Weather Alert in Louisiana

Recent Locations: Plant City, FL Port Royal, PA Hester, LA

Red Flag Warning issued March 15 at 11:58AM CDT until March 16 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA

AREAS AFFECTED: Vernon; Rapides; Avoyelles; Beauregard; Allen; Evangeline; St. Landry; Lafayette; Upper St. Martin; Lower St. Martin; West Cameron; East Cameron; Northern Calcasieu; Northern Jefferson Davis; Northern Acadia; Upper Vermilion; Upper Iberia; Upper St. Mary; Southern Calcasieu; Southern Jefferson Davis; Southern Acadia; Lower Vermilion; Lower Iberia; Lower St. Mary; Tyler; Hardin; Northern Jasper; Northern Newton; Southern Jasper; Southern Newton; Upper Jefferson; Northern Orange; Lower Jefferson; Southern Orange

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING AREA WIDE... .Windy and dry conditions behind a cold front may produce red flag conditons across much of the area Monday. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a Red Flag Warning for strong and gusty north winds, and very low relative humidity which is in effect from 11 AM to 7 PM CDT Monday. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 027 Vernon, Fire Weather Zone 028 Rapides, Fire Weather Zone 029 Avoyelles, Fire Weather Zone 030 Beauregard, Fire Weather Zone 031 Allen, Fire Weather Zone 032 Evangeline, Fire Weather Zone 033 St. Landry, Fire Weather Zone 044 Lafayette, Fire Weather Zone 045 Upper St. Martin, Fire Weather Zone 055 Lower St. Martin, Fire Weather Zone 073 West Cameron, Fire Weather Zone 074 East Cameron, Fire Weather Zone 141 Northern Calcasieu, Fire Weather Zone 142 Northern Jefferson Davis, Fire Weather Zone 143 Northern Acadia, Fire Weather Zone 152 Upper Vermilion, Fire Weather Zone 153 Upper Iberia, Fire Weather Zone 154 Upper St. Mary, Fire Weather Zone 180 Tyler, Fire Weather Zone 201 Hardin, Fire Weather Zone 241 Southern Calcasieu, Fire Weather Zone 242 Southern Jefferson Davis, Fire Weather Zone 243 Southern Acadia, Fire Weather Zone 252 Lower Vermilion, Fire Weather Zone 253 Lower Iberia, Fire Weather Zone 254 Lower St. Mary, Fire Weather Zone 259 Northern Jasper, Fire Weather Zone 260 Northern Newton, Fire Weather Zone 261 Southern Jasper, Fire Weather Zone 262 Southern Newton, Fire Weather Zone 515 Upper Jefferson, Fire Weather Zone 516 Northern Orange, Fire Weather Zone 615 Lower Jefferson and Fire Weather Zone 616 Southern Orange. * TIMING...From 11 AM to 7 PM CDT Monday. * WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 21 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 56. * 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

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