Weather Alert in Washington

Recent Locations: Headland, AL Huntingdon Valley, PA Peshastin, WA

Red Flag Warning issued August 13 at 4:15AM PDT until August 13 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA

AREAS AFFECTED: Foothills of Northeast Washington; Colville Reservation; Okanogan Valley; Methow Valley; Central Washington Cascade Foothills; Waterville Plateau; Western Columbia Basin; Eastern Columbia Basin / Palouse / Spokane Area; Lower Palouse / Snake River

DESCRIPTION: * Affected Area: Foothills of Northeast Washington (Zone 701), Colville Reservation (Zone 702), Okanogan Valley (Zone 703), Methow Valley (Zone 704), Foothills of Central Washington Cascades (Zone 705), Waterville Plateau (Zone 706), Western Columbia Basin (Zone 707), Eastern Columbia Basin -Palouse - Spokane Area (Zone 708) and Lower Palouse -Snake River (Zone 709). * Winds: West 15 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 40 mph. * Relative Humidities: 13 to 24 percent. * Impacts: Rapid fire spread is likely with any new or existing fires.

INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

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Weather Topic: What are Wall Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Wall Clouds

Wall Clouds Next Topic: Altocumulus Clouds

A wall cloud forms underneath the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, and can be a hotbed for deadly tornadoes.

Wall clouds are formed by air flowing into the cumulonimbus clouds, which can result in the wall cloud descending from the base of the cumulonimbus cloud, or rising fractus clouds which join to the base of the storm cloud as the wall cloud takes shape.

Wall clouds can be very large, and in the Northern Hemisphere they generally form at the southern edge of cumulonimbus clouds.

Next Topic: Altocumulus Clouds

Weather Topic: What are Altostratus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Altostratus Clouds

Next Topic: Cirrocumulus Clouds

Altostratus clouds form at mid to high-level altitudes (between 2 and 7 km) and are created by a warm, stable air mass which causes water vapor to condense as it rise through the atmosphere. Usually altostratus clouds are featureless sheets characterized by a uniform color.

In some cases, wind punching through the cloud formation may give it a waved appearance, called altostratus undulatus. Altostratus clouds are commonly seen with other cloud formations accompanying them.

Next Topic: Cirrocumulus Clouds