Weather Alert in Washington

Recent Locations: Renton, WA Rollingbay, WA Manchester, WA

Special Weather Statement issued July 30 at 5:47AM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

AREAS AFFECTED: San Juan County; Lowlands of Western Whatcom County; Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties; Port Townsend Area; Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca; Western Strait of Juan de Fuca; Northern Washington Coast; Grays Harbor County Coast; Island County

DESCRIPTION: ...TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WASHINGTON COAST AND STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA... * UPDATES...Tsunami waves continue to arrive along the Washington coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca. * LOCAL IMPACTS...A tsunami capable of producing strong currents that may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures does continue. Widespread inundation is NOT expected. * RECOMMENDED ACTIONS...If you are located in this coastal area, move off the beach and out of harbors and marinas. Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami. Be alert to instructions from your local emergency officials * OBSERVED TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS FROM EARLIER... La Push 1.3 ft Neah Bay 0.3 ft Westport 0.5 ft Toke Point 0.4 ft Port Angeles 0.3 ft Tsunamis often arrive as a series of waves or surges which could be dangerous for many hours after the first wave arrival. The first tsunami wave or surge may not be the highest in the series. * PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION... An earthquake occurred with a preliminary magnitude of 8.8. * TIDE INFORMATION... Neah Bay...Low tide of 1.3 ft at 958 AM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 6.9 ft at 438 PM PDT on Jul 30. La Push...Low tide of 0.9 ft at 943 AM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 7.4 ft at 415 PM PDT on Jul 30. Westport...Low tide of 1.2 ft at 956 AM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 8.0 ft at 435 PM PDT on Jul 30. Port Angeles...Low tide of 2.2 ft at 1153 AM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 6.4 ft at 651 PM PDT on Jul 30. Port Townsend...Low tide of 2.8 ft at 118 PM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 8.2 ft at 811 PM PDT on Jul 30. Friday Harbor...Low tide of 2.7 ft at 147 PM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 7.4 ft at 853 PM PDT on Jul 30. Seattle...Low tide of 3.4 ft at 214 PM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 11.1 ft at 849 PM PDT on Jul 30. Tacoma...Low tide of 3.4 ft at 215 PM PDT on Jul 30. High tide of 11.5 ft at 852 PM PDT on Jul 30. This product will be updated as new information becomes available. Stay tuned to your local news source and NOAA weather radio for further information and updates.

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Weather Topic: What is Rain?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain

Rain Next Topic: Shelf Clouds

Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain. Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.

Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island. Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of cities is 30% greater.

Next Topic: Shelf Clouds

Weather Topic: What is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow