Weather

Learn some tips and tricks from a veteran aviation forecaster about what to look for on even those basic weather charts.

A terminal aerodrome forecast, simply known as a TAF, is perhaps the most difficult forecast any meteorologist will ever make. A TAF is essentially an hour-by-hour forecast for conditions significant to aviation at an airport over the next 24 or 30 hours.

Although it is a common atmospheric phenomenon, there’s a reason that fog demands a pilot’s complete respect.

As we have progressed to a digital society, fewer and fewer learners and even instructors know how to use analog tools.

You’ve probably heard at least something about a strong El Niño episode that’s underway. During such years, weather hazards are plentiful, especially in the western and southeastern states. While there’s no way to predict the details, we’ll at least give you a sort of tool kit for working with conditions this winter. Winter marks a […]

On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be launching a completely overhauled online weather resource.

In aviation meteorology articles we often focus on the big problems: thunderstorms, heavy fog, low ceilings, and icing, all of which are responsible for the majority of weather-related aviation accidents. But even the most seemingly benign weather sometimes gets the best of IFR-rated pilots. In this Wx Smarts article we’ll revisit one such situation that […]

Cancellations continue at several airports, resulting in a domino effect across the nation’s air travel grid.

Every summer and autumn headlines cover at least one major hurricane approaching the coast. You’re probably not planning to do any pattern work in a hurricane, but it’s quite common for instrument pilots to skirt the edges of these storms. A few airline and corporate pilots go right over the top. Hurricanes and tropical storms […]

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “nowcasting.” The American Meteorological Society defines this word as “a short-term weather forecast, generally for the next few hours.” Pilots from all backgrounds are likely to recognize the immense value of this topic. In this article, we’ll talk about some down-to-earth techniques for how to accomplish nowcasting, without a lot […]