How to Read Aviation Winds Temps Aloft
Winds and Temperature Aloft Forecasts display wind direction, wind speed, and temperature at specific times, altitudes, and locations.
Types of Altitude Used
Altitudes listed upward to 12,000 feet are true altitudes, expressed as MSL. From eighteen,000 feet and above, the altitudes are computed equally pressure altitudes, which is the MSL distance adjusted for standard atmospheric pressure (29.92 inHg).
Where to Detect Winds and Temps Aloft Forecasts
Mayhap the best identify to go your Winds and Temps Aloft chart is at aviationweather.gov/windtemp. You can as well find this page by going to aviationweather.gov and clicking on Forecasts, and then Winds/Temps from the dropdown menu. Click on your location on the "Winds/Temps Data" map to find a forecast for your area.
How to Read a Winds and Temps Aloft Forecast
This is what your standard Winds and Temps forecast is going to look like:
The first line states FD1US1. FD1 means the Winds and Temps are valid for 6 hours, and US1 is an identifier for the Continental United states.
Next, nosotros accept the time that the information was recorded: DATA BASED ON 141800Z. (This ways it was the 14th day of the month at eighteen:00 Zulu Time. This would be 10:00 Pacific Standard Fourth dimension.)
The third line states when the data is valid: VALID 150000Z (valid on the 15th of the month at 00:00 Zulu Fourth dimension, or xvi:00 PST) FOR USE 2000-0300Z (to exist used from xx:00 Zulu Time to 03:00 Zulu Time, or 12:00 PST TO twenty:00 PST). TEMPS NEG ABV 24000 (all temperatures are negative above 24,000 feet).
Now, nosotros come to the meat and potatoes: the winds and temps information.
The first column of the table has letter codes, and you lot volition notice the commencement row begins with "FT." This row is specifying your distance. The following alphabetic character codes specify the station identifier of the forecast. This particular forecast has winds and temps aloft for locations all along the pacific declension. Let'south focus on the offset row.
BIH (Bishop, CA) at 9000 ft reads 2207+03.
The starting time four digits of the code (2207) refer to the winds. The get-go ii digits (22) are your wind direction, minus a nix. Therefore, our wind is coming from 220°, which is the southwest. The next two digits (07) are your wind speed. Our winds are from 220° at 7 knots.
The last part of the code (+03) is the temperature, expressed in + or – Celsius. So our temperature is 3°C.
Annotation: To a higher place 24,000 feet, the temperatures are e'er negative, then a + or – sign is omitted from the forecast.
Let's take a look at the same row at 12,000 feet: 3020-03. This is stating that our winds are from 300° (northwest) at 20 knots and our temperature is -three°C.
Some important things to know
If the winds are light and variable, or less than 5 knots, the lawmaking will read 9900.
If the winds are between 100 and 199 knots, the code will start with a 7, i.e. 7545. In order to read this, subtract fifty from the direction (75-50=25) and add 100 to the speed (45+100=145). Therefore, 7545 would read as 250° at 145 knots.
If the winds are 200 knots or more, the wind will be recored every bit 199 knots. For case, 7599 means the winds are from 250° at 199(+) knots.
Winds are non recorded for altitudes within 1500 feet of the ground meridian. Returning to the table, BIH at 3,000 anxiety is left blank. That is because BIH has an elevation of 4,124 feet, which is above the forecast altitude level.
Temperatures are not recorded for altitudes within 2500 feet of the basis elevation. BIH at 6,000 feet reads 9900. Discover that there is no temperature data. Once more, BIH is at 4,124 feet, which is within 2,500 feet of half dozen,000.
When Should Nosotros Employ Winds and Temps Aloft Forecasts?
Winds and Temps Aloft Forecasts are peculiarly helpful when planning a cross-country flight. Planning your flight at an altitude with minimal wind, or even a tailwind, will give you better flight performance. Your footing speed will exist faster if you are not fighting a strong headwind, and you will salvage some fuel.
In addition, you can use the table to judge where you will reach freezing levels, as well as where any temperature inversions may occur. If you notice that the temperature is ascent with increased altitude, there's a high likelihood of flight into a temperature inversion and experiencing some possibly dangerous turbulence.
Source: https://relentlessaviation.com/how-to-read-a-winds-temps-aloft-forecast/
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