Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: West Minot, ME   Freeman, MO   Mendota, CA  

1. Air Quality Alert for: Coachella Valley; San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning

2. Air Quality Alert for: Santa Clarita Valley; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor; Eastern San Gabriel Mountains

3. Beach Hazards Statement for: Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands; Malibu Coast; Los Angeles County Beaches

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

5. Beach Hazards Statement for: San Luis Obispo County Beaches; Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches

6. Freeze Warning for: Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties; Modoc County; Klamath Basin; Northern and Eastern Klamath County and Western Lake County; Central and Eastern Lake County

7. Freeze Watch for: Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties; Modoc County; Klamath Basin; Northern and Eastern Klamath County and Western Lake County; Central and Eastern Lake County

8. Heat Advisory for: Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range

9. Heat Advisory for: Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range

10. High Surf Advisory for: Ventura County Beaches

11. High Wind Warning for: Mojave Desert Slopes

12. High Wind Warning for: Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains

13. High Wind Warning for: Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range

14. High Wind Warning for: Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range

15. High Wind Warning for: Southern Ventura County Mountains; Northern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western Antelope Valley Foothills

16. Red Flag Warning for: Lake County Portion of Lake-Napa-Sonoma Unit

17. Red Flag Warning for: Northern Sacramento Valley to Southern Tehama County Line Below 1000 Ft; Central Sacramento Valley including Glenn/Colusa/Yuba/Northern Sutter/Butte County Below 1000 Ft; Southern Sacramento Valley In Yolo/Sacramento/Far Western Placer/Southern Sutter and Solano County Below 1000 Ft - Excludes the Delta; Southeast Edge Shasta/Trinity NF and Western Portions of Tehama/Glenn RU; Northern Sierra Foothills from 1000 to 3000 Ft. Includes Nevada-Yuba-Placer RU and Anador-Eldorado RU; Eastern Mendocino NF

18. Wind Advisory for: Lake Casitas; Antelope Valley

19. Wind Advisory for: Santa Clarita Valley

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

The Current National Weather Radar is shown below with a UTC Time (subtract 5 hours from UTC to get Eastern Time).

Current U.S. National Radar

National Weather Forecast--Current

The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.

Today's National Weather Map

National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

Tomorrows National Weather Map

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.

North American Water Vapor Map

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