Weather Reports Flashcards
0
Q
Radar weather reports (SD)
A
- radar detects precipitation only:
- snow, rain, thunderstorms
- heights are MSL
- example “TLX 1935 LN 8 TRW++ 86/40 164/60 20W C2425 MTS 570 AT 159/65 AUTO ^M01 ON3 PM34 QM3 RL2=”
TLX - location and time (TLX Oklahoma City)
LN - echo pattern
- May be LN= line; AREA; CELL
8 - coverage in tenths of an area
TRW++ - type and intensity
- thunderstorm (T) and very heavy rain showers (RW++)
86/40 164/60 - range and distance from station
- lines and areas defined by two sets
- cells defined by one
20W - width of the pattern
- example 20NM wide, 10NM each side of the line marked by above
C2425 - movement for cells
- example cells moving from 240 at 25kts
MTS 570 AT 159/65 - maximum top
- example 57,000ft 159 degrees @65NM
- MT for radar; MTS for radar+satellite
AUTO - automated report
^M01 - used for preparing radar summary chart
1
Q
PIREP (pilot weather reports)
A
- contact flight watch 122.0 to give PIREP
- only way to know icing and turbulence conditions
2 types of PIREP
1. UA- regular (routine)
2. UUA- urgent
Format (info you report)
1. Where you are
2. Time
3. Altitude
4. Aircraft type
5. Weather conditions
6. Visibility
7. Turbulence
8. Icing
2
Q
AIRMETS (WA)
A
- valid for 6 hours
- updated every 6 hours
- concerns smaller aircraft
- TANGO= turbulence low level wind shear
- SERRIA= IFR conditions mountain obscurations
- ZULU= icing conditions, icing level
- reports
1. Moderate icing; turbulence
2. Surface winds 30 KTS or more
3. Ceilings <1,000ft
4. Visibility 3SM
5. Extensive mountain obscurations
3
Q
SIGMETS (WS)
A
- valid for 4 hours
- updated every 4 hours; 20 minutes past the hour
- reports non-convective weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft
- reduced visibility < 3SM
- severe icing
- severe turbulence
- clear air turbulence
- dust and sand storms
- volcanic ash and eruptions
4
Q
Convective SIGMETS (WST)
A
- valid for 2 hours
- issued every hour; 55 minutes past the hour regardless if there is any convective activity or not
- convective SIGMETS imply but never state; sever turbulence, icing, and low level wind shear
- special issue can come anytime
- reports
1. Severe and embedded thunderstorms
2. Winds are always >/= 50KTS
3. Hail at surface more than 3/4” diameter
4. Tornados
5. Line of thunderstorms
5
Q
TAF (terminal aerodrome forecast)
A
- same codes as METARS
- covers 5 mile radius based on the center of the airport runway complex
- TAF are built using METAR data and monitored for accuracy by a weather forecaster. If METAR data is missing or not complete, a TAF may not be issued
- issued 4 times a day 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z
- valid for 24 hours for each issuance
- no temperature
6
Q
FA (area forecast)
A
- general weather conditions over a wide region covering several states
- issued 3 times a day
- valid for 18 hours; 12 hour forecast and 6 hour categorical
- amendments (AMD) when AIRMETS, SIGMETS, and convective SIGMETS are issued
- 4 parts to an FA
1. Communications and heading section - ID’s the office
- date and time of issuance
- product name
- valid times
- states covered
2. Precautionary statement - lets you know immediately if and where any IFR conditions, mountain obscurations or thunderstorms hazards exist
- heights for the most part are given in AGL
3. Synopsis (valid for 18 hours) - location and movement of weather
4. VFR clouds and weather (12 hour forecast) - clouds and weather significant to VFR
- summary of sky conditions, cloud height, visibility, and winds >30 KTS
- it concludes with a categorical outlook valid for 6 hours
7
Q
FD (winds and temps aloft forecasts)
A
- winds and temperature for certain altitudes
- issued 2 times daily
- valid 24 hours
- no winds forecasted within 1,500ft of the station
- if code says 9900 winds are light and variable less than 5 KTS
- if code is 0000 wind is calm
- chart starts at 3000ft no temperature at 3000ft
- used to determine possible areas of icing
- no temperature within 2500ft of station
- all temperatures above 24000ft are below 0 so no signs (+/-) will be given
- there are 6 areas in the continental United States
- Arizona falls under SLC
8
Q
In-flight weather: EFAS (en-route flight advisory service)
A
- call flight watch on 122.0
- available from 5,000ft AGL- 17,500ft MSL
- open from 6 AM to 10 PM local time
9
Q
FSS (flight service station)
A
- use FSS if unable to get EFAS
- Prescott 122.2/122.6
10
Q
TWEB (transcribed weather en-route broadcast)
A
- transmitted continually over NDB and VOR
- identified by a T with a circle around it on a chart
- updated 4 times a day valid for 12 hours
- range 50 NM (25NM on each side of NDB/VOR)
11
Q
HIWAS (hazardous in-flight weather advisory)
A
- transmitted over VOR
- identified by H with a circle around it on a chart
- transmits AIRMETS, SIGMETS, and convective SIGMETS
- range 50 NM (25NM on each side of VOR)
12
Q
AWOS (automated weather observing system)
A
- automated weather gathering system
- can receive it out to 25NM and up to 10000ft AGL
- reports minute by minute
1. AWOS A: Altimeter
2. AWOS AV: altimeter + visibility
3. AWOS 1: altimeter, wind, temp, dew point, density altitude
4. AWOS 2: AWOS 1 + visibility
5. AWOS 3: AWOS 2 + cloud and ceiling
6. AWOS 3P: AWOS 3+ precipitation
7. AWOS 3PT: AWOS 3P + thunderstorms/lightening
8. AWOS 4: AWOS 3 + precipitation, freezing rain, thunderstorms, runway sensors
13
Q
ASOS (automated surface observing system)
A
- minute by minute observation
- has AWOS 4+ cloud height, intensity, and pressure change
14
Q
ATIS (automated terminal information system)
A
- pre-recorded every hour (information comes from METAR)
- broadcast at controlled terminal area
