Weather Check: How To Plan Your Route Around Severe Weather

Here's how to keep track of a storm's movement and its impact on airport operations with a few keystrokes.

Friday, September 30, 2022 at 06:11 PM ET

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If you are trying to determine the path of a storm, the Aviation Weather Center is a helpful resource. [Courtesy: National Weather Service]

Key Takeaways:

The NOAA Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov) is presented as a free, interactive resource for global aviation weather information, accessible without an account.
The article provides step-by-step instructions on how to use this website to retrieve Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) and Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs) for specific states.
Users can view weather reports in either raw format (requiring knowledge of aviation acronyms) or a decoded format for easier understanding.
Key abbreviations like METAR (current conditions), TAF (forecasts), G (gust), PK WND (peak wind), PRSFR (pressure falling rapidly), and SPECI (special report for rapidly changing weather) are explained.

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“The airports are closed in South Carolina.” This text message got my attention Friday morning. I have been watching Hurricane Ian’s path of destruction with a keen eye to its impact on aviation, as I have several airport “sons and daughters” who live and work on the East Coast in areas prone to hurricanes.

When there is a hurricane or severe weather of any sort, aviation weather websites get a work out.