND TUESDAY...15 TO 30 DEGREES COLDER THAN THIS WEEKEND. * PRECIPITATION: WIDESPREAD SHOWERS LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...DECREASING TUESDAY. * SNOW LEVELS: LOWERING SNOW LEVELS TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET BY EARLY MONDAY. * ACCUMULATIONS: 4-8 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000 FEET...LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET. * WINDS: NORTHERLY WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS 50 TO 60 MPH OVER HIGHER RIDGES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. * SYNOPSIS: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES SOUTHWARD FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MUCH COLDER AND UNSETTLED WEATHER INTO THE REGION BEGINNING SUNDAY NIGHT AND LASTING INTO TUESDAY.

below normal temps for next week

Happy Friday, Chicoans! Get ready for some fantastic fall weather this weekend! Highs will be in the upper 70s today through Sunday, with nothing but gorgeous sunshine and light winds. By Monday, the weather will shift to a much cooler, and potentially breezier, pattern. Highs for Monday and Tuesday of next week will not rise above 70 degrees (we should be around 75-76 degrees for late October). Highs will slowly rise to around normal by the middle of next week. What's causing this shift in the weather pattern is a storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska that doesn't have a lot of moisture to work with, but is packing cooler air. So, not much rain in the forecast (it's limited to widely scattered showers in the Sierra Nevada Monday and Monday night) but will drop the temperatures a bit. Monday may be a bit breezy, with northerly winds up to 25 mph from the north. It's another busy weekend full of fun events in Chico. Here is just a sampling: the Chico Independent Film Festival runs now through Sunday at 1078 Gallery; Pumpkinfest happens at the Chapmantown Farmers' Market today from 2-5pm; Les Miserables is being staged by the California Regional Theatre tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2pm; Young Frankenstein plays at Chico Theater Company tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2pm; Autumn Fest continues at the Patrick Ranch south of town all this weekend; Exotic Erotic Party is happening at Manzanita Place tomorrow night, featuring a sexy Halloween dance party; Fall Home and Garden Show at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds from 10am-5pm today, Saturday and Sunday; Haunted Park 5K in Bidwell Park, celebrating Halloween and raising funds for the Jesse Kohen Memorial Foundation, tomorrow at 8:30am; Open Studios Tour continues this weekend, with local artists' studios open all weekend for a chance to view the artists creating their works; and the Post-Apocalyptic Ride, in which Halloween-costumed bike riders ride around downtown, tomorrow night beginning at 7:30pm at Chico's Downtown Plaza. Whew! And that's only a sampling! For more events, check out the Chico News and Review's website link on the right hand side of my blog page (you may have to scroll down a little to locate it). Have a great weekend, Chico! Here's the detailed forecast for our beloved little city from the National Weather Service: This Afternoon Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Light west southwest wind. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 71. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 74.

perhaps a break in the streak of warm weather

Chico has now seen at least seven consecutive days of high temps at or above 80 degrees. Today's high at the airport was 82 degrees- the same as yesterday and the day before. The National Weather Service is calling for highs in the upper 70s the next four days, but I will bet we will see actual highs above 80 degrees into this weekend. By early next week, a weak storm system originating from the Gulf of Alaska will affect our area. It won't bring any rain to lower elevations, but it will significantly cool down our temperatures. The higher mountain elevations may see a slight chance of showers with this storm, but don't expect any moisture here in the valley. Highs by next week will drop into the upper 60s and lower 70s. Nice fall weather! Speaking of fall, the deciduous trees around Chico are putting on a pretty spectacular display of fall foliage (well, spectacular for our area of the country). Hopefully this upcoming cool spell will further encourage this display. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Tonight Clear, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Light and variable wind. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

warm and dry streak continues

Yesterday's high temperature in Chico, for the second day in a row, was 85 degrees. The normal high temperature for October 20th is 78 degrees. The morning lows have been chilly, with temps dipping down into the mid 40s. That's actually normal for this time of year. As the nights become longer, the temperatures are allowed more time to drop. Currently the sun rises at around 7:15 am and sets around 6:14 pm. A slight cool down is expected later this week, dropping temperatures slightly into the upper 70s by Wednesday. Again, no rain is in the forecast for the next week or so. We're going to need some big storms this winter to catch up on our precipitation deficit. Area reservoirs are way below normal for this time of year. Hopefully that will happen, but not right now. Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 85. North northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Light and variable wind becoming northeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 79. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.