Day 1: Ceiling and Vis at the NAM desk

Our NAM (National Aviation Meteorologist) desk is also concerned with ceiling and visibility, but is most focused on the busier airspace.  However, unlike the FA desk where a 3hr, 6hr, 9hr, and 12hr forecast is output, the NAM desk is looking out at aviation hazards likely to occur within the next 4 hours. The focus this afternoon is on the New England area, particularly surrounding the main centers from DCA to PHL and the NYC area centers.

The GOES-R FLS product was specifically used at the NAM desk this afternoon to estimate the rate of fog dissipation around DCA and PHL. For most of the day there have been delays upwards of 2 hours for inbound flights to PHL due to low ceilings. Having an idea of dissipation rate using the FLS would allow for traffic flow managers at various surrounding centers such as LGA or CLE to estimate when they can allow their flights to PHL to leave the ground. For example, if it looks as if the fog will be dissipating in PHL within an hour, inbound flights from CLE could be released even though the fog may not yet have lifted entirely.

Day 1 NAM desk forecast overlaid with the 20130211 1632-1902 UTC GOES-R FLS product