The Weather Thread

[heeshung]

Pilots use METARs on a daily basis, and as a spotter, it's a good idea to learn them also. The link explains METARs and TAFs in the UK, but I also recommend checking out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METAR as the US' reporting format differs slightly.

[adscram14]

http://wxbrad.blogspot.com/2010/10/n...-to-great.html
Good explanation.

[USAF Pilot 07]

maybe a dumb question, but what on earth do these numbers mean?

Yea it can be confusing - especially the remark section - and honestly wouldn't take all that much more time actually spell things out (but since it's automated I guess it can't?), but it is what it is...

KJFK 270051Z 17013G21KT 0SM R04R/3500V4000FT FG VV002 18/17 A2988 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP118 T01780167

I'll translate real quick..

Observation at JFK Int'l airport at 0051 Zulu on the 27th day of the month (locally this would be 2051 on the 26th since we are Zulu - 4 hours). Winds were 170 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots. Visibility was 0 Statute Miles, Runway 4R RVR was 3500 feet variable to 4000 feet with Fog. Vertical Visibility was 200 feet (basically they use either visual reports or an instrument that can measure where the ceiling is).

Temperature was 18, with a dewpoint of 17. Altimeter was 29.98 inches of mercury.

Remark: This is an automated reporting station. I believe the 2 has something to do with it can record precip.
Surface visibility was 1/2 mile, Sea Level Pressure was 1011.8 and the specific temperature dewpoint was 17.8 and 16.7 degrees respectively...

[cancidas]

specific temperature dewpoint was 17.8 and 16.7 degrees respectively...

oh! thanks, forgot that one.

[hiss srq]

Interesting notes... Last night at different points as the storm progressed there were some very interesting altimiter settings at some airports. Deluth, Minn. had an altimiter setting of 28.38! At about 0130 LCL time this morning in MSP the altimiter for the field was 28.4?..... I've never seen a altimiter setting or barometric pressure that low ever in my life.

[Gerard]

http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/ar...photo/19695496

[cancidas]

question for you weather geek folks. i'm looking for weather history in a monthly calender view format. i know that weather underground has it but the wx info for last month is missing. we keep this kind of info with out month's worth of flight logs.

[DHG750R]

Dec 1st, definitely a little wacky weather.

i am sitting here and watched the wind 90degrees in 15mins or so following the frontal passage.. It is amazing to watch

KLGA 011951Z 23008G16KT 5SM -RA BR SCT008 BKN015 OVC033 14/13 A2960 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 WSHFT 1912 SLP023 P0062 T01440128
KLGA 011946Z 23011KT 5SM -RA BR SCT008 BKN015 OVC033 14/13 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 WSHFT 1912 P0062
KLGA 011940Z 22012G21KT 3SM RA BR BKN008 OVC013 14/13 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 WSHFT 1912 P0061
KLGA 011928Z 22012G32KT 1SM R04/3000VP6000FT +RA BR OVC006 15/13 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 WSHFT 1912 P0044
KLGA 011922Z 21024G34KT 1SM R04/3000VP6000FT RA BR OVC006 16/14 A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 SFC VIS 1 1/2 CIG 005V012 PRESRR P0015
KLGA 011910Z 15024G37KT 2SM RA BR OVC006 16/14 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 16041/1852 TWR VIS 2 1/2 CIG 005V010 P0008
KLGA 011851Z 15028G38KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR OVC006 16/14 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 16048/1815 SLP001 P0008 T01610144
KLGA 011751Z 15024G41KT 2 1/2SM R04/5500VP6000FT -RA BR OVC006 16/14 A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 14044/1730 SLP016 P0006 60034 T01610139 10172 20156 58045
KLGA 011739Z 15023G44KT 2 1/2SM -RA OVC006 17/14 A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 14044/1730 SFC VIS 3 P0006

[Matt Molnar]

LGA sunset after the storm.

(Borrowed from Cancidas so I could tweet it via @NYCAviation.)

[moose135]

And as quickly as it blew in, it seems to have blown on out. It was nasty there for a while - sideways rain and I could hardly see out the windows it was coming down (across?) so heavily. The JFK METAR for just before 2pm local...

KJFK 011851Z 15030G42KT 1 1/2SM R04R/5000VP6000FT -RA BR OVC005 15/13 A2956 RMK AO2 PK WND 15043/1838 SFC VIS 2 SLP010 P0003 T01500133

[lijk604]

Here was one from FRG this afternoon:
KFRG 011953Z 16026G42KT 1 1/2SM RA OVC005 14/ A2958 RMK AO2 PK WND 16046/1916

[Matt Molnar]

Worst I saw was LGA had gusts to 45kts/52mph at one point.

Later I saw Queens and Nassau had Severe Thunderstorm Warnings...anyone get damage from that?

NJ Transit and Amtrak were suspended for awhile due to downed wires both in Jersey and in the Bronx.

[Mateo]

Wires came down near Portal Bridge, which is a 2-track section just west of the Secaucus transfer station. CO's arrivals into EWR were a who's who of airports about 200 miles away; BWI, IAD, BOS, PVD, PIT, and BGR all got some love. IAD took a few JFK flights, and KL641 was briefly showing as an EWR divvo, but it looks like it wound up getting into Kennedy.

[hiss srq]

I spent Tuesday night at the Allegria Resort and Spa down on the beach... I woke up around 10AM and went to go out on the balcony looking out on the ocean and literaly got blown against the side rail on the 8th floor. The Atlantic was FEROCIOUS.... Even down on ground level when I went down and outside the wind was pretty intense....

[lijk604]

This is an excerpt from the GA Desk for this evening...for those not in the know, a TMI is Traffic Management Initiative. GDP is a Ground Delay Program.
Honestly though, this is the first time I think I have ever heard of a ground stop due to Virga. Must be really bad virga around PHL tonight.

Good Evening All,
Currently there are five TMIs in the NAS. There is a possibility of a ground stop at PHL for virga. Virga is an observable streak or shaft of precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground. The rest of the NAS is not looking bad. Have a good night.

CURRENT TMIs:
CYUL GDP UNTIL 0159z FOR WIND
CYYZ GDP UNTIL 0459z FOR SNOW
EWR GDP UNTIL 0259z FOR WIND
JFK GDP UNTIL 0159z FOR VOLUME
LGA GDP UNTIL 0259z FOR WIND