Forecast Details for Merced, CA

Recent Locations: Jackson, MS Madison, WI Merced, CA

Current Alerts for Merced, CA: Dense Fog Advisory

Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.

Friday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Washington's Birthday: Rain before 4pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. High near 53. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then rain after 10pm. Low around 45. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 51. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east southeast in the evening. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

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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 are Contrails?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an aircraft.

Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails are called exhaust contrails.

Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation. These are called aerodynamic contrails.

When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation. The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

Weather Topic: What are Cumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Drizzle

Cumulus clouds are fluffy and textured with rounded tops, and may have flat bottoms. The border of a cumulus cloud is clearly defined, and can have the appearance of cotton or cauliflower.

Cumulus clouds form at low altitudes (rarely above 2 km) but can grow very tall, becoming cumulus congestus and possibly the even taller cumulonimbus clouds. When cumulus clouds become taller, they have a greater chance of producing precipitation.

Next Topic: Drizzle