Flying the Weather
And Not Letting the Weather Fly You
Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative
By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame
“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”
Roadmap
Weather Reports
Weather Problems
Weather Briefing Sources
Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)
KSBN 171551Z 08015G20KT 10SM FEW030 SCT060 OVC085 13/07 A3028 RMK AO2 RAB22E38
Airport Day/
Time
Wind
Visibility
Clouds
Temp/ Altimeter
Dewpnt
Remarks
Components of METARs
 South Bend
 17th day of the month, taken at 1551 Zulu Time (GMT)
 Wind from 080° at 15 gusting to 20 Knots
 10 Statute Miles Visibility
 Few clouds at 3000 feet, scattered 6000, overcast 8500
 Temp 13° C / Dewpoint 7°C
 30.28 inches of Hg
 2nd level ASOS / Rain began 22 minutes after the hour
and ended 38 minutes past the hour
METAR Examples
METAR KSBN 130554Z 30010KT 10SM OVC045 M04/M11 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP178
METAR KSBN 130454Z 30010KT 10SM FEW037 OVC050 M04/M09 A3002 RMK AO2 SNE0355B25E28
METAR KSBN 130354Z 31012KT 9SM -SN BKN029 OVC038 M03/M08 A3003 RMK AO2 SNE16B34
SPECI KSBN 130417Z 31011KT 10SM BKN031 BKN040 OVC055 M04/M08 A3002 RMK AO2 SNE0355
METAR KIAD 081055Z AUTO/COR 21019G27KT 1/2SM R04R/3000FT -SN FG SCT011 OVC015 01/M02
A2945 RMK PK WND 19029/16 SLP045 T00081016
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)
TAF KSBN 171145Z 171212 VRB03KT 2 SM SCT030 BKN080 TEMPO 1517 SHRA
Day/
Valid
Wind Visibility Ceilings
Time
FM2200 13009KT 1SM OVC030 BECMG0210 NSW BKN030
Airport
From
Wind / Visibility / Ceiling Becoming
Temporarily
Wx / Ceiling
 Components of TAF
 South Bend
 17th day of the month, predicted at 1145 Zulu Time (GMT)
 Valid from 1200-1200 on the 17th
 Wind variable at 3 knots
 2 Statute Miles Visibility
 Scattered 3000, Broken 8000
 Temporarily between 1500-1700 Rain Showers
 From 2200 Wind 130 at 9 Kts, 1 SM visibility, overcast 3000
 Between 0200-1000, No Significant Weather, Ceiling Broken 3000
TAF Examples
TAF KSBN 130537Z 130606 30009KT P6SM OVC040
FM0900 27009KT P6SM BKN040
FM1400 22014KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100
TAF KORD 130520Z 130606 30009KT P6SM BKN035
FM0800 28009KT P6SM SCT035 SCT250
FM1200 25008KT P6SM SCT150 BKN200
FM1600 23012G22KT P6SM BKN150
FM0200 28011KT P6SM SCT015
TAF KAZO 130520Z 130606 27008KT P6SM -SHSN OVC050
TEMPO 0610 4SM -SHSN SCT015 BKN025
FM1400 24013G22KT 5SM -SHSN BKN035 OVC100
FM0000 24008KT P6SM -SHSN BKN035
Pilot Report (PIREP)
/OV GIJ /TM 2200 /FL090 TP/PA28 /SK 008 BKN 016 /TA -3 /WV2725 /TB LGT /IC NEG
Over
Time
Flight
Level
Type
A/C
Sky Cover
Temp
Aloft
Wind Turbulence Icing
Aloft
Components of PIREPs
Gipper
Reported at 2200 Zulu Time (GMT)
Flight Level 090 (9000 Feet)
Piper Cherokee
Broken Layer between 800 and 1600 feet
Temp -3° C
Wind from 270° at 25
Light Turbulence / Negative Icing
PIREP Examples
UA /OV FLW090022/TM 0534/FL095/TP C172/SK SKC/WX FV99SM/TB NEG
UA /OV MZB/TM 0547/FL295/TP MD80/TA M43/WV 27211KT/TB NEG
UA /OV HYP090028/TM 0639/FL220/TP MD80/TB MDT
UA /OV FRA320015/TM 0604/FL200/TP A320/TB MDT/RM NORCAL
Winds Aloft Forecast
******** FD Winds Aloft Forecast ********
DATA BASED ON 130000Z VALID 130600Z FOR USE 0500-0900Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000
FT
3000
6000
9000 12000 18000 24000 30000 34000 39000
FWA
3315 3113-16 3119-19 3221-23 3226-31 3232-42 344752 345252 334851
JOT
3114 3114-14 3323-16 3428-21 3548-30 3673-39 861450 369655 346952
MKG
3015 3013-16 3220-18 3223-22 3338-33 3455-42 860151 358655 346353
First 2 Digits: TRUE Wind Direction
Second 2 Digits: Wind Speed
Third 2 Digits: Temperature
AIRMET (WA)
Warn of hazards primarily to small
aircraft
Classifications
 Tango – Turbulence
 Sierra – IFR Weather & Mountain Obscuration
 Zulu - Icing
AIRMET Example
******** AIRMETs ********
CHIS WA 130334 AMD AIRMET SIERRA UPDT 1 FOR IFR AND MTN
OBSCN VALID UNTIL 130900
.
AIRMET IFR...MN IA...UPDT
FROM 30WNW MSP TO 50W ODI TO 50SE MCW TO 20SSW MCW TO
40NE RWF TO 30WNW MSP
OCNL CIG BLW 010 AND/OR VIS BLW 3SM PCPN/BR. CONDS ENDG
05-07Z.
.
AIRMET IFR...LM MI IN
FROM 50NNE MKG TO 30NE GRR TO 20ENE GIJ TO 30WSW GIJ TO
30NW MKG TO 50NNE MKG
OCNL CIG BLW 010 AND/OR VIS BLW 3SM PCPN/BR. CONDS ENDG
07-09Z.
SIGMET (WS) and Convective
SIGMET (WST)
SIGMET
 Warn of conditions that could be dangerous to
all aircraft
Severe Icing
Severe Turbulence
Convective SIGMET
 Observations and/or forecasts that warn of
conditions associated with thunderstorms
Tornados
Large Hail
Embedded Thunderstorms
Additional Weather Services
 Area Forecasts (FA)
 Summary of weather over a large area
 Issued 3 times a day
 12 hour forecast, + 6 hour categorical outlook
 4 Sections:
 Product Header, Precautionary Statements, Synposis, VFR Clouds/Weather
 Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB)
 Route forecast covering 25 miles either side of a particular
route
 Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Services (HIWAS)
 Continuous broadcast of in-flight weather advisories
 Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
 Continuous broadcast of recorded information at certain
airports containing weather information, runway(s) in use, and
other pertinent remarks
Weather Charts
 Weather Depiction Chart
 Information from METARs
 Broad overview of flying conditions
 Surface Analysis Chart
 Location of pressure systems and fronts
 Isobars
 Radar Summary Chart
 Shows areas and direction of heavy precipitation
 Low-Level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
 4 Panels
 Forecasts of surface and weather up to 24,000 MSL
Weather Charts
Convective Outlook (AC)
Forecasts possibility for general, as well
as severe, thunderstorm activity during
the following 24 hours
Radar Weather Reports (SD)
Textual position and intensity of
thunderstorm cells
Sources of Aviation Weather
Aviation sources
Non Aviation-sources
FSS 800-WX-BRIEF
DUAT(S)
Weather channel
 www.duat(s).com
AOPA
 www.aopa.org
ADDS
 www.weather.com
Accuweather
 www.accuweather.com
Intellicast
 www.intellicast.com
Unisys
 Aviation Digital Data
Service
 www.weather.unisys.com
 adds.aviationweather.gov
Briefings
Standard Briefing
Full Briefing
See Table 18-1 on p. 395
Outlook Briefing
More than 6 hours away
Abbreviated Briefing
Intended to supplement or update
previous information
Aviation Weather Problems
VFR Problems
 Low Ceilings
 Forecast trends
Few (<10%)
Scattered (10-15%)
Broken (60-90%)
Overcast (>90%)
 Low Visibility
 Temp/Dewpoint spread
 High Winds
 Pressure gradient
 Spacing of isobars
IFR Problems
 Structural ice
 Above freezing level
Rime ice
Clear ice
 T-storms
 Embedded
Need radar or
stormscope
 Fog
Problems for both IFR/VFR
Thunderstorms
 Avoid by 20 nm
Turbulence
 Caused by:
Unstable air
Warming from the ground
Friction with the ground
Ridge effects
Mountain waves
Frontal effects
Carburetor ice
What can the prudent pilot do?
While still on the ground
 Get actual weather (overall & hourly)
 Check trends (wind direction, ceiling, visibility.)
 Is actual similar to forecast?
In the air
 Always have an “out”
 180 degree turn
 Climb/descend
Call Flight Watch on
122.0 between 0600L
and 2200L when
above 5000 MSL!
Know terrain
 Maintain basic instrument skills
Explain your problem to ATC & ask for help
 Call Flight Watch for WX updates
Wind Shear Pix
Not so nICE