Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Orono, ME Boston, VA Ladera Ranch, CA

1. Freeze Watch for: Western Siskiyou County

2. High Wind Warning for: Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties

3. High Wind Warning for: Mojave Desert Slopes

5. High Wind Watch for: Santa Susana Mountains

6. High Wind Watch for: Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor

7. Wind Advisory for: Central Siskiyou County

8. Wind Advisory for: Coastal Del Norte; Del Norte Interior

9. Wind Advisory for: Indian Wells Valley; Mojave Desert

10. Wind Advisory for: Modoc County

11. Wind Advisory for: San Bernardino County Mountains; Riverside County Mountains; San Diego County Mountains; Apple and Lucerne Valleys; Coachella Valley; San Diego County Deserts; San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

12. Wind Advisory for: Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range

13. Wind Advisory for: Santa Susana Mountains

14. Wind Advisory for: Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains

15. Wind Advisory for: Southern Ventura County Mountains; Northern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor

16. Wind Advisory for: Surprise Valley California; Northern Washoe County

17. Wind Advisory for: Western Antelope Valley Foothills; Antelope Valley

18. Wind Advisory for: Western Mojave Desert

19. Winter Weather Advisory for: Greater Lake Tahoe Area; Greater Lake Tahoe Area

20. Winter Weather Advisory for: Modoc County

21. Winter Weather Advisory for: Northern Trinity

22. Winter Weather Advisory for: West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

23. Winter Weather Advisory for: Western Siskiyou County

24. Winter Weather Advisory for: Yosemite NP outside of the valley; Upper San Joaquin River

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

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National Weather Forecast--Current

The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.

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 is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow

Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds

Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.

A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a stratocumulus cloud.

It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do it is usually a light rain or snow.

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds