Aviation Products John Bravender, Aviation Program Manager National Weather Service – Honolulu, HI (808)

Aviation Products Area Forecast Discussion Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) Area Forecast SIGnificant METeorological Information (SIGMET) AIRman’s METeorological Advisory (AIRMET) Upper Winds and Temperatures Aloft (NCEP)

Area Forecast Discussion A plain language discussion that details the forecast and provides the forecaster’s reasoning A good place to start before briefing yourself on the aviation specific products Key points to look for are the overall picture and forecast uncertainty 4:00am, 10:00am, 4:00pm, and 8:30pm HST

Area Forecast Discussion.SYNOPSIS...A TRADE WIND WEATHER PATTERN CONTINUES OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH CLOUDS AND SHOWERS FAVORING WINDWARD AND MOUNTAIN AREAS. TRADE WINDS WILL WEAKEN ON THURSDAY AS LOW PRESSURE AND A WEAK FRONT PASS NORTH OF THE ISLANDS. TRADES WILL STRENGTHEN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BEFORE WEAKENING ONCE AGAIN AS ANOTHER LOW AND WEAK FRONT PASS NORTH OF THE ISLANDS. &&.DISCUSSION...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS IN PLACE NORTH OF THE ISLANDS WITH THE TRADE WIND FLOW BRINGING IN CLOUDS AND SHOWERS TO WINDWARD AND MOUNTAIN AREAS OF THE ISLANDS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS THIS MORNING HAVE BEEN HIGHER COMPARED TO EARLIER IN THE WEEK AS THE TRADE WIND FLOW CONTINUES TO MOISTEN THE LOWER 8000 FEET OF THE ATMOSPHERE. THE 12Z LIHUE SOUNDING CONFIRMS THIS TREND WITH A STEADY CLIMB IN PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES TO OVER AN INCH AND A QUARTER. OVER THE PAST 12 HOURS MOUNT WAIALEALE HAS RECEIVED.79 INCHES WITH SEVERAL OTHER WINDWARD AND MOUNTAIN GAUGES PICKING UP AMOUNTS GENERALLY A COUPLE OF TENTHS. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF RAINFALL AMOUNTS PLEASE CHECK OUT RRAHFO...THE HAWAII RAINFALL SUMMARY PRODUCT. &&.MARINE…A LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HIGH SURF. &&.AVIATION…THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY LOW FREEZING LEVEL NEAR 10 THOUSAND FEET. &&.CLIMATE…4 STATIONS SET RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY.

Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) Concise forecast of wind, visibility, weather, and sky condition valid for a 24 hour period –30 hours for PHNL issued 4 times daily no later than 1:40am, 7:40am, 1:40pm, and 7:40pm HST Amendments can issued at any time to update TAFs to reflect unexpected changes

Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) PHLILihue PHNL Honolulu PHJR Kalaeloa PHMKMolokai PHNYLanai PHOGKahului PHJHKapalua PHTOHilo PHKOKona PMDYMidway NSTUPago Pago

Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) PHNL Z 1018/ KT P6SM FEW035 SCT040 FM G17KT P6SM FEW035 BKN060 FM KT P6SM FEW035 BKN060= PHJR Z 1018/1018 VRB04KT P6SM FEW040 BKN070 FM KT P6SM FEW035 BKN070 FM KT P6SM FEW035 BKN070 FM VRB04KT P6SM FEW035 SCT070=

Area Forecasts An overview of weather conditions that impact aviation operations –12 hour detailed forecast –6 hour flight category outlook A flight planning and pilot weather briefing aid for use by general aviation pilots, civil and military aviation operations, dispatchers and pilot weather briefers. Issued four times per day, by 5:40am, 11:40am, 5:40pm, and 11:40pm HST.

Area Forecasts Covers the main Hawaiian Islands and coastal waters out to 40 nm.

Area Forecasts SYNOPSIS...SFC HIGH FAR NW OF KAUAI MOVG NE 30 KT AND GRADUALLY STRENGTHENING...BIG ISLAND INTERIOR ABOVE 080. SKC. OUTLOOK...VFR...BIG ISLAND COAST AND LOWER SLOPES FROM UPOLU POINT TO CAPE KUMUKAHI TO APUA POINT AND ADJ WATERS. SCT030 BKN-OVC070 TOPS 090 ISOL BKN025 -SHRA. 20Z SCT030 SCT-BKN050 TOPS 080 ISOL BKN030 -SHRA. OUTLOOK...VFR...BIG ISLAND LOWER SLOPES FROM APUA POINT TO SOUTH CAPE TO 15NM NE PHKO. FEW050 ISOL BKN050 TOPS Z SCT030 BKN-OVC060 TOPS 090 ISOL BKN030. OUTLOOK...VFR.. BIG ISLAND COAST AND ADJ WATERS FROM SOUTH CAPE TO 15 NM NE PHKO. SCT040 SCT- BKN060 TOPS 070 ISOL BKN Z FEW Z SCT-BKN050 TOPS 070. OUTLOOK...VFR.

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs) To inform customers of potentially hazardous weather that is occurring or is expected to occur Pre-flight weather briefings SIGMETs will normally take precedence over all other aviation products

SIGMETs WFO Honolulu is responsible for portion of the Oakland Oceanic FIR south of 30N and west of 140W.

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs) Thunderstorms Severe Turbulence Severe Icing Volcanic Ash Tropical Cyclones Marked mountain waves Widespread sandstorm/duststorm Radioactive Clouds

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs) WSPA10 PHFO SIGPAW KZAK SIGMET WHISKEY 3 VALID / PHFO OAKLAND OCEANIC FIR. SEV MX ICE FCST BTN 120 AND 160 WITHIN 60 NM EITHER SIDE OF LINE N2830 W N2336 W MOV E 10 KT. NC. BASED ON PILOT REPORTS. WCPA12 PHFO WSTPAY KZAK SIGMET YANKEE 16 VALID / OAKLAND OCEANIC FIR. HURCN AKA NEAR N1212 E16230 AT 1200 UTC. FRQ TS OBS BY SATELLITE WITHIN 60 NM EITHER SIDE OF LINE N1430 E N1200 E N0730 E CB TOPS FL450. MOV WNW 10 KT. INTSF. OUTLOOK VALID UTC N1318 – E SEE LATEST RJTD ADVISORY.

AIRman’s METeorological Advisory (AIRMETs) To inform customers of potentially hazardous weather that is occurring or is expected to occur Thresholds for issuance are lower than for SIGMETs Of particular concern to VFR rated pilots

AIRman’s METeorological Advisory (AIRMETs) Moderate turbulence Moderate icing Sustained surface wind speeds of 30 knots or more IFR conditions affecting 3,000 square miles or more Significant areas of mountain obscuration

AIRman’s METeorological Advisory (AIRMETs) NO SIGNIFICANT IFR EXP. =HNLT WA AIRMET TANGO FOR TURB VALID UNTIL AIRMET TURB...KAUAI AND OAHU OVER AND IMT S THRU W OF MT. TEMPO MOD TURB BLW 090. COND CONT BEYOND 1000Z.. AIRMET TURB...HI ENTIRE AREA. TEMPO MOD TURB BTN FL200 AND FL250. COND CONT BEYOND 1000Z. =HNLZ WA AIRMET ZULU FOR ICE AND FZLVL VALID UNTIL NO SIGNIFICANT ICE EXP.. FZLVL...120

Winds and Temperatures Aloft  Lihue, Honolulu, Lanai, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo  Issued four times daily, valid at 00, 06, 12, and 18 UTC. The bulletins are transmitted roughly 4 to 5 hours prior to the valid time  Forecasts for:  1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 thousand feet, actual altitude  18, 24, 30, 34, 39, 45, 53 thousand feet, pressure altitude

Winds and Temperatures Aloft FBHW31 KWNO FD1HW1 DATA BASED ON Z VALID Z FOR USE Z. TEMPS NEG ABV FT LIH HNL LNY OGG KOA ITO FBHW37 KWNO FD8HW7 DATA BASED ON Z VALID Z FOR USE Z. TEMPS NEG ABV FT LIH HNL LNY OGG KOA ITO

WHERE? aviationweather.gov

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