Weather Alerts for California

Recent Locations: Ocean Grove, NJ Eureka, CA Ellison Bay, WI

1. Extreme Heat Warning for: Coalinga - Avenal; Fresno-Clovis; West Side Mountains South of 198; Buena Vista; Bakersfield; South End San Joaquin Valley; Fresno-Tulare Foothills; South End Sierra Foothills

2. Extreme Heat Warning for: Cuyama Valley; Santa Clarita Valley; Santa Lucia Mountains; Southern Salinas Valley; San Luis Obispo County Interior Valleys; San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Ynez Valley; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains; Western 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; Northern Ventura County Mountains; Interstate 5 Corridor; Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor; Eastern San Gabriel Mountains; Western Antelope Valley Foothills; Eastern Antelope Valley Foothills; Antelope Valley; Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley

3. Extreme Heat Warning for: Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Los Angeles County Inland Coast including Downtown Los Angeles; Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area

4. Extreme Heat Warning for: Western Siskiyou County; Central Siskiyou County

5. Fire Weather Watch for: Trinity

6. Flood Watch for: Greater Lake Tahoe Area; Greater Lake Tahoe Area; Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area; Northern Washoe County

7. Flood Watch for: Mono; Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties

8. Flood Watch for: Yosemite NP outside of the valley; Upper San Joaquin River; Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge; Kings Canyon NP

9. Heat Advisory for: Lake Casitas; Ojai Valley; Central Ventura County Valleys

10. Heat Advisory for: West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties; Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma; Buttonwillow - Lost Hills - I5; Delano-Wasco-Shafter; Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore; Visalia - Porterville - Reedley; Southeast San Joaquin Valley; Kern River Valley

11. Red Flag Warning for: Western Klamath National Forest; Central Siskiyou County Including Shasta Valley; Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt Shasta; Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley; Siskiyou Mountains; Southern Oregon Cascades; Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest; South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern Lake and Western Harney Counties

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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)

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 Stratus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratus Clouds

Next Topic: Wall Clouds

Stratus clouds are similar to altostratus clouds, but form at a lower altitude and are identified by their fog-like appearance, lacking the distinguishing features of most clouds.

Stratus clouds are wider than most clouds, and their base has a smooth, uniform look which is lighter in color than a nimbostratus cloud. The presence of a stratus cloud indicates the possibility of minor precipitation, such as drizzle, but heavier precipitation does not typically arrive in the form of a stratus cloud.

Next Topic: Wall Clouds

Weather Topic: What are Altocumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Altocumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Altostratus Clouds

Similar to cirrocumulus clouds, altocumulus clouds are characterized by cloud patches. They are distinguished by larger cloudlets than cirrocumulus clouds but are still smaller than stratocumulus clouds.

Altocumulus clouds most commonly form in middle altitudes (between 2 and 5 km) and may resemble, at times, the shape of a flying saucer. These uncommon formations, called altocumulus lenticularis, are created by uplift in the atmosphere and are most often seen in close proximity to mountains.

Next Topic: Altostratus Clouds