Weather Alerts for Alaska

Recent Locations: Bolingbroke, GA Kohler, WI Tok, AK

1. Flood Advisory for: Upper Kobuk Valleys

2. Flood Advisory for: Upper Koyukuk Valley

3. Flood Watch for: Kuskokwim Valley West; Kuskokwim Valley East; Northern Bristol Bay Coast; Inland Bristol Bay

4. Flood Watch for: Noatak Valley; Lower Koyukuk Valley; Upper Koyukuk Valley

5. Flood Watch for: South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range; Upper Kobuk Valleys

6. Flood Watch for: Southern Kenai Mtns

7. Flood Watch for: Western Susitna Valley; Southern Susitna Valley; Central Susitna Valley; Northern Susitna Valley

8. Heat Advisory for: Prince of Wales Island; Ketchikan Gateway Borough; City of Hyder; Annette Island

9. High Wind Warning for: Anchorage

10. High Wind Warning for: Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River

11. Hydrologic Outlook for: Anchorage; Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River; East Turnagain Arm; Portage; Lower Matanuska Valley; Hatcher Pass; Sutton / Upper Matanuska Valley; Eureka / Tahneta Pass; Southern Kachemak Bay; SW Kenai Peninsula; NW Kenai Peninsula; Skilak Lake; Southern Kenai Mtns; Interior Kenai Peninsula; Turnagain Pass; West Prince William Sound & Whittier; Tyonek; Valdez; Thompson Pass; Cordova; Western Susitna Valley; Southern Susitna Valley; Central Susitna Valley; Northern Susitna Valley

12. Hydrologic Outlook for: Kuskokwim Valley West; Kuskokwim Valley East; Interior Kuskokwim Delta; Western Capes; Northern Bristol Bay Coast; Inland Bristol Bay

13. Hydrologic Outlook for: South Slopes Of The Central Brooks Range; South Slopes of the Western Brooks Range; Noatak Valley; Lower Kobuk Valley; Upper Kobuk Valleys; Lower Koyukuk Valley; Upper Koyukuk Valley

14. Special Weather Statement for: Lower Matanuska Valley

15. Wind Advisory for: Delta Junction

16. Wind Advisory for: Eastern Alaska Range North of Trims Camp; Eastern Alaska Range South of Trims Camp

17. Winter Storm Warning for: Central Arctic Plains; Central Brooks Range

18. Winter Storm Warning for: Western Arctic Plains; Howard Pass and the Delong Mountains

19. Winter Weather Advisory for: Central Beaufort Sea Coast

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

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National Weather Forecast--Current

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National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.

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

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