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Launch weather forecast
Posted: April 11, 2008

 Forecast for Monday, April 14

Issued: Friday, April 11
Launch Weather Officer: 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "High pressure and fair weather will persist into mid-day Saturday. A cold front will move into the Florida peninsula on Saturday with a threat of isolated thunderstorms. The front will migrate over Central Florida Sunday morning with lingering showers through the day. There is a small threat of lightning associated with the frontal boundary through Sunday afternoon. Winds become gusty from the West and Northwest behind the front Sunday afternoon and evening through late morning Monday with gusts in the mid to upper 20s (230 feet).

"For MLP roll on Sunday morning, winds are expected to be below the roll constraint of 32 kts (contamination). However, by late afternoon, winds are expected to increase with gusts exceeding the standby configuration (27 kts) during the exposure period.

"For launch day, high pressure continues to build-in with gusty Northwest winds trending down in the afternoon with gusts in the low to mid 20s during the window. The primary concerns for launch day are gusty winds and a slight risk of thick clouds associated with the proximity of the front to the South.

"In the event of a 24 hour delay, a secondary cold front increases the pressure gradient with gusty winds Tuesday afternoon increasing to upper 20s and low 30s and persisting through the next 24 hours. There iwith isolated showers."

Clouds: Cumulus scattered at 4,000 feet with tops at 7,000 feet; and Cirrus scattered at 30,000 feet with tops at 35,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 300 degrees at 22 to 28 knots

Temperature: 60-61 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 50 percent

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 40 percent

Concerns: Ground winds and thick clouds

 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Tuesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 60 percent
Concerns: Ground winds and thick clouds

 

 Times of note

Monday's launch window: 4:12 to 5:12 p.m. EDT
Tuesday's launch window: 4:08 to 5:08 p.m. EDT

 

MISSION STATUS CENTER