Weather Alert in Washington

Recent Locations: Toutle, WA   Faulkton, SD   Yelm, WA  

Red Flag Warning issued September 5 at 8:53PM PDT until September 7 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA

AREAS AFFECTED: East Washington Central Cascades; Central Washington Cascade Foothills; Waterville Plateau; Western Columbia Basin

DESCRIPTION: ...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY NIGHT... .Scattered thunderstorms will develop in the Cascades starting Saturday afternoon and expand into the western Columbia Basin during the evening and overnight hours with potential for abundant lightning. Storms will also be capable of gusty outflow winds of 30 to 40 mph. The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms, which is in effect from 4 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday. * Affected Area: East Washington Central Cascades (Zone 696), Foothills of Central Washington Cascades (Zone 705), Waterville Plateau (Zone 706) and Western Columbia Basin (Zone 707). * Thunderstorms: Scattered thunderstorms with rainfall amounts between a trace and 0.15" * Outflow Winds: Gusty and erratic outflow winds of 30 to 40 mph. * Impacts: New fire starts are likely with thunderstorms. Gusty outflow winds may lead to fire spread with new or existing fires.

INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

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Weather Topic: What is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow

Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds

Stratocumulus Clouds Next Topic: Stratus Clouds

Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.

A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a stratocumulus cloud.

It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do it is usually a light rain or snow.

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds

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