Flying Module f15

Step 5. Data Available at Start of Trip

Here is the weather info you could have obtained just before take-off:

Synopsis (Overview of the weather situation)

South of you in the southern part of the Northwest Territories is a low-pressure center with extensive cloud cover all around it. From the low is a warm front extending southeast into northern Alberta, and a cold front extending southwest into northern British Columbia. Neither of these fronts intersect your flight path. However, north of the low center is a trough of warm air aloft (TROWAL) above your flight altitude, where temperatures are warmer than freezing aloft in the clouds, even though the temperature is colder than freezing at your flight altitude below this warm layer.

METAR (Meteorological Aviation Report) or (Meteorological Aerodrome Report)

(This is an observation of the current weather that was observed near your departure point, just before your take-off.

The original code:

METAR CYZF 201300Z 10011KT 15SM -SN OVC012 M10/M12 A2967 RMK SC8 SLP068=

Expanded into full text:

Location: Yellowknife Airport
Day of month: 20
Time: 13:00 UTC = 6 AM local time
Wind: True direction = 100 degrees, Speed: 11 knots
Visibility: 15 Statute Miles
Weather: Light Snow
Clouds: Overcast sky, at 1200 feet above aerodrome level
Temperature: -10 degrees Celsius
Dewpoint: -12 degrees Celsius
Altimeter setting: 29.67 inHg (inches of Mercury)

TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)

TAF CYZF 201142Z 2012/2112 12015KT P6SM -SN OVC010 TEMPO 2012/2015 3SM -SN BKN008

       FM201500 12012G22KT 3SM -SN OVC008 PROB30 2015/2024 1SM -SN OVC004
       FM210000 08012KT 6SM -SN SCT008 BKN020
       FM210600 06010KT P6SM BKN025
       RMK NXT FCST BY 201800Z=

Expanded into full text:

Yellowknife Airport terminal area forecast issed @ 11:42 UTC ( = 4:42 AM local time)
Forecast Period: 20th day of the month at 12:00 UTC (= 5 AM local time) to 21st day of month 12:00 UTC (= 5 AM the next day)

Rough forecast for the whole 24 hour period:
Wind: 120° at 15 knots
Visibility > 6 SM
Weather: Light Snow
Clouds: Overcast ceiling at 1,000 feet
[Thus, the weather is MVFR ]

But temporarily different weather during the following period:
Temporary 12:00 (= 5 AM local time) - 15:00 UTC (= 8 AM local time)
Visibility: 3 SM
Weather: Light Snow
Clouds: Broken cloud coverage at 800 ft cloud-base altitude,

Then, starting at 15:00 UTC (= 8 AM local time)
Wind: 120° at 12 knots, with Gusts up to 22 knots
Visibility: 3 SM
Weather: Light Snow
Clouds: Overcast 800 ft cloud-base altitude
[Thus, the weather is IFR ]

But with 30% Probability during 15:00 UTC (= 8 AM local time) to 00 UTC (=5 pm local time)
Visibility 1 SM
Weather: Light Snow
Clouds: Overcast 400 foot cloud-base altitude.