Long overcast days during the winter in Chico? (San Francisco, Redding: how much, live in)

[catagonia]

Hi,
My husband and I are thinking of moving to Chico and we realize that the summers are Hot! Nobody seems to mention about the winters though. We currently live in the Bay area with long overcast winters and a lack of sunshine and it effects both of our moods. How would you describe the winters in Chico? We are debating whether to move to Colorado or Chico.

Thanks for your help on this!

[xeric]

I'm curious about this too. To modify, add to the question somewhat - how much Tule fog is there in Chico? For the OP, summers and springs are cloudier in most of Colorado than in inland California. Winters, however, are sunnier along the Front Range than in northern California.

[catagonia]

Thanks for the info. Are you currently in Colorado?

[xeric]

Originally Posted by catagonia

Thanks for the info. Are you currently in Colorado?

Yes and as is usual for summer in Fort Collins, the beautiful, sunny morning, has now completely clouded up.

[DCMann2]

Chico averages roughly 20" of rain per year, the majority of which falls during winter. Generally a storm will move in, dump some rain, then move out and you'll get the sun back. Most storms are a day or two but big ones can last several days which can result in a long stretch of gloomy weather, but the sun always comes back and it's generally a very sunny climate.

Tule fog is fairly rare in my experience, so when it happened it was pretty cool

[Fiddlehead]

I lived there and it never struck me as a gloomy place. Some great winter storms, but plenty of sun too. Give away your snow shovel.

[StandingLenticular]

The winter fog usually gets stalled out around the Sutter Buttes to the south and only occasionally makes it to Chico. It stays sunny in Paradise though! Like what DCMann2 said, it's usually goes sun - sun - sun - clouds - rain - clouds

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I'm assuming Chico would be like Redding. I spent last winter in Redding and it was absolutely gorgeous. Most of the year - 6 months of the year - is horribly hot in that area. But, the winter was glorious. There was minimal snow, but mostly it was sunny and perfect. I'd happily spend any winter in Redding. But, get me out of there by May, and don't make me move back until November at the earliest, because that entire time will be 100 degrees and above. And in that area, it does not cool down at night until about 3am, and then is too hot to be outside by 10am.

So, choose your poison. Here in Del Norte County, it's basically in the 60's year round, but not a whole lotta sunshine. The trade-off is worth it to me, but may not be for you.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I'm assuming Chico would be like Redding. I spent last winter in Redding and it was absolutely gorgeous. Most of the year - 6 months of the year - is horribly hot in that area. But, the winter was glorious. There was minimal snow, but mostly it was sunny and perfect. I'd happily spend any winter in Redding. But, get me out of there by May, and don't make me move back until November at the earliest, because that entire time will be 100 degrees and above. And in that area, it does not cool down at night until about 3am, and then is too hot to be outside by 10am.

So, choose your poison. Here in Del Norte County, it's basically in the 60's year round, but not a whole lotta sunshine. The trade-off is worth it to me, but may not be for you.

Since we've been in a drought for the last 4 years, I doubt the winter you spent is representative of a typical winter in Redding.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by DCMann2

Chico averages roughly 20" of rain per year, the majority of which falls during winter. Generally a storm will move in, dump some rain, then move out and you'll get the sun back. Most storms are a day or two but big ones can last several days which can result in a long stretch of gloomy weather, but the sun always comes back and it's generally a very sunny climate.

Tule fog is fairly rare in my experience, so when it happened it was pretty cool

Correction: Chico averages almost 26" of rain per year. That rainfall is spread over 63 days, which is about the same number of rainy days as San Francisco, although SF only gets about 20" of rain per year.

CHICO EXPERIMENT STN, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary