Valley of the Fogs

On a recent trip to Richland, Wash. (KRLD), my destination was forecast to have ceilings at 900 feet at the time of my arrival. That is doable IFR for me if there is no ice. During my TAF trend analysis, I saw that both Moses Lake, Wash. (KMWH), and Pendleton, Ore. (KPDT), had TAFs predicting VFR conditions, making them legal IFR alternates. I chose Pendleton because it was more convenient.

Key Takeaways:

• IFR alternates forecast as VFR can rapidly become unflyable en route due to localized weather, such as fog.
• Continuously monitoring TAF trends and applying "weather forensics" is crucial for identifying degrading conditions and having a timely Plan B.
• Specific regional weather patterns, like inversions and fog during winter in eastern Washington/Oregon valleys, can quickly turn VFR airports IFR.

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