Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Bridgeport, CT Modesto, CA Fullerton, CA

1. Flood Watch for: Coastal Del Norte; Del Norte Interior; Northern Humboldt Coast; Southwestern Humboldt; Northern Humboldt Interior; Southern Humboldt Interior; Northern Trinity; Southern Trinity; Mendocino Coast; Northwestern Mendocino Interior; Northeastern Mendocino Interior; Southwestern Mendocino Interior; Southeastern Mendocino Interior; Northern Lake County; Southern Lake County

2. Frost Advisory for: Santa Ynez Valley; Ojai Valley; Calabasas and Agoura Hills

3. High Wind Warning for: Coastal Del Norte

4. High Wind Warning for: Del Norte Interior; Southwestern Humboldt; Northern Humboldt Interior; Southern Humboldt Interior

5. Hydrologic Outlook for: Siskiyou, CA; Coos, OR; Curry, OR; Josephine, OR

6. Wind Advisory for: Central Siskiyou County

7. Wind Advisory for: Mendocino Coast; Northwestern Mendocino Interior; Southwestern Mendocino Interior

8. Wind Advisory for: Northern Humboldt Coast

9. Winter Storm Warning for: Northern Trinity

10. Winter Weather Advisory for: Western Siskiyou County; South Central Siskiyou County; North Central and Southeast 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