AOPA Air Safety Foundation

Thunderstorm Awareness Resources

It’s simple: Airplanes and thunderstorms don’t mix. The good news is that it’s not difficult to avoid these violent storms—if you know how to use the tools at your disposal. To learn more, check out the free ASF resources below.

Weather Wise: Thunderstorms and ATC Interactive Course

Learn how ATC describes precipitation, what weather radar services controllers can offer, and how to effectively communicate with ATC. The course takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, but your progress is automatically saved, so there’s no need to finish in one sitting. *This course qualifies for AOPA Accident Forgiveness and the FAA Wings program .

Thunderstorms and ATC Safety Advisor

It’s good to have ATC on your side when storms threaten, but getting the most from weather avoidance services means being aware of some potential pitfalls. Download this Safety Advisor for a closer look at ATC weather radar services and strategies for dealing with some of nature’s most violent storms.

Thunderstorm Avoidance Quick Reference Card

ASF’s Thunderstorm Avoidance Quick Reference Card is a great resource for your flight bag or chart binder. Download it here, or request a printed copy by calling 800/USA-AOPA.