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Launch weather forecast
Posted: October 5, 2007

 Forecast for Tuesday, October 9

Issued: Friday, October 5
Launch Weather Officer: 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "A tropical wave over the Bahamas will transit the Southern peninsula overnight ushering in gusty winds and showers with isolated embedded thunderstorms Friday and Saturday with a slight decrease on Sunday. Showers and winds will begin to trend up through the day with winds gusting in the upper 20s to low 30s (230 feet) through the weekend. For MLP roll on Monday, winds remain gusty through the day with gusts in the upper 20s to low 30s with coastal showers and isolated embedded thunderstorms.

"On launch day, winds trend down to the upper teens from the East. Isolated coastal showers persist with the continued Easterly flow. There is a small threat of an isolated thunderstorm during the late morning/early afternoon; however, most activity is expected to favor the inland areas by the afternoon hours.

"The primary concerns for launch day are cumulus clouds and disturbed weather associated with showers coming in from the Atlantic.

"In the event of a 24 hour delay, an encroaching frontal boundary to the North and low pressure to the South increase chances of showers and isolated thunderstorms. The primary concern for a 24 hour delay are disturbed weather and cumulus clouds."

Clouds: Cumulus scattered at 2,500 feet with tops at 15,000 feet; and Cirrus scattered at 24,000 feet with tops at 26,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Easterly from 090 degrees at 14 to 18 knots

Temperature: 79-80 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 80 percent

Weather: Isolated showers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 30 percent

Concerns: Cumulus clouds and disturbed weather associated with isolated showers

 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Wednesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 40 percent
Concerns: Cumulus clouds and disturbed weather associated with isolated showers

 

 Times of note

Tuesday's launch window: 8:22 to 9:33 p.m. EDT
Wednesday's launch window: 8:21 to 9:33 p.m. EDT

 

MISSION STATUS CENTER