'Alaska Weather' broadcast ending, area forecast frequency reduced
Feedback sought on pending changes
The National Weather Service is looking for feedback on two planned changes to how aviation weather products are delivered in Alaska.
The weather service plans to discontinue the evening edition of the Aviation Area Forecast (FA) for Alaska, and to cease the television broadcast of the nightly Alaska Weather program. Each of these changes could have impacts on aviation users, so let’s take them one at a time.
Evening FA discontinued
Due to staffing, NWS plans to discontinue the evening area forecast for Alaska. While the weather service would continue to issue the 4 a.m. and noon forecasts, this change would leave a short period of the day, between midnight and 4 a.m., without a forecast. The public notice announcing this proposal provides additional details and invites user feedback. If this change impacts your operations, please let NWS know by sending an email before May 30 to either Alaska Aviation Weather Unit Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joshua Maloy or Meteorologist in Charge Albert (Al) Pietrycha.
‘Alaska Weather’ TV broadcast to end in July
After broadcasting nightly on public television since 1976, NWS will no longer be able to provide this 30-minute program, which covers aviation and marine forecasts, after June 30. Officials do plan to continue a modified version of the program, but only online—principally through a new YouTube channel. If this change impacts your flight planning, please send comments before May 30. For more information on this change, see the public release.
Please send a copy of your comments on either of these changes to AOPA via email so that we are informed of your concerns.
