colder weather coming

There's increasing confidence that colder weather will impact both the Sacramento River valley (including Chico) and adjacent foothills and mountains. A widespread freeze event could occur by the middle of next week. More from the National Weather Service: A COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ORIGINATING FROM WESTERN CANADA MAY IMPACT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEXT WEEK. CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING IN THE DETAILS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS AND SNOW LEVELS DROPPING DOWN TO AROUND 2500 FEET. EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS TO DROP SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND THE SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL OF A WIDESPREAD VALLEY FREEZE. IMPACTS: * FIRST...SLIPPERY MOUNTAIN PASSES...POSSIBLE LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS INTO UPPER FOOTHILLS. * NEXT...COLD TEMPERATURES MAY KILL SENSITIVE VEGETATION, AND HARM PETS/LIVESTOCK. FORECAST CONFIDENCE: * MEDIUM FOR SNOW SHOWERS. * MEDIUM FOR FREEZING OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES. TIMING AND STRENGTH * TUESDAY: INCREASING CHANCE OF SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS DROPPING TO 2500 FEET. MULTIPLE INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION ABOVE 5500 FT WITH LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS BELOW. * WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS: VALLEY LOWS 22 TO 32. MOUNTAIN LOWS 5 TO 22.

dry for the weekend; cooler for next week

Ugh! I'm still full from yesterday's Thanksgiving meal! Good thing we have nice weather today to go outside and work off some of the calories packed on yesterday! It reached 70 degrees in Chico yesterday under partly sunny skies, and should remain warm through this weekend. High temperatures will generally be in the mid to upper 60s through Sunday. Monday will be the transition day, with highs in the lower 60s and a slight chance of a shower. Tuesday through Thursday highs will plummet to the lower 50s as a strong cold front will push through, dropping cold Arctic air down from interior Canada. Cold is a relative term, and the air will have modified by the time it reaches Northern California. But it will still be colder than normal for this time of year by almost ten degrees. Overnight lows by the middle of next week will drop into the upper 20s to lower 30s. Brrr! Break out the coats, hats, and gloves! Here is Chico's forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the evening. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind around 6 mph. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Monday A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Monday Night A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Tuesday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Wednesday A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

nice weather for Thanksgiving

Happy day before Turkey Day! The past few days in Chico weather wise have been nice for this time of year, with partly sunny skies and high temps in the 60s. High pressure has exerted its control over the West Coast, keeping storms out over the Pacific Ocean. We have seen mainly high cloudiness in association with a storm that has been forced by this high pressure to stay parked over the eastern Pacific. That storm may brush the central and southern California coast over the next couple of days, but it will remain high and dry for us here in Northern California. High cloudiness will still filter the sunshine today and tomorrow, with highs at seasonal averages in the lower 60s. Black Friday also looks dry, with morning lows in the upper 30s. So if you are waiting in line at area stores, bring a coat and a hat. Highs Friday through Sunday look to be in the mid 60s. By early next week, a pattern shift may occur, with an increasing (but still slight at this time) chance of rain and highs only in the 50s. We'll see if that pans out. For now, enjoy the lovely, mild weather we are experiencing, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind. Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Light north northeast wind. Thanksgiving Day Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind. Friday Sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 65. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Monday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Monday Night A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Tuesday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

dry through Thanksgiving

The Freeze Warning from the National Weather Service I had posted yesterday was not needed, as the low in Chico this morning stayed above freezing. There could be some patchy frost tonight, but temps once again should stay above the freezing mark. Chico saw hazy sunshine today, with highs around 61 degrees. An inversion layer had set up over the Sacramento Valley, trapping some pollutants close to the ground, which resulted in the hazy skies. Look for continued dry and sunny weather through Thanksgiving and beyond, as a strong ridge of high pressure anchors itself over the West Coast. We desperately need the rain and mountain snow, but it's just not going to happen anytime soon. I'm hoping December and January are stormy. Here is the dry forecast for Chico from the National Weather Service: Tonight Patchy frost after 10pm. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 34. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Monday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph in the evening. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Light and variable wind. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thanksgiving Day Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 66. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 67.

Freeze Warning for early Sunday

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM PST SUNDAY. * TEMPERATURES: 28 TO 36. COLDEST TEMPERATURES OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND SUB-BURBS AROUND SACRAMENTO. * TIMING: 3 AM TO 8 AM SUNDAY MORNING. DURATION WILL RANGE FROM 1 TO 5 HOURS AT OR BELOW FREEZING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: DAVIS...LINCOLN...MARYSVILLE...CHICO...REDDING * IMPACTS: SENSITIVE POTTED PLANTS IF LEFT OUTDOORS COULD BE DAMAGED OR KILLED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS COULD DAMAGE CROPS OR KILL OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION. PETS AND LIVESTOCK SHOULD HAVE PROPER SHELTER TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE COLD.

dry and mild; possible wet Thanksgiving?

The winds in Chico were not as bad as feared the past two days; the highest gusts were in the 20-25 mph range. It was a different story in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where gusts in some locations there were up to 80 mph! Snow totals in the mountains with this last storm ranged from 4-10 inches. Not a lot, but we may have another opportunity for more, as another storm is expected to influence our area by the middle of next week. Until then, dry and mild conditions will continue. The high temperature in Chico yesterday was a mild 74 degrees, thanks to those down sloping northwesterly winds. The winds will ease up today, with highs around 65 degrees. You may want to cover any tender vegetation tonight, as lows are predicted to be right around freezing. The weather looks fine for the annual Christmas Preview in downtown Chico tomorrow, with dry conditions and temperatures at sunset in the mid to upper 50s. Here's the rest of Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny, with a high near 65. North northwest wind around 8 mph. Tonight Patchy frost after 10pm. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Sunday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 60. Light west northwest wind. Sunday Night Patchy frost after 10pm. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 33. Light north northeast wind. Monday Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Wednesday A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Wednesday Night A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Thanksgiving Day A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

update on Wind Advisory

A long duration wind event is likely the next couple of days. In addition, strong winds in the higher elevations of both the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada up to 80 mph are likely. A High Wind Warning is in effect for those areas. For Chico, the Wind Advisory is now in effect from this morning until tomorrow evening. Bust out the hairspray! More from the National Weather Service: WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST FRIDAY... * WINDS: NORTH 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * TIMING: INCREASING WINDS THIS MORNING...DECREASING SLIGHTLY TONIGHT...BUT INCREASING AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING. * LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SACRAMENTO...CHICO...REDDING. * IMPACTS: DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. UNSECURED OBJECTS MAY BLOW AROUND.