8 illuminating facts about clouds

The gorgeous cotton balls drifting 60,000 feet above our heads are more than atmospheric decoration that inspire great works of art and philosophy. Clouds come in all shapes and sizes and are the sites of a number of fascinating meteorological phenomena. Here, some cloud facts.

The average cloud droplet is .02 mm in diameter, about five times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper. These droplets condense to form clouds up to 14 miles tall, which would be the same height as fifty Empire State Buildings piled on top of each other.
more  http://blog.ted.com/2013/07/16/8-illuminating-facts-about-clouds/

RESOLVE TO BE WEATHER READY IN 2014

Be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk, taking action and being an example in your community.

Each year, people in this country are killed or seriously injured by all types of extreme weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries due to extreme weather, like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires. 

NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.

  As part of the Weather-Ready Nation initiative, NOAA, along with partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wants to motivate individuals and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of a weather disaster and to share their preparedness steps with others. These actions can save lives anywhere - at home, in schools, and in the workplace before tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme types of weather strike.

read on to find out how to know your risk, what you can do...

 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/force.html#.UsQlPqKzKph

SHORT TERM FORECAST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
WED JAN 1 2014

LEWISTON AREA-SPOKANE AREA-WENATCHEE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF LEWISTON, LAPWAI, PECK, CULDESAC,

GIFFORD,SPOKANE,CHENEY,DAVENPORT, ROCKFORD, WENATCHEE,

CHELAN,ENTIAT, CASHMERE

.NOW...
AREAS OF FOG CONTINUE TO IMPACT EAST WENATCHEE...THE 

SPOKANE/WEST PLAINS AND THE L-C VALLEY. MORNING FOG 

WAS LOCALLY DENSE WITH VISIBILITY DOWN TO ONE QUARTER 

MILE AT TIMES. TEMPERATURES BELOW  FREEZING WILL RESULT 

FROZEN ROAD SURFACES AND MAY CREATE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALLOW FOR EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL ON AREA

ROADWAYS AND BE PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=short%20term%20forecast

DENSE FOG THIS MORNING - INLAND NW

Check out the visibility- in the L/C Valley, Spokane, CDA, Wenatchee,,, click link for larger view
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx