Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Salem, AL Linton, ND Encino, CA

1. Coastal Flood Advisory for: Northern Coastal Humboldt

2. Lake Wind Advisory for: Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties; Greater Lake Tahoe Area; Mono; Greater Lake Tahoe Area

3. Wind Advisory for: Central Siskiyou County

4. Winter Storm Watch for: Greater Lake Tahoe Area; Greater Lake Tahoe Area

5. Winter Storm Watch for: Lassen Volcanic National Park; Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Above 3000 ft; Sierra Nevada of Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Above 5000 ft Including Interstate 80; Sierra Nevada of El Dorado-Amador-Northern Alpine Counties Above 5000 ft Including Highway 50; Sierra Nevada of Calaveras-Tuolumne-Southern Alpine Counties Above 5000 ft

6. Winter Storm Watch for: Mono

7. Winter Storm Watch for: Yosemite NP outside of the valley; Upper San Joaquin River; Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge; Kings Canyon NP; Sequoia NP

8. Winter Weather Advisory for: Northeastern Trinity

9. Winter Weather Advisory for: Western Siskiyou County; Central Siskiyou County; South Central Siskiyou County

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

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National Weather Forecast--Current

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National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.

Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds

Fractus Clouds Next Topic: Freezing Rain

A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original cloud which contained them.

Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.

They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds, and are a display of wind activity.

Next Topic: Freezing Rain

Weather Topic: What is Graupel?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel

Graupel Next Topic: Hail

Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to their surface.

Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation similar to situations which produce snowfall.

Next Topic: Hail