Weather Alert in Illinois

Recent Locations: Lincoln, MT   Beacon, NY   Pierron, IL  

Red Flag Warning issued February 18 at 9:03AM CST until February 18 at 8:00PM CST by NWS Chicago IL

AREAS AFFECTED: Lake; DuPage; Cook; Will; Kankakee

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CHICAGO METRO... Conditions will turn very dry and windy this afternoon, making conditions supportive of brush fire spread. Even with rainfall last night generally 0.05 to 0.15 of an inch across northeastern Illinois, the combination of warm, dry, and windy conditions will cause fine fuels to dry out by early afternoon. As a result, the Red Flag Warning was expanded to include Cook, DuPage, Will, Kankakee, and Lake (IL) Counties until 8 PM this evening. The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect until 8 PM CST this evening. * Affected Area...Lake IL, DuPage, Cook, Will and Kankakee. * Timing...Until 8 PM CST this evening. * Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * Relative Humidity...As low as 15 to 20 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 Hail?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Hail

Hail Next Topic: Hole Punch Clouds

Hail is a form of precipitation which is recognized by large solid balls or clumps of ice. Hail is created by thunderstorm clouds with strong updrafts of wind. As the hailstones remain in the updraft, ice is deposited onto them until their weight becomes heavy enough for them to fall to the earth's surface.

Hail storms can cause significant damage to crops, aircrafts, and man-made structures, despite the fact that the duration is usually less than ten minutes.

Next Topic: Hole Punch Clouds

Weather Topic: What are Mammatus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus Clouds Next Topic: Nimbostratus Clouds

A mammatus cloud is a cloud with a unique feature which resembles a web of pouches hanging along the base of the cloud.

In the United States, mammatus clouds tend to form in the warmer months, commonly in the Midwest and eastern regions.

While they usually form at the bottom of a cumulonimbis cloud, they can also form under altostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds. Mammatus clouds warn that severe weather is close.

Next Topic: Nimbostratus Clouds

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