Forecast for Thursday, March 10

Issued: Tuesday, March 8 Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron Synoptic Discussion: "A cold front will pass through the Central peninsula this morning bringing cloudy conditions, isolated thunderstorms, rainshowers, and gusty winds from the West. Clearing is expected Tuesday afternoon/evening with high pressure moving in on Wednesday and decreasing winds. "The cold front stalls in South Florida with a wave developing in the Gulf of Mexico and a broad trough across the peninsula Thursday morning and prevailing through the day. This will increase chances of thick clouds and isolated showers associated with the overrunning conditions. Temperatures are not expected to exceed user constraints with launch day temperatures ranging from the mid 40s in the morning to upper 50s near T-0. Winds are not expected to exceed user criteria. "The main concern for launch day is violation of the Thick Cloud Rule associated with the overrunning conditions and isolated showers. "In the event of a 24-hour delay, conditions improve with the trough East of the peninsula. However, a dry boundary will be in the Florida Panhandle Friday evening with a tightening pressure gradient. Winds will be gusting to 30 kts from the West. The main concern for a 24-hour delay are gusting winds associated with the tight pressure gradient." Clouds: Stratocumulus Scattered at 2,500 feet with tops at 4,500 feet; Altostratus Broken at 8,000 feet with tops at 12,000 feet; and Cirrus Broken at 24,000 feet with tops at 28,000 feet Visibility: 7 miles Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 310 degrees at 12 gusting to 18 knots Temperature: 57 degrees F Relative Humidity: 90 percent Weather: Isolated Showers Solar Activity: Low Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 60 percent Concerns: Thick Cloud Rule violation

Times of note

Thursday's launch window: 4:42-4:57 p.m. EST (2142-2157 GMT) Thursday's sunrise: 6:37 a.m. EST (1137 GMT) Thursday's sunset: 6:28 p.m. EST (2328 GMT) Friday's launch window: 4:42-4:57 p.m. EST (2142-2157 GMT) Friday's sunrise: 6:36 a.m. EST (1136 GMT) Friday's sunset: 6:29 p.m. EST (2329 GMT)

Forecast for 24-hour delay

Friday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 30 percent Concerns: Gusty winds