cool tools: using the cwsu metar map

COOL TOOLS:COOL TOOLS:Using The CWSU Using The CWSU

METAR MapMETAR Map

Presented By:Presented By:

Marc Coan, FAAst Team Rep, Marc Coan, FAAst Team Rep, ATP/CFII-MEATP/CFII-ME

marc@skymachines.commarc@skymachines.com

www.WxBriefing.comwww.WxBriefing.com

www.MetarMap.uswww.MetarMap.us

Click on the map to zoom in…Click on the map to zoom in…

… … or select an ARTCC or or select an ARTCC or major city to zoom tomajor city to zoom to

Not just METARs, but non-Not just METARs, but non-aviation observations, tooaviation observations, too

RAWS: 2,200 “Remote Automatic Weather Stations” strategically located throughout the USA

Quick-view color-coded Quick-view color-coded station identifiersstation identifiers

Station: KUES Waukesha Co. Airport)Ceiling/Visibility: MVFR (1000-3000’ ceiling and/or 3-5 s.m. visibility)Temperature: 73 deg. F.Dewpoint: 63 deg. FWind: Northwest at 15 mphWind Gust: 21 mph

Mouse-over any station for Mouse-over any station for current observation & TAFcurrent observation & TAF

Click a station for the full Click a station for the full report, including 30-day historyreport, including 30-day history

Then click a tab for so much Then click a tab for so much more information:more information:

The NWS tab: The NWS tab: LotsLots of info, of info, including a convective outlookincluding a convective outlook

The NWS tab: 3-day history, link The NWS tab: 3-day history, link to local NWS forecast office to local NWS forecast office

The NWS tab: Hyper-local The NWS tab: Hyper-local forecast + forecast discussionforecast + forecast discussion

The NWS tab: NTSB recommends The NWS tab: NTSB recommends we read the forecast discussionwe read the forecast discussion

Why does the TAF forecast what it does today? The actual TAF forecaster explains his/her thinking here, adding LOCAL knowledge when needed. Updated at least at 0900Z and 2100Z daily.

The NWS tab: Try the hourly The NWS tab: Try the hourly weather graphweather graph

Great for airports without a TAF!

The NWS tab’s hourly graph:The NWS tab’s hourly graph:

Forecast temp/ dewpoint, winds, humidity, sky cover, precip…

…every hour for the next 5 days!

The Guidance tab:The Guidance tab:

2 different, detailed forecast models for any airport, 1 in graph, 2 in text format

The Guidance tab’s “Localized The Guidance tab’s “Localized Aviation MOS Product”Aviation MOS Product”

A graphical display of the GFS model forecast for the next 24 hrs. for ANY airport

The Guidance tab’s “Localized The Guidance tab’s “Localized Aviation MOS Product”Aviation MOS Product”

Forecasts: temp/dewpt., winds, sky cover, ceiling, visibility, precip, obstructions to vision

The Guidance tab’s “MOS The Guidance tab’s “MOS Forecasts” productForecasts” product

2 different text forecasts (GFS and NAM models) for every 3 hours for the next 3 days for most airports… check for differences between forecasts!

The RUC The RUC Sounding Sounding

Tab: Tab:

Forecast winds Forecast winds aloft, temp/ aloft, temp/

dewpt, freezing dewpt, freezing level aloft for level aloft for anyany location location

The RUC The RUC Sounding Tab: Sounding Tab:

Red line=temp, Red line=temp, blue=dewpt…where blue=dewpt…where

they touch, it’s cloudy they touch, it’s cloudy at that altitude. Here: at that altitude. Here:

clouds from 1000-clouds from 1000-6000’ MSL. Freezing 6000’ MSL. Freezing

level at 13,500’ level at 13,500’ (magenta line)(magenta line)

Links to Links to dozens of dozens of

experimental experimental and non-and non-

traditional traditional weather weather

sites:sites:

www.WxBriefing.commarc@skymachines.com.