Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Barrett, MN Quilcene, WA Monrovia, CA

1. Air Quality Alert for: Coachella Valley

2. Air Quality Alert for: Imperial County Southwest; Imperial County West; Imperial Valley

3. Freeze Warning for: Western Siskiyou County

4. Frost Advisory for: Del Norte Interior; Northern Humboldt Coast; Southwestern Humboldt; Northern Humboldt Interior; Southern Humboldt Interior; Mendocino Coast; Northwestern Mendocino Interior; Northeastern Mendocino Interior; Southwestern Mendocino Interior; Southeastern Mendocino Interior; Northern Lake County; Southern Lake County

5. High Wind Warning for: Mojave Desert Slopes

6. High Wind Warning for: Santa Susana Mountains

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

8. Lake Wind Advisory for: Kern River Valley

9. Wind Advisory for: Eastern San Gabriel Mountains

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

11. Wind Advisory for: Riverside County Mountains; San Diego County Mountains; Apple and Lucerne Valleys; Coachella Valley; San Diego County Deserts

12. Wind Advisory for: San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire; Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills; Orange County Inland

13. Wind Advisory for: San Bernardino County Mountains; San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

14. Wind Advisory for: San Bernardino County Mountains; San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

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

16. Wind Advisory for: Santa Clarita Valley; Ventura County Beaches; Ventura County Inland Coast; Central Ventura County Valleys; Calabasas and Agoura Hills; Western San Fernando Valley; Southeastern Ventura County Valleys

17. Wind Advisory for: Santa Susana Mountains

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

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

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

21. Wind Advisory for: Western Mojave Desert

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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