Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Springfield, MA Hamlin, WV Folsom, CA

1. Beach Hazards Statement for: San Diego County Coastal Areas; Orange County Coastal

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

3. Extreme Heat Warning for: Santa Clarita Valley; Santa Lucia Mountains; San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains; Lake Casitas; Ojai Valley; Central Ventura County Valleys; Los Angeles County Inland Coast including Downtown Los Angeles; Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area; Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area; Calabasas and Agoura Hills; Western San Fernando Valley; Eastern San Fernando Valley; Southeastern Ventura County Valleys; Santa Susana Mountains; Southern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor; Eastern San Gabriel Mountains; Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley

4. Extreme Heat Watch for: Coachella Valley; San Diego County Deserts; San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

5. Extreme Heat Watch for: Death Valley National Park; Western Mojave Desert; Eastern Mojave Desert, Including the Mojave National Preserve; Morongo Basin; Cadiz Basin

6. Extreme Heat Watch for: San Bernardino County Mountains; Riverside County Mountains; San Diego County Mountains

7. Heat Advisory for: Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands; San Luis Obispo County Beaches; San Luis Obispo County Inland Central Coast; Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches; Santa Barbara County Inland Central Coast; Santa Ynez Valley; Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast; Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast; Ventura County Beaches; Ventura County Inland Coast; Malibu Coast; Los Angeles County Beaches; Palos Verdes Hills

8. Heat Advisory for: San Diego County Coastal Areas; San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys-The Inland Empire; San Diego County Inland Valleys; Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills; Orange County Coastal; Orange County Inland

9. Heat Advisory for: San Francisco; Marin Coastal Range; Sonoma Coastal Range; North Bay Interior Mountains; Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore; North Bay Interior Valleys; San Francisco Bay Shoreline; San Francisco Peninsula Coast; East Bay Interior Valleys; Santa Cruz Mountains; Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose; Eastern Santa Clara Hills; East Bay Hills; Southern Salinas Valley/Arroyo Seco and Lake San Antonio; Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest; Mountains Of San Benito County And Interior Monterey County Including Pinnacles National Park; Northern Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley and Carmel Valley; Northern Monterey Bay; Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast

10. Heat Advisory for: San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands; Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands

11. Heat Advisory for: Santa Clarita Valley; Santa Lucia Mountains; San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains; Lake Casitas; Ojai Valley; Central Ventura County Valleys; Los Angeles County Inland Coast including Downtown Los Angeles; Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area; Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area; Calabasas and Agoura Hills; Western San Fernando Valley; Eastern San Fernando Valley; Southeastern Ventura County Valleys; Santa Susana Mountains; Southern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor; Eastern San Gabriel Mountains; Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley

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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 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