weather graphical products

8/6/2019 Weather Graphical Products

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Weather Graphical Products

Kyle Black


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Why do you need to be able to read and

understand Weather Graphical Products?

Safety

Comply with weather related FARs

Easier flight planning Be able to make a competent

Go/No-Go decision for flights

Required for Private Pilot

Certification


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Private Pilot PTS


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Statistics Never Lie:

The leading cause of fatalities among VFR

pilots is when? Takeoff?

Climb?

Landing?

Maneuvering?

NONE OF THOSE


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The leading cause of fatalities among VFR pilots is

VFR flight into IMC conditions. How can you avoid

this situation?

KNOW HOW TO READ AND UNDERSTAND

WEATHER PRODUCTS TO AVOID THIS

SITUATION


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Aviation Routine Weather Report

(METAR) What is a METAR?

When do METARs come out?

Come out between :50 and the hour. p. 2-9 for descriptors

What is a SPECI? A METAR that is issued because of changing

conditions at the airport

Issued at anytime


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Aviation Routine Weather Report

(METAR)

KMSN 181253Z 19005KT 6SM HZ BKN009

22/19 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP111


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Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

(TAF) What area does the TAF cover?

5 statute mile radius from center of airport.

How long are TAFs valid for? Valid for 24 hours

Changed to 30 hours on November 5, 2008

When do new TAFs come out? Comes out 4 times daily on 0Z, 6Z, 12Z, 18Z

Why can this information be helpful?


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Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

(TAF)KMSN 181150Z 181212 18005KT 5SM BR BKN008

TEMPO 1214 P6SM NSW SCT008 SCT040

FM1400 21007KT P6SM SCT035 SCT060

FM1800 22008KT P6SM BKN040

PROB30 2123 3SM TSRA OVC035CB

FM2300 24006KT 6SM -SHRA SCT050 BKN100

PROB30 2303 3SM TSRA OVC035CB

FM0300 21007KT 5SM -TSRA BR OVC030CB

FM0800 31010KT 5SM -SHRA OVC060


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Area Forecast (FA)

What does an Area Forecast show?

VMC conditions

Clouds and general weather conditions over

an area the size of several states.

How often do Area Forecasts come out?

3 times daily


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Area Forecast (FA)

What are the four parts of an Area

Forecast?

4 parts: Communications and Product Header

Precautionary Statements

Synopsis

VFR Clouds and weather 12 hour specific forecast

6 hour categorical outlook

18 hour total forecast


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Area Forecast (FA)

Use AviationWeather.gov or WSI to look at

an Area Forecast.


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Pilot Report (UA)


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Winds and Temperatures Aloft (FD)

When do FDs come out?

Forecasts are twice daily based on 00Z and

12Z

What can FDs show or tell us?

Shows current winds and temperatures aloft

Freezing levels

Possible Wind Shear

Levels below 18,000 feet are in true

altitude

Levels above are in pressure altitude


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Winds & Temp. Aloft


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Decoding FDs:

27007

270 degrees at 7 knots

9900+00

Wind light and variable, temperature 0 degrees

Celsius

850552 350 degrees (85-50=35) at 105 knots

(100+05=105), temperature -52 degrees Celsius


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Decoding FDs:

No winds are forecasted within 1,500 feet of

the station

No temperatures are forecasted within 2,500

feet of the station


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GFK 9900 3116+13 3119+08 3022+03 3238-08 3144-19 315635306945 307556

MOT 3308+16 3415+10 3226+06 3129-08 3130-18 314534 295843277055

BFF 3214 2814+20 2520+12 2314-06 2317-16 271332 282543

283255 GRI 2520+24 2109+18 1919+11 3118-07 3019-17 332033 342844

333055

OMA 2635 2910+22 3008+16 2615+09 2823-08 2817-17 311034311944 322756

ONL 2522+26 2519+20 2321+11 2727-07 2925-17 332033 352444

342856 ABR 1013 0211+19 3123+14 3031+08 3230-08 3030-17 303733

304644 306156

FSD 2709 2908+21 2814+14 2717+07 2744-08 2935-18 313133323243 324156

PIR 0917+21 1006+16 2714+11 2617-07 2823-18 293333 293744

303955


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Surface Analysis Chart

When do Surface Analysis Charts come out? Come out every 3 hours

When are these charts valid?

Valid only at time of observations What do these charts show?

Shows: Isobars

Pressure Systems Fronts

Troughs and Ridges

Overview of winds, temperatures, and dew pointtemperatures at chart time as well.

Refer to Aviation Weather Services book page 5-4 for symbols


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Weather Depiction Chart

Computer generated from METAR reports

Gives broad overview of flying conditions at timeof issuance (VFR, MVFR, IFR)

Begins at 01Z each day and put out every 3hours

Shows: Sky Cover

Could Height

Weather and obstructions to visibility Visibility

Weather Category (VFR, MVFR, IFR)

Shaded IFR (Below 1,000/3)

Contoured MVFR (Between 1,000/3 and 3,000/5)

No contours VFR (Better than 3,000/5)


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Radar Summary Chart

When do Radar Summary Charts come

out?

Reported H+35

MSL altitudes for cloud tops

Shows: Rain, Snow, and Thunderstorms

Type

Intensity

Echo Tops

Movement in direction and speed of the cell


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Radar Summary Chart

(Old School)


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Radar Summary Chart

(New School)


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Significant Weather Prognostic

Charts

When do they come out?

Issued 4 times a day

When are they valid?

12 hour prognositic chart is a forecast ofconditions which have a valid time 12 hoursafter the observed data base time.

Same thing for 24 hour

Forecasts positions and characteristics ofpressure systems, fronts, precipitation areas,freezing levels, as well as ceilings of clouds.

When might you want to use this chart?


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Significant Weather Prognostic Charts


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Significant Weather Prognostic

Charts


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Airmets

How long are Airmets valid?

Valid for 6 hours

Who are Airmets put out for? For all pilots

What are the three different types?

Tango Moderate Turbulence and Surface

Winds

Sierra IFR and Mountain Obscuration

Zulu Moderate Icing and Freezing Level


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Airmets


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Sigmets

How long are Sigmets valid for?

Valid for 4 hours after time of issuance

When do Sigmets come out? Unscheduled

Issued for: Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms

Severe or extreme turbulence (CAT) not

associated with thunderstorms

Dust and Sand Storms lowering surface or in-flight

visibility to less than 3 sm.

Volcanic Ash


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Convective Sigmets

What type of wx is a convective sigmet issuedfor?

Severe Thunderstorms Surface winds greater than or equal to 50 kts.

Hail at the surface greater than inches in diameter

Tornados

Embedded Thunderstorms

Squall Line (A line of thunderstorms)

Thunderstorms producing precipitation greater than orequal to heavy precipitation affecting more than 40% ormore of an area of at least 3,000 square miles.

Implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, andlow level wind shear

Issued every hour when needed, valid for two hours.


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Convective Sigmet


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In-Flight Weather

Name a few resources that we have if we

need updated weather while we are in the

air.

Flight Service Station

Flight Watch on 122.0

Other pilots in the area


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Personal Minimums

Consider having personal minimums.

Just because a flight is legal, doesnt

mean that it is a good idea to go on theflight.

What are some of your personal

experiences and personal minimums that

you have set for yourself??


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Practice

WSI

www.aviationweather.gov

DuatDuats

Can you name any others?

AOPA has free courses that they put out to

allow pilots to practice. Try the one

labeled Weather Wise.


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The End

Any Questions??

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