ICING Airmet and GFA Tops

[obelix]

Question about the info in the Icing Airmet and the GFC.

In the area right now between Ohio and Georgia there is an Airmet for icing between SFC and 20k.
The GFA says tops are around 5k but there is CI ABV. I'm thinking that there is an area between 5k and 20k that is clear air based upon those two. Anyone here know any better? Don't plan to fly today but was curious.

Additionally it seems that flying at like 8k from Ohio to GA overtop of the Airmet would probably work just fine with the right amount of fuel?

 

[James331]

 

[bobmrg]

The GFA is a forecast, not an observation.

 

[AggieMike88]

Skew-T diagram might be of help.

But like Bob points out, if you push it into the future, it's a forecast based on a mathematical model, not an actual observation.

 

[obelix]

Looking at the pireps, there is ice being reported at all altitudes..

 

[Harold Rutila]

Has there been any discussion as to whether the GFA serves as the official replacement for the cloud tops information that was formerly part of the area forecast?

 

[PPC1052]

Well, that sucks.