Forecast Details for Ariel, WA

Recent Locations: Salix, IA Holt, FL Ariel, WA

This Afternoon: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 4pm and 5pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. High near 50. Southeast wind around 9 mph becoming south southwest. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 5am, then rain likely. Snow level 2900 feet lowering to 1900 feet after midnight . Low around 38. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain, mainly before 4pm. Snow level 2100 feet rising to 3200 feet in the afternoon. High near 52. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain before 11pm. Patchy frost after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 38.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

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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

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North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

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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