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
