Weather Information

Weather Information

Nathan Reed

OVERVIEW

IMPORTANCE OF A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT / INFLIGHT WEATHER

BRIEFING

• Study all weather reports and forecasts. Pay particular attention to temperature and dew point spreads to detect the possibility of fog formation.

• In flight, look for signs of changing weather.• Trust what you see outside.• Continually reevaluate.• The key: Always leave an out!• VFR Flight into IMC

http://flash.aopa.org/asf/pilotstories/snow/

MEANS AND SOURCES OF OBTAINING WEATHER

INFORMATION

• Individual briefing obtained from a briefer at FSS (Flight Service Station) / AFSS (Automated Flight Service Station), 1-800-WX-BRIEF.

• The Direct User Access System (DUAT, DUATS)T .• Hazardous In-flight Weather Advisory Service

(HIWAS). • En Route Flight Advisory Service (EFAS) “Flight

Watch” found on 122.0.• Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS),

AWOS, ASOS. • Weather and aeronautical information from

numerous private industry sources.

Weather Briefings

OBTAINING WEATHER INFORMATION

PRINTED FORECASTS AND REPORTS

METAR PIREP TAF FB FA

METAR

• KLIT 211553Z 20006KT 10SM SCT250 19/04 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP207 T01890044

• KORD 211551Z 08014KT 8SM –FZRA FG FEW011 BKN026 OVC055 M01/M02 A3008 RMK AO2 RAE08SNB08SNE32 SLP191 P0001

METARReportable Contraction

Summation Amount of

Layer

VV 8/8

SKC or CLR

0

FEW 1/8 – 2/8

SCT 3/8 – 4/8

BKN 5/8 – 7/8

OVC 8/8

METAR

• KLIT 211553Z 20006KT 10SM SCT250 19/04 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP207 T01890044

• KORD 211551Z 08014KT 8SM –FZRA FG FEW011 BKN026 OVC055 M01/M02 A3008 RMK AO2 RAE08SNB08SNE32 SLP191 P0001

• KCAR 211554Z AUTO 29022G32KT 1/4SM BLSN OVC001 M07/M12 A2912 RMK AO2 PK WND 29034/1530 SLP872 P0010 T10721117$

• KYGP 211600Z 08003KT 3/4SM +SN BR SCT003 OVC008 M03/M07 A2872 RMK SNB23 WET SN PRESRR SLP728

• SPECI KYMT 211630Z 20017G27KT 1SM +TSRA SQ VV005CB DU 28/23 A3000 RMK TSB24 TS OHD MOV NE



PIREP• UA /OV ABQ270035 /TM 1435 /FL115 /TP C404 /TB NEG /RM SMTH

• UA /OV HYS 180015 /TM 1400 /FL340 /TP A320 /TB MOD CHOP /RM FM ZKC

• UUA /OV PIR /TM 1340 /FL040 /TP C172 /TB MOD-SEV

• UA /OV KTUS / TM 1845 /FL UNKN /TP UNKN /RM REDINGTON PASS CLSD DUE TO FG AND LOW CLDS UNA VFR RTN KTUS

• UA /OV KMRB-KPIT /TM 1600 /FL 100 /TP BE55 /SK BKN024-TOP032/ BKN-OVC043-TOPUNKN /TA M12/ IC LGT-MOD RIME 055-080



TAF

TAF• KLUK 061128Z 0612/0712 VRB03KT P6SM SCT100

FM1400 24008KT P6SM SCT250 FM0000 VRB03KT P6SM BKN250 FM0800 VRB03KT P6SM BKN080

• KSFO 061455Z 0615/0721 17010KT P6SM SCT030 BKN250 FM2100 17014KT P6SM VCTS BKN035CB FM0100 16011KT P6SM BKN025 FM0400 16011KT P6SM OVC015 TEMPO 0706/0709 19011KT 2SM +TSRA BR OVC008CB FM1100 VRB06KT 5SM BR OVC030 TEMPO 0714/0716 14012G22KT VCTS FEW010CB OVC025FM1600 16008KT 5SM VCTS FEW030CB SCT030 OVC060

• KACV 172006Z 1720/1818 30003KT 1 1/2SM BR BKN001 OVC006 TEMPO 1720/1723 5SM BR SCT003 SCT008 FM172300 27004KT 6SM HZ SCT003 BKN008 FM180200 VRB03KT 2SM -DZ BR BKN002 FM181400 09004KT 3SM BR BKN008



FORECAST WINDS AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT

DATA BASED ON 061200Z VALID 061800Z FOR USE 1400-2100Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000 FT 3000 6000 9000 12000 18000 24000 30000 34000 39000

BIH 9900 3409+08 3411-01 3518-15 3424-27 344342 344951 355262 BLH 2006 0307+11 0313+03 0321-05 0343-20 0250-32 027845 752144 779947FAT 9900 3410+13 3313+07 3407+00 3523-14 3430-27 344442 344851 354562 FOT 3625 3424+10 3417+04 2911-02 2723-15 2732-27 273742 274551 774761 ONT 9900 0107+13 0112+06 0122-02 0134-18 0255-27 366942 017552 365858SFO 3009 2806+14 2908+08 3114+02 3122-14 3027-27 303341 803151 813661SIY * * * 2815-03 2727-16 2732-27 283943 274652 285461WJF 2909 3308+06 3620-01 0131-16 0144-27 366041 366351 365661AST 3315 3114+00 2911-02 9900-08 2725-19 2643-30 266545 267354 265959IMB 2912-02 2614-06 2639-17 2742-29 284645 286253 285661


•Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1500 feet of a location’s elevation.



BIH 9900 3409+08 3411-01 3518-15 3424-27 344342 344951 355262 BLH 2006 0307+11 0313+03 0321-05 0343-20 0250-32 027845 752144 779947FAT 9900 3410+13 3313+07 3407+00 3523-14 3430-27 344442 344851 354562 FOT 3625 3424+10 3417+04 2911-02 2723-15 2732-27 273742 274551 774761 ONT 9900 0107+13 0112+06 0122-02 0134-18 0255-27 366942 017552 365858SFO 3009 2806+14 2908+08 3114+02 3122-14 3027-27 303341 803151 813661SIY * * * 2815-03 2727-16 2732-27 283943 274652 285461WJF 2909 3308+06 3620-01 0131-16 0144-27 366041 366351 365661AST 3315 3114+00 2911-02 9900-08 2725-19 2643-30 266545 267354 265959IMB 2912-02 2614-06 2639-17 2742-29 284645 286253 285661


•Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1500 feet of a location’s elevation.•Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2500 feet of a location’s elevation (no temperature for 3000).



BIH 9900 3409+08 3411-01 3518-15 3424-27 344342 344951 355262 BLH 2006 0307+11 0313+03 0321-05 0343-20 0250-32 027845 752144 779947FAT 9900 3410+13 3313+07 3407+00 3523-14 3430-27 344442 344851 354562 FOT 3625 3424+10 3417+04 2911-02 2723-15 2732-27 273742 274551 774761 ONT 9900 0107+13 0112+06 0122-02 0134-18 0255-27 366942 017552 365858SFO 3009 2806+14 2908+08 3114+02 3122-14 3027-27 303341 803151 813661SIY 2815-03 2727-16 2732-27 283943 274652 285461WJF 2909 3308+06 3620-01 0131-16 0144-27 366041 366351 365661AST 3315 3114+00 2911-02 9900-08 2725-19 2643-30 266545 267354 265959IMB 2912-02 2614-06 2639-17 2742-29 284645 286253 285661


•Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1500 feet of a location’s elevation.•Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2500 feet of a location’s elevation (no temperature for 3000).•Wind direction is indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to true north, wind speed is given in knots (two digits) and temperature is indicated in degrees Celsius (two digits) and is preceded by the appropriate algebraic sign for the levels from 6000 through 24000 feet. Above 24000 feet, the sign is omitted since temperatures are always negative at those altitudes.





•Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1500 feet of a location’s elevation.•Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2500 feet of a location’s elevation (no temperature for 3000).•Wind direction is indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to true north, wind speed is given in knots (two digits) and temperature is indicated in degrees Celsius (two digits) and is preceded by the appropriate algebraic sign for the levels from 6000 through 24000 feet. Above 24000 feet, the sign is omitted since temperatures are always negative at those altitudes.•Light and variable wind or wind speeds of less than 5 knots are expressed by 9900.





•Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1500 feet of a location’s elevation.•Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2500 feet of a location’s elevation (no temperature for 3000).•Wind direction is indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to true north, wind speed is given in knots (two digits) and temperature is indicated in degrees Celsius (two digits) and is preceded by the appropriate algebraic sign for the levels from 6000 through 24000 feet. Above 24000 feet, the sign is omitted since temperatures are always negative at those altitudes.•Light and variable wind or wind speeds of less than 5 knots are expressed by 9900.•Forecast wind speeds of 100 through 199 knots are indicated by adding100 from the speed and subtracting 50 to the coded direction. Forecast wind speeds of 200 knots or greater are indicated as a forecast speed of 199 knots.






FA

FA

Area Forecast (FAUS)

Boston and Miami (UTC)

Chicago and Fort Worth

(UTC)

San Francisco and Salt Lake City

(UTC)

1st Issuance 0845 DT 0945 ST

0945 DT 1045 ST

1045 DT 1145 ST

2nd Issuance 1745 DT 1845 ST

1845 DT 1945 ST

1945 DT 2045 ST

3rd Issuance 0045 DT 0145 ST

0145 DT 0245 ST

0245 DT 0345 ST

FASLCC FA 061045 SYNOPSIS AND VFR CLDS/WX SYNOPSIS VALID UNTIL 070500 CLDS/WX VALID UNTIL 062300...OTLK VALID 062300-070500 ID MT WY NV UT CO AZ NM .

SEE AIRMET SIERRA FOR IFR CONDS AND MTN OBSCN. TS IMPLY SEV OR GTR TURB SEV ICE LLWS AND IFR CONDS. NON MSL HGTS DENOTED BY AGL OR CIG.

SYNOPSIS...ALF..11Z UPR LVL LOW NRN BAJA CA. MOD SW FLOW AZ/NM. LGT WNDS ELSW. 05Z LOW MOVG TO SW NM. MOD SW WNDS NM. SFC...11Z WK LOW ERN MT WITH CDFNT ACRS S CNTRL MT THRU SWRN ID. TROF ERN WY THRU ERN CO/NM. WK HIGH PRES WRN CO. SLGTLY MOIST UNSTBL AMS THRUT FA RGN. 05Z LOW SRN MN WITH CDFNT ACRS CNTRL NEB CONTG WWD ACRS SRN WY. TROF NRN TX PNHDL THRU SE NM. LOW PRES OVR GRT BASIN.

ID NRN...BKN100 TOP 160. 16Z SCT080 BKN CI. BY 20Z ISOL -TSRA. CB TOP FL300. OTLK...VFR. CNTRL MTNS/SRN ID...SCT150 SCT CI. 21Z SCT100 BKN150 TOP FL250. ISOL -TSRA. CB TOP FL300. OTLK...VFR.

NV NWRN/NERN...SCT CI. 20Z SCT150. ISOL -TSRA. CB TOP FL380. OTLK...VFR. SRN...SCT150 SCT CI. OTLK...VFR.

Heading Section

Precautionary Statements

Synopsis

VFR Clouds and WX


SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS

AIRMET SIGMET CONVECTIVE SIGMET

CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

AIRMET• CHI Z WA 080245

AIRMET ZULU FOR ICE AND FRZLVL VALID UNTIL 080900 AIRMET ICE...ND SD NE MN FROM FAR TO FSD TO SNY TO BFF TO 80SW DIK TO FAR MOD ICE BTN FRZLVL AND FL200. FRZLVL 060-100. CONDS CONTG BYD 09Z THRU 15Z. FRZLVL...RANGING FROM SFC-125 ACRS AREA 040 ALG 60NE MOT-20WSW BRD-50NE MSP-40ENE EAU-70SSE SSM-70SE SSM 080 ALG 60WNW RAP-50SW DPR-20ESE FSD-60SSW ODI-20S MKG-20W ECK-60SSW YVV ----------------------------------------

• DFW T WA 080245 AIRMET TANGO FOR TURB VALID UNTIL 080900 AIRMET TURB...OK TX AR TN LA MS AL SD NE KS MN IA MO WI LM LS MI LH IL IN KY FROM DLH TO SSM TO YVV TO 50ENE ECK TO 30SE ECK TO FWA TO CVG TO HNN TO HMV TO GQO TO AEX TO SJT TO 50W LBL TO GLD TO DLH MOD TURB BTN FL240 AND FL400. CONDS CONTG BYD 09Z THRU 15Z.----------------------------------------

• SLC S WA 080245 AIRMET SIERRA FOR IFR AND MTN OBSCN VALID UNTIL 080900 AIRMET MTN OBSCN...CO FROM 20N CHE TO 30SSW CYS TO 30SSW PUB TO 50SW HBU TO 20N CHE MTNS OCNL OBSC BY CLDS/PCPN. CONDS DVLPG 06-09Z AND CONTG BYD 09Z THRU 15Z.



CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

SIGMET• SFOR UWS 100130

SIGMENT ROMEO 1 VALID UNTIL 100530OR WAFROM SEA TO PDT TO EUG TO SEAOCNL MOGR CAT BTN FL280 AND FL350 EXP DUE TO JTSTR. CONDS BGNG AFT 0200Z CONTG BYD 0530Z AND SPRDG OVER CNTRL ID BY 040700Z.

• DFWY WS 121450 COR SIGMET YANKEE 4 VALID UNTIL 121700 MO AR LA MS FROM STL TO 30 N MEI TO BTR TO MLU TO STL OCNL SVR MXD ICING 90 TO 130 EXPCD. FRZLVL 80 E TO 120

W. CONDS CONTG BYD 1700Z CORRECTS YANKEE 3



CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

CONVECTIVE SIGMET

CONVECTIVE SIGMET• WSUS32 KKCI 080455

SIG C CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C VALID UNTIL 0655Z MS LA AR TX FROM 30E LIT-50SSE MEM-20WNW JAN-50E LFK-30W TXK-30E LIT AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23045KT. TOPS TO FL390. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.

OUTLOOK VALID 080655-081055 AREA 1...FROM BVT-30WNW BWG-MEI-40NW LCH-60NW IAH-FSM-30SW BUM-BVT REF WW 275 276. WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.

AREA 2...FROM 90SE MLS-40E RAP-30S AKO-40S HBU-70NW LAR-90SE MLS WST ISSUANCES POSS. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.



CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

Convective Outlook

Issuance Time (UTC)

Valid Period (UTC)

Day 1 0600 1200 – 1200

1300 1300 – 1200

1630 1630 – 1200

2000 2000 - 1200

0100 0100 - 1200

Day 2 0730 DT0830 ST

2 / 1200 - 1200

1730 2 / 1200 - 1200

Day 3 1100 3 / 1200 - 1200

CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS


AIRMET/ SIGMET/CONVECTIVE SIGMET

SURFACE ANALYSIS

SURFACE ANALYSIS

SURFACE ANALYSIS

SURFACE ANALYSIS

SURFACE ANALYSIS

SURFACE ANALYSIS

WEATHER DEPICTION

WEATHER DEPICTION

RADAR SUMMARY

RADAR SUMMARY

RADAR SUMMARY

SURFACE PROGNOSTIC CHARTS

PresentPresent 12 HR12 HR

24 HR24 HR 36 HR36 HR

LOW-LEVEL SIGNIFICANT WEATHER (SIGWX) CHARTS




RECOGNITION OF AVIATION WEATHER HAZARDS

• Thunderstorms• Microbursts• Wind Shear

RECOGNITION OF AVIATION WEATHER HAZARDS

•Pilots should not hesitate to ask questions and discuss factors they do not fully understand. •The briefing should be considered complete only when the pilot has a clear picture of what weather to expect.•Pilots should also make a final weather check immediately before departure if at all possible.

Go / No-Go Decision

Go / No-Go Decision

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Weather Information