Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Stewart, TN Crystal Springs, FL Tahoe Vista, CA

1. Air Quality Alert for: Coachella Valley

2. Beach Hazards Statement for: Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore; Northern Monterey Bay

3. Beach Hazards Statement for: Ventura County Beaches; Malibu Coast; Los Angeles County Beaches

4. Extreme Heat Warning for: Coachella Valley; San Diego County Deserts

5. Extreme Heat Warning for: Indian Wells Valley; Mojave Desert Slopes; Mojave Desert

6. Extreme Heat Warning for: San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

7. Extreme Heat Warning for: Western Antelope Valley Foothills; Eastern Antelope Valley Foothills; Antelope Valley

8. Extreme Heat Warning for: Western Siskiyou County; Central Siskiyou County

9. Heat Advisory for: Cuyama Valley; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains; Southern Ventura County Mountains; Northern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor; Eastern San Gabriel Mountains

10. Heat Advisory for: North Central and Southeast Siskiyou County; Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties; Modoc County; Klamath Basin

11. Heat Advisory for: Northern Humboldt Interior

12. Heat Advisory for: Northern Trinity

13. Heat Advisory for: Riverside County Mountains; San Diego County Mountains

14. Heat Advisory for: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire

15. Heat Advisory for: San Bernardino County Mountains

16. Heat Advisory for: Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range

17. Heat Advisory for: South Central Siskiyou County

18. Heat Advisory for: Surprise Valley California; Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties; Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties; Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area; Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake; Northern Washoe County

19. Heat Advisory for: West Side Mountains north of 198; Los Banos - Dos Palos; Merced - Madera - Mendota; Planada - Le Grand - Snelling; Coalinga - Avenal; West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties; Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma; Fresno-Clovis; West Side Mountains South of 198; Buttonwillow - Lost Hills - I5; Delano-Wasco-Shafter; Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore; Visalia - Porterville - Reedley; Buena Vista; Bakersfield; Southeast San Joaquin Valley; South End San Joaquin Valley; Mariposa Madera Foothills; Fresno-Tulare Foothills; South End Sierra Foothills

20. Wind Advisory for: Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast

21. Wind Advisory for: Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range

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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

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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