Forecast Details for Alta, CA

Recent Locations: Williamsville, VT Blair, WI Alta, CA

This Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 49. South southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 5am, then a chance of rain. Low around 36. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of rain before 7am. Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 54. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph after midnight.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68. East northeast wind around 6 mph.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Tuesday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

Want more detail? Get the Complete 7 Day and Night Detailed Forecast!

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 Cirrostratus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrostratus Clouds

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

Cirrostratus clouds are high, thin clouds that form above 20,000 feet and are made mostly of ice crystals. They sometimes look like giant feathers, horse tails, or curls of hair in the sky. These clouds are pushed by the jet stream and can move at high speeds reaching 100 mph.

What do they indicate?
They indicate that a precipitation is likely within 24 hours.

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

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