What comes to mind when winter hits? In the east we think of Nor’easters, snowstorms in the Great Plains, and IMC in the southeast. We think of the western states as dominated by clear skies and light winds. Our perceptions are probably influenced a bit by the constant news of drought and wildfires, the sunny ambience of Hollywood movies, and maybe that 1970s song about it never raining in southern California.
If you’ll be flying west of the Rockies, though, don’t let your guard down. Reality is that the West is not always blessed with clear skies and mild weather. The worst of the flying hazards occur during the winter, and some of them can be just as severe as the problems out east. Thankfully we’ll sort things out and help you figure out what to expect.
