It’s been a pretty smooth flight so far, but out of the haze, you see the emerging outline of a huge towering cumulus. Oh, wonderful—an afternoon thunderstorm in your way.
ATC Sees Weather, too
Key Takeaways:
- ATC weather information varies significantly by facility type: TRACONs use real-time, short-range radar data, while Air Route Traffic Control Centers rely on NEXRAD data that can have a several-minute lag.
- ATC radar scopes are limited to displaying precipitation intensity in muted colors, and do not provide information on cloud coverage, lightning, turbulence, or the vertical extent of weather systems.
- Pilot Reports (PIREPs) are critical for providing accurate, firsthand weather information, supplementing automated systems and controller observations to enhance aviation safety and verify actual conditions.
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