The Weather Never Sleeps

Deciphering The Hazards Of Adverse Conditions

No one likes to hear bad news, but adults learn that ignoring it or trying to pretend they didn't hear it is fruitless. For pilots, ignoring bad news about the weather is worse than fruitless; it's one of the most dangerous things they can do.

Maybe this is why the first part of a standard preflight weather briefing is the "adverse conditions" section.

Once you've heard the bad news about thunderstorms, turbulence, low ceilings and visibilities, icing, and other potentially hazardous weather, you're ready - if you still want to go flying - to begin learning about all of the current and forecast weather that could affect your flight.

Anyone who flies should be keeping up with the weather, especially in the 24 or so hours before a planned flight. A pilot who is following the weather on television or the Internet is going to know about any really threatening weather that's likely in the next day or two.