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
