Overview

The winter begins the rainy season in Chico, although it doesn't get quite as rainy as nearby Paradise. This rain comes in from cyclonic storms that originate at the Polar Front, where the Hawaiian High and the Aleutian Low meet. The Hawaiian High is now generally well south of Northern California and allows the influence of the arctic airmass to dominate. These storms move west to east. Rainfall averages about 25.75" a year, most of which falls in the winter and early spring. In contrast, Paradise receives about 55.55" annually. Winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing and tend to hover around the mid 30s and low to mid 50s during the day. Oroville and Paradise both have less of a potential for freezing as cooler air bypasses it for the valley in the evenings. This is why citrus is a commercial crop around Oroville but not around Chico. Fog can be a problem in Chico though it tends to burn off faster than areas closer to Sacramento and south of there. Record lows in Chico have been well below freezing (the lowest recorded temperature being a mere 11 in December of 1932!) but such extremes are rare. On December 17, 2008, temperatures dipped to about 23.5f at night. See Climate for more information on Chico's weather patterns.

Getting to the Snow

Snow on Skyway Street near Magalia and Paradise, December 18 2008 Chico itself very rarely sees snow, but is located in a fantastic location where one can get to the snow within 15 minutes and not have to shovel it when they get home. Here are a couple of quick (and slightly longer) trips to the snow.

  • Paradise - Despite its name, they do not have palm trees blowing in a Caribbean breeze 365 days a year. Plenty of chances to get your snow on.
  • Magalia - Near Paradise, this community is a little further up and gets a heavy layer each year.
  • Cohasset - A quick bump up Cohasset Road past the Chico Airport and before too long, you will find plenty of snow here as well.
  • Mount Shasta - For those looking to ski and snowboard, this trip takes roughly an two and a half and has prices far better then others.

Winter Safety

Sometimes a 4x4 won't keep you from getting stuck! Though Chico doesn't require much for staying safe in the winter, some things can be important and if you are planning on making a trip to the snow, please make sure you've taken every precaution.

  • Though it seems obvious, getting in the water (such as in One Mile) during the winter can be extremely dangerous. Enloe receives several cases per Winter of hypothermia resulted from people going in the water at inappropriate times.
  • Please make sure you are carrying snow chains or have a 4WD with snow tires if you are planning on going to the snow. Besides the fact that you may not even get to where you want to go, icy and snowy roads can cause your car to slip, threatening not only yourself and your passengers, but others as well.
  • Dress in layers and keep dry clothes in your car for the return trip.

Activities

The winter, like any other season in Chico, is always full of activities and things to do. Check the Events page to see what may be happening today!

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