Weather Alert in Washington
Red Flag Warning issued August 27 at 9:24PM PDT until August 28 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
AREAS AFFECTED: West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet; West Slopes of the Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet; East Portion of the Olympic Mountains
DESCRIPTION: * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 658 West Slopes of the North Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet, Fire Weather Zone 659 West Slopes of the Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet and Fire Weather Zone 661 East Portion of the Olympic Mountains. * THUNDERSTORMS...Thunderstorms are favored along the eastern slopes of the Olympic mountains and more so in the Cascades from this afternoon and evening and again Thursday into Thursday night. Some brief heavy rain or isolated wetting rains are possible, but lightning strikes on very dry fuel are capable of new fire starts. * OUTFLOW WINDS...Outflow winds of 25 to 30 mph are possible. Outflow winds can occur ahead of and behind storms and cause erratic wind directions. * IMPACTS...Scattered lightning in dry fuels can cause multiple fire starts. Thunderstorms can also bring sudden sharp wind shifts on existing fires, causing rapid changes in a fire's rate of spread and direction of spread. Thunderstorm outflow winds can be a threat for several hours following the start of a new lightning-caused fire. If a fire were to begin, air quality may diminish in the surrounding area. With lightning occurrences having started Tuesday and thunderstorms expect for two more days, multiple days in a row of lightning strikes on our dry fuels could result in a critical number of new wildfires. * THUNDERSTORMS...Multiple lightning strikes occurred in the higher terrain of the Cascades mountains yesterday afternoon and evening and that will resume this afternoon and evening. Multiple days in a row of lightning strikes on our dry fuels could result in a critical number of new wildfires.
INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either imminent or occurring now. Any fires that develop will likely spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
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Weather Topic: What are Nimbostratus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Nimbostratus Clouds
Next Topic: Precipitation
A nimbostratus cloud is similar to a stratus cloud in its formless,
smooth appearance. However, a nimbostratus cloud is darker than a stratus cloud,
because it is thicker.
Unlike a stratus cloud, a nimbostratus cloud typically brings with it the threat
of moderate to heavy precipitation. In some cases, the precipitation may evaporate
before reaching the ground, a phenomenon known as virga.
Next Topic: Precipitation
Weather Topic: What is Rain?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain.
Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period
of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.
Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency
depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have
an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island.
Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of
cities is 30% greater.
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
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