Forecast Details for Merced, CA

Recent Locations: Union, SC Wray, GA Merced, CA

Today: Sunny, with a high near 83. North northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of rain after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. West northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A slight chance of rain, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then rain likely after 11pm. Low around 54. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of rain, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of rain after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. North northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

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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 Condensation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Condensation

Next Topic: Contrails

Condensation is the process which creates clouds, and therefore it is a crucial process in the water cycle. Condensation is the change of matter from a state of gas into a state of liquid, and it happens because water molecules release heat into the atmosphere and become organized into a more closely packed structure, what we might see as water droplets.

Water is always present in the air around us as a vapor, but it's too small for us to see. When water undergoes the process of condensation it becomes organized into visible water droplets. You've probably seen condensation happen before on the surface of a cold drink!

Next Topic: Contrails

Weather Topic: What are Cumulonimbus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cumulonimbus Clouds

Cumulonimbus Clouds Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds

The final form taken by a growing cumulus cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud, which is very tall and dense. The tower of a cumulonimbus cloud can soar 23 km into the atmosphere, although most commonly they stop growing at an altitude of 6 km.

Even small cumulonimbus clouds appear very large in comparison to other cloud types. They can signal the approach of stormy weather, such as thunderstorms or blizzards.

Next Topic: Cumulus Clouds