It is finally the time of the year in Chico where shorts and flip-flops no longer cut it. Everything is perfect in terms of weather but it will not last.

Autumn in Chico is gorgeous, the leaves change colors and the intense heat dies down. However, once December comes around people will long for fall.

Most students come from either the Bay Area or Southern California and aren’t adapted to dramatic changes in weather.

Winter time in Chico is cold. Students who have early morning classes should expect the temperature to be in the 30s when they leave the house.

It rains in the winter, a lot. It is good to have a waterproof rain jacket. During heavier storms, the streets and walkways tend to flood, so it’s not a bad idea to have a pair of waterproof shoes. Even with the proper clothing, students should expect to get completely soaked from head to toe at least once this winter.

My first year here, strong winds knocked down a tree on campus and destroyed one of the bridges. Power outages in the winter seem to be almost a weekly occurrence, sometimes lasting a full day.

Compared to most of California, winters here can be intense. Most people are happy to feel the cold wind at first but quickly become overwhelmed.

Students from places like Oregon or Washington will probably find Chico winters to be mild, but students inexperienced in cold weather might suffer.

It rained continuously for nearly a month my first year. I thought the rain was bound to stop, but I was wrong.

Students from places with great weather year-round should not expect that in Chico. The winter months are cold and rainy. In order to make it through the winter take these necessary precautions:

• It is going to rain a lot get a waterproof rain jacket with a hood.

• When it pours, everything in Chico seems to flood. Make sure you have waterproof shoes or rain boots.

• Buy some flashlights in case the power goes out for an extended period.

Carson Predovich can be reached at [email protected] or @cpredo120 on Twitter.