Forecast Details for Alton, IA

Recent Locations: Cheyenne, WY Ridgeway, IA Alton, IA

Today: A chance of sprinkles before 11am, then rain likely, mainly after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain. Low around 35. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 42. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of rain between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of snow after 4am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A slight chance of snow before 7am, then rain. Some thunder is also possible. High near 43. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of rain between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Blustery.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

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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