Weather Alert in California
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 4:12PM 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...LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS, ISOLATED DRY LIGHTNING STRIKES, AND CRITICALLY DRY FUELS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF LOS ANGELES, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES... .A significant heatwave and increased instability, along with isolated dry lightning strikes and gusty outflow winds will continue, bringing dangerous fire-weather conditions. * TEMPERATURES...Unseasonably hot high temperatures, generally 95- 107 degrees, producing unseasonably unstable conditions, with deep mixing heights of 12,000 to 18,000 feet. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity 8-20 percent. * THUNDERSTORMS...There is a 5-15 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms Saturday night through Sunday. Any accompanying lightning strikes will be capable of starting new fires on the peripheries of rain cores. In addition, the environment will be favorable for strong downburst/outflow winds gusting 40 to 50 mph, capable of causing rapid fire spread. In addition, distant thunderstorms will be capable of bringing sudden wind shifts and increased fire-spread rates. * WINDS...Diurnal wind patterns with speeds of 5-10 mph gusting to 10-20 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...Red Flag Warning 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. 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 are Shelf Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Shelf Clouds
Next Topic: Sleet
A shelf cloud is similar to a wall cloud, but forms at the front
of a storm cloud, instead of at the rear, where wall clouds form.
A shelf cloud is caused by a series of events set into motion by the advancing
storm; first, cool air settles along the ground where precipitation has just fallen.
As the cool air is brought in, the warmer air is displaced, and rises above it,
because it is less dense. When the warmer air reaches the bottom of the storm cloud,
it begins to cool again, and the resulting condensation is a visible shelf cloud.
Next Topic: Sleet
Weather Topic: What is Snow?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Snow
Next Topic: Stratocumulus Clouds
Snow is precipitation taking the form of ice crystals. Each ice crystal, or snowflake,
has unique characteristics, but all of them grow in a hexagonal structure.
Snowfall can last for sustained periods of time and result in significant buildup
of snow on the ground.
On the earth's surface, snow starts out light and powdery, but as it begins to melt
it tends to become more granular, producing small bits of ice which have the consistency of
sand. After several cycles of melting and freezing, snow can become very dense
and ice-like, commonly known as snow pack.
Next Topic: Stratocumulus Clouds
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