The OCGP Weather Station collects data from a weather sensor/station and a camera in an office window pointing NNW. It then generates the web pages seen on the CSA website. The weather page is updated ever 5 minutes, the camera image is updated every 15 minutes during daylight hours. From the weather page links are available to simple mobile and smartphone versions of the weather page. The are buttons to access a rolling 7-day camera image archive and a historical weather data archive.
These tools integrate sounding data over a large area and present it on a map with interactive options to display soaring parameters and in some cases integrate task planning. Many weather models are used with European models becoming more popular. However, at OCGP the GFS model (24km) which can predict up to 5 days and the HRRR (3km) which predicts current and next day work best. Especially for winds.
Free:
Subscription fee required:
A description of the parameters presented in the interactive map based tools (RASP, SkySight,XC Sckies etc.) is available here (also stored locally Overview PDF, Detailed PDF).
aviationweather.gov - "The Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) web page is intended to provide the necessary aviation weather information to give users a complete picture of the weather that may impact flight in the United States... ". METARs, TAFs and other weather notifications are available from this site:
NOTAM Search - NOTAMs state the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System (NAS) – not the normal status.
FAA TFR Site - This is the FAA website listing TFRs, but may not be totally current. The most current information regarding TFRs is available by calling Flight Service at 1-800-992-7433 (1-800-WX-BRIEF) and then asking for announcements.
Sectionals and chart supplements:
WeatherCams - Primarily access to United States aviation web cameras on an FAA generate interactive map. However can also enable TFRs, color coded METARs and TAFs, weather radar and other aviation information.
Soundings can be used to determine useful soaring forecast information at one location. NOAA definitions: Skew-T Log P Diagrams - NOAA (local PDF) and Skew-T Plots (local PDF).
NOAA interactive web based sounding tool:
Use rucsoundings to determine:
Note: soundings can also be found on the RASP, SkySight and Windy.
1800wbrief is the FAA Flight Service web portal where there are several tools to get a weather briefing including a briefing based on a flight plan. To make the best use of the web portal create an account including relevant aircraft data. There are quite a few videos and an FAQ's to aid in learning how to use the portal
Phone weather briefings can be obtained at: 1-800-992-7433 (1-800-WX-BRIEF)
AC 91-92 - Pilot’s Guide to a Preflight Briefing
FAA-H-8083-28 - Aviation Weather Handbook. Aviation weather ACs were consolidated in this handbook (referenced in AC 91-92).
NOTE: Dr. Jack is no longer maintaining these tools.
Dr. John W. (Jack) Glendening developed soaring weather forecast maps with several views of the weather, called BLIPMAPS. You can register at Dr. Jack's website here. Recreate a browser cookie here. Following are direct links to the SW viewers you can use if registered and your browser has a cookie.
RASP BLIPMAP Forecasts - Dr Jack created a software package (which others have continued to develop) for enterprising individuals to create regional forecasts directly from weather data sources. As noted in Soaring Weather Forecasting Tools above Dave L. of the Black Forest Soaring Society implemented a RASP for the Colorado Front Range.
Updated 01/28/2024