VFR Cross Country Weather Planning
A very important part of preflight planning is obtaining weather information. It really pays off to start observing the weather a number of days ahead of the flight to see what the weather systems are doing. Make sure you also get the forecasts for the day of your flight and keep checking daily, noting any change in the weather as your proposed flight comes closer.
It gives you an idea of the accuracy of the reports and the speed of any weather change. Compare forecasts from different sources to get the real picture. An upper level chart with jet stream is a good indicator of the direction where the pressure systems are moving.
Getting current weather and flight planning information is important to any pilot, but only a few websites contain good and reliable information. Some of them we have listed below.
Worldwide Weather
International weather sites:
- NOAA - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration -- Detailed info on Aviation Routine Weather Report and Aerodrome Forecast Information
- NOAA's Aviation Weather Center -- US and International radar and satellite pictures
- NWS Internet Aviation Weather Source -- gives METAR TAF based on ICAO codes and Current weather observations on selected stations
- World Meteorological Organization -- The World Weather Information Service from WMO, including severe weather forecasts
- The Weather Network -- One of the best sites on weather in Canada
- MetService New Zealand -- New Zealands National Meteorological Service
- MetVuw New Zealand -- New Zealands Weather and Climate Service
- Bureau of Meteorology Australia -- Australian Aviation Weather Service
European Weather
More European weather sites:
-- Lots of information about flying in Europe- KNMI Luchtvaart -- Direct link to the aviation forecast section of the KNMI
- SATREP -- European weather site. Satellite Reports just opened, great site
- European Weather Alarm -- European weather site. Reports weather alerts with colors per country
- Wetterzentrale -- German Weather site
- European Aviation Weather Center -- They hace among other things Bracknell surface, Jeppesen, JETstream charts and more; also has information about airports
- 21st Operational Weather Squadron -- Military source for European weather, public website
- European Weather Radar -- Weather radar for EUROPE. Site has live radar images with forecast and with clouds images superimposed
- Germany's worldwide weathersite WetterOnline -- Radar, satelite and lots of weather data
- United Kingdom Met Office -- The official UK Met Office
- World Meteorological Organization Europe -- WMO's Europe subsite, see above
- KNMI -- Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute, Weather charts and also METAR and TAF. Call by phone for an official weather briefing
- Buienradar -- Weather radar BENELUX: Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Very current and with forecast images
- MeteoConsult -- Dutch and European weather, radar and satellite
- Weer Online -- Dutch site, some parts are only available with a subscription
- Sky Stef -- Site dedicated to weather and aviation in Belgium, contains great images
