Weather Alert in California
Red Flag Warning issued August 23 at 8:56AM PDT until August 23 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
AREAS AFFECTED: Cuyama Valley; Santa Clarita Valley; San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range; Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range; Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains; 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
DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING 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 conditions with high temperatures of 95 to 105 degrees, producing unseasonably unstable conditions, with deep mixing heights of 12,000 to 18,000 feet. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity 12 to 25 percent, except 25 to 40 percent across higher mountains. * THUNDERSTORMS...Scattered thunderstorms at times will be capable of producing dry lightning fire starts as well as strong downburst/outflow winds gusting to 30 to 50 mph. * WINDS...Outside of thunderstorms, southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph gusting to 20 to 30 mph are expected, strongest in the afternoon hours and in the San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley foothills. * 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...While the dangerous threat for plume dominated fires and dry lightning strikes will likely continue through at least Monday, the threat will decrease some after today. As such, unless expected conditions change drastically, this Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expire this evening with no plans on extending.
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 more 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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