Chico’s Changing Climate
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John Bidwell, the founder of Chico, chose the city’s location for its well-watered soils and Mediterranean climate. The winter snowmelt fed local streams all summer and the high water table supported a lush riparian tree canopy. Low intensity fires burned seasonally, regenerating the forested foothills. The warm days and cool nights extended the notoriously long California growing season even longer. While the summer heat can be oppressive in Chico, there are on average only three or four really hot days (over 104°) a year.
Climate change will alter these foundational conditions of human settlement.According to current climate change projections, daily average high temperatures are expected rise 4.7° by 2050. Warming temperatures will reduce the April snowpack in California between 25% and 40% by 2050, and the local creeks could run dry. With an increase in winter rainfall and earlier melting of snowpack in spring, we can expect an increase in flood frequency and intensity.
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In the future, experts predict that extreme heat events—several days or more of above average temperatures—will become more frequent and more severe. The Cal-Adapt software projects Chico will average 27 extreme heat days by 2050, with as many as 45 days possible in some years. It is expected that the Chico area will experience increases in fire risk due to an extended fire season created by warmer temperatures in the spring and fall and the associated reduction in rainfall and snowpack.
The City of Chico is aware of these changing conditions; staff recently completed a climate vulnerability assessment (above) that identifies potential impacts and possible adaptations.
The City of Chico is aware of these changing conditions; staff recently completed a climate vulnerability assessment (above) that identifies potential impacts and possible adaptations.
