IFR and Crosswinds

KGDV 291255Z AUTO 05014G21KT 5SM BKN009 OVC047 06/04 A2988

Dawson Community Airport in Glendive is currently IFR with winds from 050 at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots, visibility 5 miles. Broken layer at 900, overcast 4700. Temperature 42.8*F, dewpoint 39.2*F, relative humidity is 87 percent. The barometric pressure is 29.88 Wind chill 35*F

Another complication is the wind. On the longest runway, RWY 12, there is a left crosswind component of 14 knots.

METAR Decoding

Here is the current base METAR for San Antonio:
KSAT 281253Z 08006KT 1/8SM R12R/2600V3000FT -RA BR VV001 19/18 A3013

The wxJabber model index is 78 and conditions are LIFR. The METAR is decoded: San Antonio reporting winds from 080 at 6 knots, visibility 0.125 miles, and vertical visibility at 100 feet in light rain and mist. The RVR for Runway 12R is variable between 2600 and 3000 feet. The temperature 66.2*F, dewpoint 64.4*F, relative humidity is 94 percent. The barometric pressure is 30.13.

Historical data reveals that conditions at San Antonio have been LIFR since at least 3:00 A.M., and the TAF indicates soggy conditions for the rest of the day:

http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSAT/wx

Corsicana, Texas

This is not the place to fly into or out of today. Currently, Corsicana is Low IFR with CAT II: winds 290 at 22 knots, gusting to 30 knots, visibility 3/4 miles in rain and mist. Few clouds at 1000, broken 1900, overcast 2600. Thunder Storms. Temperature 64.4*F, dewpoint 60.8*F, relative humidity is 88 percent. The barometric pressure is 30.05

For information about aviation weather check out FlightAware's weather page at http://flightaware.com/resources/weather_maps/

Tough weather in Austin

KAUS 171253Z 10007KT 1 1/2SM BR OVC003 19/19 A2991

Winds 100 at 6 knots. Visibility 1.5 miles in mist. Overcast 300 feet. Temperature is 66F (19C), dewpoint 66F (19C), relative humidity 100% Altimeter 29.91

CAT IIIb at Staunton

KSHD 161300Z AUTO 00000KT M1/4SM FG OVC001 04/04 A3031 * CAT IIIb

According to my calculations the conditions at KSHD would probably require a CAT IIIb approach to land. But then does KSHD have a low IFR approach? No...but after you execute your missed approach you can climb to 1900 then making a climbing left turn to 3600 and hold over the outer marker until conditions improve.

Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg reporting calm winds, visibility 0.25 miles in fog. Overcast layer at 100. Temperature 39.2*F, dewpoint 39.2*F, relative humidity is 100 percent. The barometric pressure is 30.31

http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KSHD

Runway Visual Range

Real time access to RVR data at airports in the US. My favorite is the RVR Monitor. Currently Charlotte (KCLT), Memphis (BNA) and Baltimore/DC (KBWI) are indicating RVRs less than the cutoff of 6500 feet. The lowest is currently Charlotte with an RVR of 2000 feet, though the 1452Z METAR doesn't indicate this:

Charlotte reporting winds 242 at 4 knots, visibility 2.5 miles in mist. Overcast layer at 400. Temperature 55.4*F, dewpoint 53.6*F, relative humidity is 94 percent. The barometric pressure is 29.79

RVR Home
http://rvr.fly.faa.gov/rvr/index.html

RVR Monitor
http://rvr.fly.faa.gov/rvr-cgi-bin/rvr-status.pl

Snowy IFR

Fresh snow! The first big snows of the year have hit the north central and northeast states this week, and have brought with them the usual obscuration that accompanies any precipitation. According to Thomas Sullivan (Northeast Weather Blog), a very January-like pattern has set up for the Northeast this week and there will be an enhancement of snow showers followed by a reinforcing shot of cold air and a reorganization of the lake effect activity.

This morning, 4F dispatchers issued a snowy IFR flight from Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania to Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts. For departure, you can lift off VFR because Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is reporting winds 350 at 10 knots, visibility 10 miles. Scattered clouds at 3000, broken 3700. Temperature 27F, dewpoint 12F - the wind chill is 16F.


KACK 191453Z 36022G31KT 2SM -SN BR SCT014 BKN022 OVC045 00/M02 A2991

As you can see above the METAR indicates that sometime enroute you'll want to pick up that IFR clearance. Nantucket is reporting winds 360 at 22 knots, gusting to 31 knots, visibility 2 miles in light snow and mist. Scattered clouds at 1400, broken 2200, overcast 4500. The temperature dewpoint spread is a little tighter too - with temperature 32F, dewpoint 28F, and relative humidity at 86 percent. Snow is likely to continue to fall until this afternoon as the skies clear, but look for gusty winds to continue through early evening.