CLEX-9 October 24th, 2001 Operations

Synopsis

• The CLEX-9 forecast team has decided to stand by all operations for Wednesday, October 24th.
  
  
• Weather Forecast (made at 1500 MDT 10/23/01):

  
            We are on STAND-BY for operations on Wednesday, October 24, 2001. The morning 
            GO/NO-GO decision will not be made earlier than 0330 LT (0930Z) for a possible 
            WYKA take-off at 0530 LT (1130Z).
  
            The short-term forecast for Wednesday, October 24 promises to be as tough a call 
            as the call for this morning. Several short-waves will pass through the region, 
            along with strong NWerly flow that has produced CLEX target clouds in the past. 
            However, models tend to predict insufficient moisture over LBF and western NE, 
            suggesting any target clouds will form over the Dakotas. These models have not 
            initialized particularly well, and this afternoon's IR images indicate more 
            moisture may enter western NE than predicted. There exists the potential for 
            low-level clouds with precip, and this will have an impact on the final GO/NO-GO 
            decision. If precip should occur over Laramie, it would be in the form of snow 
            and would make travel hazardous for our flight-scientists with high winds in the 
            forecast. This will also influence the final GO/NO-GO decision.
  
            In the longer term, strong NWerly flow will persist over western NE on Thursday, 
            under conditions that have brought good CLEX clouds in the past. As of this forecast, 
            there appears to be sufficient moisture for Thursday. A ridge of high pressure 
            will enter the region for the end of the week. Timing on this feature will determine 
            the status of Friday but, so far, the weekend does not look favorable.
  
            Curtis/Adam/Larry
  
    
  Morning Update (made at 0330 MDT 10/24/01): 
  
            At 0330 MDT, the CLEX forecast team has decided on NO-GO status for flight operations 
            on 24 October 2001.
  
            There is strong NVA in the NE panhandle this early AM that is expected to persist 
            through the rest of the morning.  The bit of mid-level cloud that is streaming from 
            NW Wyoming in NW'ly flow aloft is quickly eroded once it hits the NVA along the NE/WY 
            border.  This situation is expected to continue through AM.
  
            A secondary front and associated upper-level shortwave are pushing copious cloud 
            southeastward into western South Dakota.  This cloud edge is expected to push toward 
            central NE/SD border by 12-15z.  There is some mid-level cloud along the leading edge 
            of this cloud system but there is also an associated east-west precipitation band on 
            WSR-88D radar.  Behind the weakly precipitation band, the mid-level cloud is accompanied 
            by copious low-level cloud and isolated snow showers (post frontal).  None of these 
            clouds are expected to produce suitable CLEX targets this AM.
  
            Larry/Adam
  
  

Sunrise Information for North Platte, NE

Sunrise   
                     Central Daylight Time          

        Begin civil twilight       7:37 a.m.                 
        Sunrise                    8:06 a.m.                 
        Sun transit                1:27 p.m.                 
        Sunset                     6:49 p.m.                 
        End civil twilight         7:17 p.m.                 
          

Weather Details

1200Z 500 mb Map



1215Z GOES IR Image


 

Aircraft Operations

• No UW King Air Operations

North Platte, NE Ground Operations

• Ground Instrument Status: Everything working well
  
  
  

Data Collection Highlights:

• Summary: Nothing to report