Mission Forecast: The western NE area will be in one last day of NW flow
aloft before an upper-level ridge of high pressure starts building in.
Timing is critical as most models have the tail edge of the mid-level
moisture vacating the CLEX-9 target region around 0800 MDT. We will
make a Nowcast at 0330 MDT to determine our exact mission time. Earliest
mission would be 0530 to 0600 MDT takeoff.
Weather Outlook: On Tuesday, the NW'ly mid-tropospheric flow starts to
shut down as an upper-level ridge of high pressure moves into the region.
The moisture that has been supporting the recent mid-level cloud formation
looks to be cut-off for a few days. Wednesday looks to another down day
with the models hinting at continued weakened and dryer flow aloft.
Thursday would most likely be the first day of favorable upper level
dynamics as another large upper-level trough begins to move into our region.
Adam/Larry
We are standing down this morning ... not due to a lack of clouds ...
The steady northwesterly flow continues to be a spawning ground for multi-
layered clouds, but this mornings hatch includes a significant amount of
precipitation and ceilings almost on the deck across southern Wyoming and
western Nebraska. A band of heavy rain is moving over North Platte at this
hour, extending west and changing to a band of snow that has just ended this
past hour in Laramie and Cheyenne.
Which brings us to my main concern this morning - snow and ice on Hwy 287
and I-80 leading into Laramie ... with a travel advisory posted by both the
Colorado and Wyoming transportation offices ...
Considering the fact that the crew has had three successive days of good ops ...
we'll stand down and try to catch the next band of CLEX clouds behind this front.
It is still looking promising for tomorrow or Wednesday as the NW flow continues
and there is a significant amount of mid-level cloud upstream on the IR image this
morning).
Sunrise
Central Daylight Time
Begin civil twilight 7:28 a.m.
Sunrise 7:55 a.m.
Sun transit 1:29 p.m.
Sunset 7:02 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:30 p.m.