Reading the Sky
Part of being able to forecast comes from reading the sky, because so much of what's taking place in the atmosphere can be seen...
Tropical Weather
Entering the dog days of summer, our attention shifts to the south. Rich moisture, weaker winds, and an increase in thunderstorms are classic signs...
Not-So-Gentle-T-Storms
On a warm summer afternoon, a two-ship flight consisting of a Beech A-36 Bonanza and a Piper PA-31 Navajo lifted off from Newport, Rhode...
Summer Patterns
Summertime almost certainly means vacations, cookouts, and maybe some time on the beach. There are airshows, fly-ins, $100 hamburgers, and of course AirVenture at...
A Radar Primer
Radar, whether we're talking air traffic control, thunderstorm detection, navigation, or even air combat, is a technology that has shaped the history of flight...
Inside AWOS And ASOS
How many times have you heard a report like this? “Podunk Municipal airport, automated weather observation, 2347 Zulu. Weather, wind 050 at 12 knots,...
ALL ABOUT MOISTURE
With summer approaching, we often think about those hot temperatures, high density altitudes, and storms. But another factor enters the picture: moisture. High relative...
Dangerous Radar Data
Another season of turbulent spring weather is just ahead, so it’s a good time to go over storm safety. We’ll do that once again...
TAF Dissected
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, TAF, is a staple of aviation weather, known to almost every pilot. During my own Air Force career, I composed...
Understanding Fronts
Often, the word “front” raises anxiety and apprehension in aviation meteorology. It carries the possibility of showers and thunderstorms, signals a change in the weather...
Icing Revealed
Since the dawn of aviation, icing has emerged as one of the great hazards of flying. The 1994 American Eagle crash in Roselawn, Indiana,...
Autumn Weather
About the time this issue arrives, the U.S. will be heading toward the tail end of summer 2020. In just a matter of weeks...