Forecast for Thursday, March 10

Issued: Wednesday, March 9 Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron Synoptic Discussion: "High pressure will continue over the Central peninsula this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon and evening accompanied by rain as the cold front that passed through on Tuesday slowly migrates North as a warm front. The system is expected to move East of the peninsula with a clearing trend in the afternoon hours on launch day. Temperatures are not expected to exceed user constraints with launch day temperatures ranging from the mid 40s in the morning to low 60s at 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 timing of the frontal boundary moving East of the peninsula. "In the event of a 24-hour delay, the next cold front will be in the Northern portion of the peninsula during T-0 with a tightening pressure gradient. Winds will be gusting to 30 kts from the Southwest. Clouds and isolated showers are expected to remain North of Central Florida during the launch window. "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 Scattered at 8,000 feet with tops at 10,000 feet; and Cirrus Broken at 24,000 feet with tops at 28,000 feet Visibility: 7 miles Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 300 degrees at 10 gusting to 15 knots Temperature: 63 degrees F Relative Humidity: 80 percent Weather: Isolated Showers Solar Activity: Low Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 30 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