Weather Alert in California

Recent Locations: Jermyn, TX   Duvall, WA   Santa Clara, CA  
Current Alerts for Santa Clara, CA: Heat Advisory

Red Flag Warning issued August 20 at 3:34PM PDT until August 23 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

AREAS AFFECTED: Cuyama Valley; San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR AN UNSEASONABLY HOT AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR FROM VERTICAL PLUME GROWTH... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND LOCALLY BREEZY WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM PDT THURSDAY TO 9 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR AN UNSEASONABLY HOT AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR FROM VERTICAL PLUME GROWTH...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND LOCALLY BREEZY WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF SANTA BARBARA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES... .A significant heatwave is on the way for late this week into this weekend, bringing dangerous fire-weather conditions. * TEMPERATURES...Unseasonably hot high temperatures, generally 95- 105 degrees, producing unseasonably unstable conditions. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity 8-20 percent. * THUNDERSTORMS...There is a less than 10 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms Friday through the weekend, and any accompanying lightning strikes will be capable of starting new fires on the peripheries of rain cores. * WINDS...Diurnal wind patterns with speeds of 5-10 mph gusting to 10-15 mph, locally higher in wind-favored areas such as through passes and canyons. * IMPACTS...If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth, which could threaten life and property. Be aware of sudden re-direction of fires in response to passing outflow boundaries. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Fire-weather headlines may eventually need to be extended into Sunday.

INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that fire-weather conditions could potentially become favorable for the development of extreme fire behavior in the coming days. Use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire. Residents near wildland interfaces should be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire breaks out. See readyforwildfire.org and wildfirerisk.org for information.

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Weather Topic: What is Condensation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Condensation

Condensation Next Topic: Contrails

Condensation is the process which creates clouds, and therefore it is a crucial process in the water cycle. Condensation is the change of matter from a state of gas into a state of liquid, and it happens because water molecules release heat into the atmosphere and become organized into a more closely packed structure, what we might see as water droplets.

Water is always present in the air around us as a vapor, but it's too small for us to see. When water undergoes the process of condensation it becomes organized into visible water droplets. You've probably seen condensation happen before on the surface of a cold drink!

Next Topic: Contrails

Weather Topic: What are Cumulonimbus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cumulonimbus Clouds

Cumulonimbus Clouds Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds

The final form taken by a growing cumulus cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud, which is very tall and dense. The tower of a cumulonimbus cloud can soar 23 km into the atmosphere, although most commonly they stop growing at an altitude of 6 km.

Even small cumulonimbus clouds appear very large in comparison to other cloud types. They can signal the approach of stormy weather, such as thunderstorms or blizzards.

Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds

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