Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
David Craft
Aviation Products & Services
Program Co-leader
NWS Albuquerque
David Craft
Aviation Products & Services
Program Co-leader
NWS Albuquerque
Gregory Harris
Weather Forecaster
ZAB CWSU
Gregory Harris
Weather Forecaster
ZAB CWSU
OverviewOverview• NWS ABQ TAFs & TWEBs
• Weather Hazards
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• ZAB CWSU Forecast Products
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Internet Resources for Aviators
• Summary
• NWS ABQ TAFs & TWEBs
• Weather Hazards
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• ZAB CWSU Forecast Products
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Internet Resources for Aviators
• Summary
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
Smoke & Haze ObscurationsSmoke & Haze Obscurations
NWSNWS6/24/02 1430Z6/24/02 1430Z
6/23/02 1430Z6/23/02 1430Z
Mogollon Rim WildfireMogollon Rim Wildfire Flagstaff Temperature & Wind ProfilesFlagstaff Temperature & Wind Profiles
6/23/02 12Z
FT AGL
Spring WindsSpring Winds
Average Spring Wind
1961-1992
Average Spring Wind
1961-1992
Noon to 6 pmNoon to 6 pm
Albuquerque’sAlbuquerque’s
NWSNWS
3%3% 6%6% 9%9% 12%12% 15%15%
NWSNWS
Rio Grande Valley East WindsRio Grande Valley East Winds
• High impact on the ABQ Sunport and Santa Fe Airport
• Stronger events also reach Double Eagle, Taos, and Grants Airports
• Over-the-top events can cause hurricane-force winds in Albuquerque
– 124 mph - 1987 - tram base
– 108 mph - 1990 - Glenwood Hills
– 90 mph (sustained) - 1943 - Albuquerque Airport
• High impact on the ABQ Sunport and Santa Fe Airport
• Stronger events also reach Double Eagle, Taos, and Grants Airports
• Over-the-top events can cause hurricane-force winds in Albuquerque
– 124 mph - 1987 - tram base
– 108 mph - 1990 - Glenwood Hills
– 90 mph (sustained) - 1943 - Albuquerque Airport
*Santa Fe
TijerasCanyonTijerasCanyon
ABQ Airport
X 1200 FT drop1200 FT drop
Sandia
MtnsSandia
Mtns
NWSNWS
Low Level Wind ShearLow Level Wind Shear• Any change in wind speed or direction within 2,000 feet AGL
– Gap winds (eg. ABQ’s east winds)
– Thunderstorms
– Dryline
– Fronts
– Low level jet
– Mountain waves
– Land and sea breezes
• Example TAF forecast (nonconvective LLWS):
– FM0600 06015KT P6SM SKC WS018/24030KT
– “TS” in TAF implies the presence of strong LLWS
• Any change in wind speed or direction within 2,000 feet AGL
– Gap winds (eg. ABQ’s east winds)
– Thunderstorms
– Dryline
– Fronts
– Low level jet
– Mountain waves
– Land and sea breezes
• Example TAF forecast (nonconvective LLWS):
– FM0600 06015KT P6SM SKC WS018/24030KT
– “TS” in TAF implies the presence of strong LLWS
ThunderstormsThunderstorms
• TAF or TWEB forecast = TS, then expect:
– Severe icing and turbulence
– Lightning
– Microbursts
– Low level wind shear
– Potential for hail & tornadoes
• Beware of the freezing level
• Thunderstorm season
– March-September eastern NM, eastern CO and TX
– July-September western NM, western CO, AZ and UT
• TAF or TWEB forecast = TS, then expect:
– Severe icing and turbulence
– Lightning
– Microbursts
– Low level wind shear
– Potential for hail & tornadoes
• Beware of the freezing level
• Thunderstorm season
– March-September eastern NM, eastern CO and TX
– July-September western NM, western CO, AZ and UT
NWSNWS
Supercell ThunderstormsSupercell Thunderstorms
Looking WNW, Motion NELooking WNW, Motion NELooking NE, Motion NELooking NE, Motion NE
Looking E, Motion NELooking E, Motion NECopyright 2000 Corey MeadCopyright 2000 Corey Mead
NWSNWS
Back-sheared anvilBack-sheared anvil
Flanking LineFlanking Line
Overshooting TopOvershooting Top
Tropopause
Thunderstorms?Torrance County Tornado
Thunderstorms?Torrance County Tornado
Photo 1Photo 1 Photo 2Photo 2
Photo 3Photo 3 Photo 4Photo 4NWSNWS
HailHail
SocorroSocorro
October 2004October 2004 August 2004August 2004Sand Creek in Union CountySand Creek in Union County
NWSNWSNWSNWS
DrylineDryline
www.tornadochaser.net/dryline.htmlwww.tornadochaser.net/dryline.html
USATODAY.COMUSATODAY.COM
DewpointsDewpoints
• Dry/moist convergence zone
• Flying hazards:
– Thunderstorms
– Low Level Wind Shear
• Most common and intense in spring and early summer
• Daytime advances east
• Nighttime usually retreats west
• Dry/moist convergence zone
• Flying hazards:
– Thunderstorms
– Low Level Wind Shear
• Most common and intense in spring and early summer
• Daytime advances east
• Nighttime usually retreats west
NEXRAD RADAR COVERAGENEXRAD RADAR COVERAGE
Courtesy of SRI International. Cited 2006. Available on-line at: http://www.sri.com/esd/envtek/clients-projects/doc-noaa/nws/roc.htmlCourtesy of SRI International. Cited 2006. Available on-line at: http://www.sri.com/esd/envtek/clients-projects/doc-noaa/nws/roc.html
Midpoint OverviewMidpoint Overview• NWS ABQ TAFs & TWEBs
• Weather Hazards
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• ZAB CWSU Forecast Products
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Internet Resources for Aviators
• Summary
• NWS ABQ TAFs & TWEBs
• Weather Hazards
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• ZAB CWSU Forecast Products
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Internet Resources for Aviators
• Summary
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
Turbulence TypesTurbulence Types
• Thermal
• Mechanical
• Mountain Wave
• High Altitude
• Thermal
• Mechanical
• Mountain Wave
• High Altitude
Mountain Waves on Visible Satellite ImageryMountain Waves on Visible Satellite Imagery
NWS
Mountain Wave TurbulenceMountain Wave Turbulence
Air Force Manual 51-12, Weather for Aircrews (1974)
RotorCloud
“Jet stream” vs. “Jet”“Jet stream” vs. “Jet”
• “Jet stream” is typically a narrow stream of wind that exceeds 50 knots, and is concentrated in the high troposphere (~FL340)
• “Jet” is a contraction for jet stream, but is commonly used to describe a relatively strong stream of winds from any direction and at any level (i.e. “southerly low level jet”)
• “Jet stream” is typically a narrow stream of wind that exceeds 50 knots, and is concentrated in the high troposphere (~FL340)
• “Jet” is a contraction for jet stream, but is commonly used to describe a relatively strong stream of winds from any direction and at any level (i.e. “southerly low level jet”)
High Altitude TurbulenceHigh Altitude Turbulence
Air Force Handbook 11-203 (Vol. 1) , Weather for Aircrews (1997)
TROPOPAUSETROPOPAUSE
JJ
J = Jet CoreJ = Jet Core
NORTHNORTH
Mountain Obscurations & IcingMountain Obscurations & Icing
0oC0oC
Jeppesen Sanderson Training ProductsJeppesen Sanderson Training Products
Where is the main icing concern?Where is the main icing concern?
Center Weather AdvisoryCenter Weather Advisory
ZAB1 CWA 292047
ZAB CWA 102 VALID UNTIL 292245
FROM 70N SJN TO ABQ TO 30S SJN TO INW TO 70W SJN
AREA OF ISOL SEV TURB BLW 140 WITH SW SFC WNDS
25-35 KTS WITH GUSTS 40-50KTS POSS.
ZAB1 CWA 292047
ZAB CWA 102 VALID UNTIL 292245
FROM 70N SJN TO ABQ TO 30S SJN TO INW TO 70W SJN
AREA OF ISOL SEV TURB BLW 140 WITH SW SFC WNDS
25-35 KTS WITH GUSTS 40-50KTS POSS.
Internet Resources for AviatorsInternet Resources for Aviators• Aviation Digital Data Service
– AIRMETs, SIGMETs, TURBC, ICG, PIREPs, flight-level winds, and more
– http://www.aviationweather.gov/
• RIDGE-Radar loops and overlays
– Warnings, topography, cities, counties, highways, rivers
– http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/
• National Digital Forecast Database
– Graphical weather forecasts out 7 days
– http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sectors/southrockies.php
• Hourly Weather Graph
– Graphs of hourly temperature, wind, RH precipitation, and more at a point location
– http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq
• Cell phone and PDA weather
– Free 7-day forecasts, warnings, radar, satellite, TAFs/TWEBs, METARS, and more
– http://mobile.srh.weather.gov
SummarySummary
• Varied terrain complicates aviation weather hazards in the SW
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• Knowledge of atmospheric mixing helps you anticipate weather development and its impact on your operations
• Useful aviation products
– TAFs & TWEBs
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Access most Internet resources through aviationweather.gov
• Varied terrain complicates aviation weather hazards in the SW
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• Knowledge of atmospheric mixing helps you anticipate weather development and its impact on your operations
• Useful aviation products
– TAFs & TWEBs
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Access most Internet resources through aviationweather.gov
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
Questions?Questions?
Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
David Craft
NWS Albuquerque
David Craft
NWS Albuquerque
Gregory Harris
ZAB CWSU
Gregory Harris
ZAB CWSU
Now we’re back at the middle of the local forecast.
Scroll down further to access graphical forecasts
Wave cursor over “High” to view this high temperature map
Use red arrows to move forward or backward in time
To access the hourly weather graph:
Double click this link
Now we’re back at the bottom of the local forecast
SummarySummary
• Varied terrain complicates aviation weather hazards in the SW
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• Knowledge of atmospheric mixing helps you understand & anticipate weather development
• Useful aviation products
– TAFs & TWEBs
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Access most Internet resources through aviationweather.gov
• Varied terrain complicates aviation weather hazards in the SW
– Smoke and haze obscurations
– Spring and east winds
– Low level wind shear
– Thunderstorms
• Knowledge of atmospheric mixing helps you understand & anticipate weather development
• Useful aviation products
– TAFs & TWEBs
– Center Weather Advisories
– Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
• Access most Internet resources through aviationweather.gov
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
– Turbulence
– Mountain obscuration
– Icing
Questions?Questions?
Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
Aviation Weather Hazardsin the
Southwest
David Craft
NWS Albuquerque
David Craft
NWS Albuquerque
Gregory Harris
ZAB CWSU
Gregory Harris
ZAB CWSU