Weather Flashcards
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)
Issued: Every 6 hours (4x daily)
Valid: 24 - 30 hours (Generally International Aiports)
Info: Winds (Direction/Speed), Visibility, Ceilings, Major Wx
Valid within 5 SM of airfield
Convective SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information)
Issued: Hourly (55 minutes)
Valid: 2 hours
Info:
a) Severe thunderstorm due to:
1) Surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots
2) Hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inches in diameter
3) Tornadoes
b) Embedded thunderstorms
c) A line of thunderstorms
d) Thunderstorms producing precipitation greater than or equal to heavy precipitation affecting 40 percent or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles
AIRMET
(Airman’s Meteorological Information)
Issued: Every 6 hours (4x daily)
Valid: 6 hours
Info: Three Types
Sierra:
-Mountain Obscuration
-IFR Conditions
Tango:
-Moderate Turbulence
-SFC winds >30 kts
-LLWS
Zulu:
-Moderate Icing
-Freezing Levels
SIGMET
(Significant Meteorological Information)
Issued: As needed
Valid: 4 hours (Hurricane = 6 hours)
Info:
a) Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms
b) Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) not associated with thunderstorms
c) Widespread dust storms or sandstorms lowering surface visibilities to below 3 miles
d) Volcanic ash
PIREP (Pilot Report)
Issued: As Needed
Valid: PIC discretion
Info: Unforecasted weather
METAR (Meteorological Report)
Issued: Hourly (53 minutes)
Valid: 1 hour
Info: TAF + temperature/dew point & altimeter setting
Winds Aloft Deviations
Within 1,500’ of station elevation - no winds
Within 2,500’ of station elevation - no temps
3,000’ column - no temps
How do you decode winds greater than 100 - 199 kts in Wind / Temperatures Aloft?
Ex. 630852
63 - 50 = 130
08 + 100 = 108
52 = - 52
130 degrees (direction) / 108 knots / -52 degrees (temp)
When is the negative assumed in Winds / Temperatures Aloft chart?
> 24,000’
