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Links for Predicting XC Weather Conditions
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WakeField (KAKQ) Aviation Forecast - A good overview of what is happening over the next few days. The top menus offer the ability to change state and location so for those pilots planning to go cross country it will give a good insight to anticipated conditions. Apart from the Sky, Temp, and Wind sections of the graph, it is worth paying special attention to the Temp Dew point spread (the bigger the number the better). XC Skies - This is an outstanding tool and an absolute must for a mere $30 a year subscription. This is far better than just looking at Dr Jack and the Blipmap.
XC Maps are visual layers of basic soaring parameters, wrapped up in an interactive application for use with any popular browser over the Internet. You can use these soaring forecast maps from anywhere in the world. The application is run once a day for the global soaring predictions, and twice daily for the North American maps products (RUC and NAM/ETA). The global forecasts are available for the next three upcoming days at 3 hour intervals. The most accurate is the RUC layer only available on the day of flight – use GFS and NAM for further ahead.
Northeast US weather Maps - A good site for reviewing synoptic charges for the next few days. On the home page select Northeast US weather Maps and Graphics. This may take a while to fully load due to the mass of data but the ones I focus on are the very colourful Forecasted Surface Weather Maps for 12 – 48 hrs near the bottom of the page.
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Other Useful Links To Help Predict XC Conditions
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Skew-T Forecast - This thermodynamic diagram, or SkewT/LogP diagram, and also known as a sounding, is a graph showing the vertical distribution of the temperature, dewpoint, wind direction, and wind speed of the radiosonde as it rises through the atmosphere near the site where the balloon was launched. Interactive Raw SkewT Soundings Data Charts - Type in 24 hours and KAKQ in the site box and hit Java Based plots. This will provide you with the SkewT charts for a variety of times (GMT Zulu based) throughout your selected period. Based on daily balloon data and you can select alternate locations e.g KRZZ for Roanoke Rapids etc. You can use your mouse point over the chart in an interactive mode to view specific data e.g temperature inversion that will indicate height of lift. XC Skies is a composite representation from all the Soundings in your area of interest. Garner BLIPSPOT - A useful snapshot of what the day will look like. The data is based on RUC balloon information and is normally available from about 0700hrs onwards. It is worth checking this before looking at the RUC charts in XC Skies for more detail. LIVE Satellite Image - An excellent color based Live Satellite Image that you can zoom in and use loop facility to track current weather/cloud activity. Current Flight Rules - VFR, IFR, etc. - Under station ID type KAKQ and hit search. This will give you current conditions at Wakefield. Use zoom slider on the left and grab chart feature to move around your area of interest and you can select individual ‘balloons’ to show actual conditions.
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