Weather Alert in California

Recent Locations: Belfield, ND North Fork, CA Empire, CA

Current Alerts for Empire, CA: Flood Advisory

Special Weather Statement issued February 16 at 12:24PM PST by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

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

DESCRIPTION: At 1223 PM PST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 21 miles east of Santa Maria to 12 miles north of Santa Rosa Island. Movement was northeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Santa Barbara... Montecito... Isla Vista... Summerland... Goleta... Figueroa Mountain... Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass... Hope Ranch... Highway 166 between Twitchell Dam and the Cuyama Valley... Mission Canyon... Lake Cachuma... and Santa Barbara Airport.

INSTRUCTION: If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds

Fractus Clouds Next Topic: Freezing Rain

A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original cloud which contained them.

Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.

They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds, and are a display of wind activity.

Next Topic: Freezing Rain

Weather Topic: What is Graupel?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel

Graupel Next Topic: Hail

Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to their surface.

Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation similar to situations which produce snowfall.

Next Topic: Hail