Weather Alert in Illinois
Red Flag Warning issued March 14 at 4:11AM CDT until March 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
AREAS AFFECTED: Winnebago; Boone; McHenry; Ogle; Lee; De Kalb; Kane; DuPage; La Salle; Kendall; Grundy; Will; Kankakee; Livingston; Iroquois; Ford
DESCRIPTION: The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * Affected Area...Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee, De Kalb, Kane, DuPage, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Will, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois and Ford. * Timing...From 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening. * Winds...South 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * Relative Humidity...As low as 30 to 35 percent. * Impacts...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
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
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
