Issued: Tuesday, September 5
Launch Weather Officer: Kathy Winters, 45th Weather Squadron
Synoptic Discussion: "Today, the ridge over Central Florida will migrate back to the south, the sea breeze will develop near the east coast of Central Florida, and mid-level southerly flow will cause thunderstorms to develop along the western portion of Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The mid-level flow will begin to shift southwesterly by the end of the day, bringing thunderstorms toward the coast late this afternoon or into the evening.
"On Wednesday, a low pressure area may develop over Central Florida, and moisture in Southeast Florida will pull north offshore of Central Florida. Due to increased moisture potential in the atmosphere, the probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch is higher than yesterday's forecast. Still, the earlier launch window should occur before the more significant afternoon convective activity develops.
"Our primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds within 10 nautical miles of Complex 39B and isolated showers within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF).
"The probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch remains the same the following two days due to a frontal boundary lingering in Central Florida. This boundary with the strong upper level winds from the west may cause anvil clouds from thunderstorms in the Gulf of Mexico and along the west coast of Florida to advect east toward KSC."
Clouds: Cumulus Scattered at 3,000 feet and tops at 6,000 feet with 3/8ths sky coverage; Altostratus Scattered at 10,000 feet and tops at 12,000 feet with 2/8ths sky coverage; Cirrus Scattered at 25,000 feet and tops at 26,000 feet with 4/8ths sky coverage
Visibility: 7 miles
Launch Pad Winds: Westerly from 250 degrees at 8 to 12 knots
Temperature: 85 degrees F
Relative Humidity: 65 percent
Weather in area: None
Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 30 percent
Concerns: Cumulus clouds within 10 nautical miles of the launch pad; showers within 20 nautical miles of the emergency runway
