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Launch weather forecast
Posted: February 1, 2005

 Forecast for Thursday, February 3

Issued: Tuesday, February 1
Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "The developing trough in the Gulf of Mexico continues to migrate toward the peninsula and will be over the peninsula on launch day. Expect increasing clouds and isolated showers Wednesday afternoon with the approach of the system. Winds will be Southerly to Southwesterly as we near the launch window with temperatures in the low 60s.

"With the trough over the peninsula during the launch window, expect broken to overcast conditions throughout the window and isolated showers. The main concerns for launch day are thick clouds and disturbed weather.

"In the event of a 24-hour delay, conditions improve as the low pressure system is expected to be East of the peninsula and the atmosphere begins drying; however, thick low level clouds with the close proximity of the low are expected along with a tighter pressure gradient with gusty Northwest winds."

Clouds: Stratocumulus Broken at 2,000 feet with tops at 6,000 feet; Altocumulus Broken at 10,000 feet with tops at 14,000 feet; Cirrus Overcast at 24,000 feet with tops at 30,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: South-southwesterly from 200 degrees at 10 gusting to 15 knots

Temperature: 60 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 95 percent

Weather: Isolated Showers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 80 percent

Concerns: Thick clouds, disturbed weather, isolated showers

 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Friday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 60 percent
Concerns: Thick clouds, gusty northwest Winds

 


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