Noctilucent Clouds

Snow Squalls May Impact New Year's Eve Travel from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic; Heavy Rain Returns to California

Lake effect snow will continue through Friday bringing significant snowfall to areas east to southeast of the Great Lakes. Snow squalls may impact New Year's Eve travel this evening and overnight across parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Upstate New York. Heavy rain will bring another flash flooding threat for southern California New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. Read More >

Noctilucent Clouds

On the morning of October 28^th,rare noctilucent clouds were visible over Monterey. Noctilucent clouds are thin silvery-blue cirrus-like clouds frequently seen during summer twilight conditions at high latitudes (above 50°) in both hemispheres. These clouds are primarily composed of ice crystals at heights 50-70 miles above the earth's surface. (source) However, the clouds seen this morning were formed by the launch of the NPOESS Preparatory Project spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Below are two images of the noctilucent clouds.