dell30rb
Final Approach
Here's a new one for me.
Planning a trip from Raleigh, NC to Nashville, TN this afternoon. Leaving so I'll have plenty of time to get there before dark. Weather on the other side of the mountains was not looking so good, thought I was going to have to scrap the trip because I'd have difficulty getting down under the clouds past the mountains.
But wait! The mountain range is not all that large. I can go around them, and it only adds 35nm to the trip! Last night this was looking good, no ceilings under 4500 forecast anywhere along the route and only patchy rain showers on the last 50nm of my trip.
Wake up this morning to find the weather still looking good, except the last 50nm is worse. the TAF for BNA (20mi north of my destination) is showing light rain from 2-5pm still VFR ceilings and visibility. My concern here is freezing rain at altitude. The winds aloft forecast has the temp at 4C on the ground, -2C at 3000 feet, and -1C at 6000 feet. So there is probably freezing rain in there somewhere correct?
There is an airmet for icing from 9000 down to 2000 feet. CLP icing forecast shows a trace of ice is forecast at 3000 feet for about the last 10 mi of the trip.
Airplane is a C152 with xm wx and IFR stuff incl a new OAT gauge. I was thinking i'd just stay under the freezing air and out of any rain showers, but now with "light rain" instead of showers in the forecast it looks like I may not be able to avoid all moisture, or freezing temps.
Does not look like i'm going anywhere! Waiting for the taf's to come out to see if tomorrow is a possibility.
Planning a trip from Raleigh, NC to Nashville, TN this afternoon. Leaving so I'll have plenty of time to get there before dark. Weather on the other side of the mountains was not looking so good, thought I was going to have to scrap the trip because I'd have difficulty getting down under the clouds past the mountains.
But wait! The mountain range is not all that large. I can go around them, and it only adds 35nm to the trip! Last night this was looking good, no ceilings under 4500 forecast anywhere along the route and only patchy rain showers on the last 50nm of my trip.
Wake up this morning to find the weather still looking good, except the last 50nm is worse. the TAF for BNA (20mi north of my destination) is showing light rain from 2-5pm still VFR ceilings and visibility. My concern here is freezing rain at altitude. The winds aloft forecast has the temp at 4C on the ground, -2C at 3000 feet, and -1C at 6000 feet. So there is probably freezing rain in there somewhere correct?
There is an airmet for icing from 9000 down to 2000 feet. CLP icing forecast shows a trace of ice is forecast at 3000 feet for about the last 10 mi of the trip.
Airplane is a C152 with xm wx and IFR stuff incl a new OAT gauge. I was thinking i'd just stay under the freezing air and out of any rain showers, but now with "light rain" instead of showers in the forecast it looks like I may not be able to avoid all moisture, or freezing temps.
Does not look like i'm going anywhere! Waiting for the taf's to come out to see if tomorrow is a possibility.