Forecast Details for Alton, IA

Recent Locations: Black Diamond, WA Riparius, NY Alton, IA

Today: A chance of sprinkles before 11am, then rain likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain. Low around 35. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 42. East northeast wind around 15 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of rain between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of snow after 4am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A slight chance of snow before 7am, then rain. Some thunder is also possible. High near 43. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of rain between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Blustery.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

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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)

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Weather Topic: What is Condensation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Condensation

Next Topic: Contrails

Condensation is the process which creates clouds, and therefore it is a crucial process in the water cycle. Condensation is the change of matter from a state of gas into a state of liquid, and it happens because water molecules release heat into the atmosphere and become organized into a more closely packed structure, what we might see as water droplets.

Water is always present in the air around us as a vapor, but it's too small for us to see. When water undergoes the process of condensation it becomes organized into visible water droplets. You've probably seen condensation happen before on the surface of a cold drink!

Next Topic: Contrails

Weather Topic: What are Cumulonimbus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cumulonimbus Clouds

Cumulonimbus Clouds Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds

The final form taken by a growing cumulus cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud, which is very tall and dense. The tower of a cumulonimbus cloud can soar 23 km into the atmosphere, although most commonly they stop growing at an altitude of 6 km.

Even small cumulonimbus clouds appear very large in comparison to other cloud types. They can signal the approach of stormy weather, such as thunderstorms or blizzards.

Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds