Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) REPEATING THE 1100 PM AST POSITION...25.2 N...45.6 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 500 AM AST.
$$
FORECASTER KNABB
Hurricane/Typhoon Public Advisory Example
WTNT32 KNHC 282058 TCPAT2
BULLETIN HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 4 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST
FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.
PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER TO DESTIN FLORIDA...AND FROM WEST OF MORGAN CITY TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM DESTIN FLORIDA EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS FLORIDA...AND FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA WESTWARD TO CAMERON LOUISIANA.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.0 WEST OR ABOUT 150 MILES SOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-61
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS
TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE NEAR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST EARLY MONDAY. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO
DETERIORATE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 165 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
KATRINA IS A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY UNTIL LANDFALL. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AT CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE INTENSITY. WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-
RISE BUILDINGS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.
KATRINA IS A LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE OCCURRING OVER THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST. SOUTHWEST PASS...NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 48 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 53 MPH.
A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 902 MB...26.64 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. SOME LEVEES IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA COULD BE OVERTOPPED. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL OCCUR ELSEWHERE ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF KATRINA ACROSS THE GULF COAST AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE
ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS EVENING OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF LOUISIANA...MISSISSIPPI...AND ALABAMA...AND OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
REPEATING THE 4 PM CDT POSITION...26.9 N... 89.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 902 MB.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 7 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 10 PM CDT.
FORECASTER PASCH Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-62
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) $$
Intermediate Public Advisory Example
WTNT33 KNHC 221858 TCPAT3
BULLETIN HURRICANE RITA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 20A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 1 PM CDT THU SEP 22 2005
...RITA WEAKENS A LITTLE FURTHER...REMAINS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM PORT O'CONNOR TEXAS TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SOUTH OF PORT
O'CONNOR TO PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS AND FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF
LOUISIANA EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL RIVER INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN...FROM SOUTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BROWNSVILLE TEXAS...AND FOR THE NORTHEASTERN COAST OF MEXICO FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO NORTHWARD TO THE RIO GRANDE.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 1 PM CDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.2 WEST OR ABOUT 435 MILES...700 KM...SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON TEXAS AND ABOUT 430 MILES...695 KM...
SOUTHEAST OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS.
Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-63
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS.
DATA FROM A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS NOW A STRONG CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME SLIGHT WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES...295 KM.
LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE WAS 915 MB...27.01 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL.
TIDES ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING ABOUT 2 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA COASTS IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY KATRINA.
TIDES IN THOSE AREAS WILL INCREASE UP TO 3 TO 4 FEET AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE WAVES...AND RESIDENTS THERE COULD EXPERIENCE SOME COASTAL FLOODING.
RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM 15
INCH TOTAL ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF RITA PARTICULARLY OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND WESTERN LOUISIANA. IN ADDITION...RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS. BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK...RAINFALL TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 25 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AFTER RITA MOVES INLAND.
REPEATING THE 1 PM CDT POSITION...25.5 N... 89.2 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...915 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 4 PM CDT.
FOR
ECASTER AVILA
$$ Special Public Advisory Example
WTNT33 KNHC 241309 TCPAT3 Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-64
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010)
BULLETIN HURRICANE ANDREW SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 25 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL011992 900 AM EDT MON AUG 24 1992
...HURRICANE ANDREW MOVING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO...
HURRICANE WARNINGS REMAIN POSTED FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST SOUTH OF VENICE TO FLAMINGO AND FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. AT 9 AM EDT A
HURRICANE WATCH WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM MOBILE ALABAMA TO SABINE PASS TEXAS. ALL OTHER POSTED WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE DISCONTINUED.
WIND GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE CONTINUE TO OCCUR ALONG THE
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST BUT WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH DURING THE DAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT. RESIDENTS IN THESE
AREAS SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL NWS OFFICES FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND CONDITIONS IN THEIR AREA.
AT 9 AM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ANDREW WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.6 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 81.8 WEST OR APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES SOUTH OF NAPLES FLORIDA.
HURRICANE ANDREW IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 18 MPH. THIS MOTION
IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS MORNING WITH A GRADUAL TURN TO THE WEST NORTHWEST LATER TODAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 140 MPH. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS LIKELY DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD TO 30 MILES...50 KM FROM THE CENTER WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTENDING OUTWARD TO 140 MILES. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 945 MB...27.91 INCHES.
STORM SURGES OF 5 TO 8 FEET ARE POSSIBLE ON THE FLORIDA WEST COAST
NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH OF THE CENTER FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF THE HURRICANE. ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF FLORIDA STORM SURGE TIDES ARE DECREASING. PRELIMINARY REPORTS FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT INDICATE A STORM SURGE OF 8 FEET ABOVE NORMAL WAS RECORDED IN BISCAYNE BAY NEAR HOMESTEAD FLORIDA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-65
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010)
REPEATING THE 9 AM EDT POSITION...LATITUDE 25.6 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 81.8 WEST AND MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 18 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 140 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 945 MB...27.91 INCHES.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 11 AM EDT MON.
$$ Public Advisory Correction Example
HURRICANE ANDREW ADVISORY NUMBER 25...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 500 AM EDT MON AUG 24 1992 CORRECTED FOR CENTRAL PRESSURE...
BODY OF TEXT $$
Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-66
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) Volcanic Ash Advisory Products In addition to SIGMETs, the NWS issues products to notify the aviation community of volcanic ash.
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) A Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) is a meteorological office designated by ICAO regional air navigation agreement to provide advisory volcanic ash information to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs), World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs), area control centers, flight information centers and international operational meteorological (OPMET) data banks regarding the lateral and vertical extent and forecast movement of volcanic ash in the atmosphere following a volcanic eruption. There are nine VAACs worldwide (Figure 6-17).
The duties of a VAAC include:
• Monitoring relevant geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite data to detect the existence and extent of volcanic ash in the atmosphere in the area concerned
• Activating the volcanic ash numerical trajectory/dispersion model in order to forecast the movement of any ash cloud which has been detected or reported
• Issuing advisory information regarding the extent and forecast movement of the volcanic ash cloud.
Figure 6-25. Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) Area of Responsibility
The U.S. has two VAACs with responsibilities defined in ICAO Annex 3. The Washington VAAC is jointly managed by the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB) and the NWS National Centers for Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-67
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Central Operations (NCO). The Anchorage VAAC is managed by the AAWU. The areas of responsibility for each VAAC are:
• Washington VAAC o FIRs in CONUS and adjacent coastal waters (Figures 6-1 and 6-18) o The Oakland Oceanic FIR over the Pacific Ocean (Figures 6-3 and 6-18) o The New York FIR over the western Atlantic Ocean (Figures 6-2 and 6-18) o FIRs over and adjacent to the Caribbean, and Central and South America north of 10 degrees south latitude (Figure 6-2 and 6-18)
• Anchorage VAAC o The Anchorage FIR (Figures 6-3 and 6-18).
o Russian FIRs north of 60 degrees north latitude and east of 150 degrees east longitude (Figure 6-18).
Volcanic Ash Advisory Statement (VAAS) A Volcanic Ash Advisory Statement (VAAS) provides information on hazards to aircraft flight operations caused by a volcanic eruption.
Issuance Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) are responsible for providing ash movement and dispersion guidance to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) and neighboring VAACs.
There are nine VAACs worldwide, two of which are located in the US (Figure 6-18). Each VAAC issues Volcanic Ash Advisory Statements and provide guidance to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) for SIGMETs involving volcanic ash.
A VAAS may be issued within 6 hours of an eruption and every 6 hours thereafter. However, it can be issued more frequently if new information about the eruption is received.
Format A VAAS summarizes the known information about an eruption. It may include the location of the volcano, height of the volcano summit, height of the ash plume, a latitude/longitude box of the ash dispersion cloud, and a forecast of ash dispersion. The height of the ash cloud is estimated by meteorologists analyzing satellite imagery and satellite cloud drift winds combined with any pilot reports, volcano observatory reports, and upper-air wind reports.
VAAS Issued by the Washington VAAC Example
VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY ISSUED: 2003JUL10/1300Z VAAC: WASHINGTON
VOLCANO: ANATAHAN 0804-20 Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-68
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) LOCATION: N1621E14540 AREA: MARIANA ISLANDS SUMMIT ELEVATION: 2585 FT (788 M) ADVISORY NUMBER: 2003/251
INFORMATION SOURCE: GOES 9 IMAGERY. GFS MODEL WINDS FORECAST
ERUPTION DETAILS: ASH AND GAS EMISSIONS SINCE MAY 10.
OBS ASH DATE/TIME: 09/1202Z.
OBS ASH CLOUD: ASH NOT IDENTIFIABLE FROM SATELLITE DATA.
WINDS SFC/FL080 MOVING SW 10-15 KNOTS.
FCST ASH CLOUD +6H: SEE SIGMETS.
REMARKS: THE ASH PLUME OBSERVED IN VISIBLE IMAGERY IS TOO THIN AND DIFFUSE TO BE SEEN IN INFRARED AND MULTISPECTRAL IMAGAERY. ANY ASH UP TO FL080 SHOULD MOVE TOWARDS THE SW AT 10-15 KNOTS.
NEXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 2003JUL10/1900Z.
Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) The Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) is advisory information on volcanic ash cloud issued in abbreviated plain language, using approved ICAO abbreviations and numerical values of self explanatory nature.
VAA Issuance Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) are responsible for providing ash movement and dispersion guidance to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) and neighboring VAACs.
There are nine VAACs worldwide, two of which are located in the US (Figure 6-18). Each VAAC issues Volcanic Ash Advisory Statements and provide guidance to Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) for SIGMETs involving volcanic ash.
VAAs are issued as necessary, but at least every six hours until such time as the volcanic ash cloud is no longer identifiable from satellite data, no further reports of volcanic ash are received from the area, and no further eruptions of the volcano are reported.
VAA Format The VAA format conforms to the “Template for advisory message for volcanic ash” included in ICAO Annex 3.
Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA) Example Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-69
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) FVAK21 PAWU 190615
VOLCANIC ASH
ADVISORY ISSUED: 20030419/0615Z VAAC: ANCHORAGE VOLCANO: CHIKURACHKI, 900-36 LOCATION: N5019 E15527 AREA: KAMCHATKA NORTHERN KURIL ISLANDS SUMMIT ELEVATION: 7674 FT (2339 M) ADVISORY NUMBER: 2003-02 INFORMATION SOURCE:
SATELL ITE AVIATION COLOR CODE: NOT GIVEN ERUPTION DETAILS: NEW ERUPTION OCCURRED APPROX 190500 UTC.
HEIGHT IS ESTIMATED AT FL300. ESTIMATE IS BASED ON OBSERVEDAND MODEL WINDS. MOVEMENT APPEARS TO BE E AT 75 KTS.
OBS ASH DATA/TIME: 19/0500Z OBS ASH CLOUD: VA EXTENDS FM NEAR VOLCANO EWD TO N50 E160. FCST ASH CLOUD +6HR: 30NM EITHER SIDE OF LN FM NIPPI N49 E159 - N50 E175.
FCST ASH CLOUD +12HR: 30NM EITHER SIDE OF LN FM N50 E168 - N50 E180.
FCST ASH CLOUD +18HR: 30NM EITHER SIDE OF LN FM N51 E175 - N50 E185.
NEXT ADVISORY: 20030419/1500Z REMARKS: UPDATES AS SOON AS INFO BECOMES AVAILABLE.
Section 6: Products for Aviation Hazards Page 6-70
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) 7 FORECAST TEXT PRODUCTS
7.1 Area Forecasts (FA) An Area Forecast (FA) is a forecast in an abbreviated plain language of specified weather phenomena covering a flight information region (FIR) or other area designated by the meteorological authority. The Area Forecast (in conjunction with AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETs, CWAs, etc.), is used to determine forecast en route weather and to interpolate conditions at airports which do not have a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF). As such, it serves as a flight planning and pilot weather briefing aid for use by general aviation pilots, civil and military aviation operations, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) weather briefers. Area forecasts are not intended for use as a substitute for a TAF in 14 CFR part 121 Air Carrier operations. In these operations, a TAF is required to meet part 121 regulatory requirements.
Note: Hazardous weather (e.g., IFR, icing, turbulence, etc.) meeting AIRMET or SIGMET criteria are not forecast in the CONUS or Hawaii FAs. Valid AIRMETs and SIGMETs must be used in conjunction with the FA to determine hazardous weather information for the flight.
All Area Forecasts are available on the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) Web site at:
http://aviationweather.gov/products/fa/.
Alaska Area Forecasts can also be found on the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) Web site at: http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/areaforecasts.php.
7.1.1 Area Forecast Issuance Area forecasts are issued by the following offices for the following areas:
• The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) o Conterminous U.S. (CONUS) - Six (6) FAs covering separate geographical areas of the CONUS, excluding the Gulf of Mexico coastal waters west of 85W (Figure 7-1).
o Gulf of Mexico: The northern Gulf of Mexico, including the Houston Oceanic FIR, the Gulf of Mexico portion of the Miami Oceanic FIR, and the coastal waters west of 85W longitude (Figures 7-1 and 7-2).
o Caribbean Sea: Portions of the Gulf of Mexico (south of the Houston Oceanic FIR to approximately 22N latitude), the Caribbean Sea and adjacent portions of the North Atlantic (Figure 7-3).
• The Alaskan Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) o Alaska: Seven (7) FAs covering separate geographical areas of Alaska and the adjacent coastal waters, including the Pribilof Islands and Southeast Bering Sea (Figure 7-5).
• WFO Honolulu, Hawaii Section 7: Forecast Text Products Page 7-1
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45G Change 1 (July 2010) o Hawaii: The main Hawaiian Islands and adjacent coastal waters extending out 40 nautical miles from the coastlines (Figure 7-4).
Figure 7-1. AWC Area Forecast Regions – Contiguous U.S.
Figure 7-2. AWC Area Forecast Region and WMO Header – Gulf of Mexico Section 7: Forecast Text Products Page 7-2