Worst area for weather?

[DHPFLYN]

I figured this would be the best place since a lot of you fly to places around the world. Like I said just curious where the worst places are as far as weather? Are there some places always turbulent and lots of thunderstorms?

I had someone tell me that the United States was one of the worst but find that hard to believe.

Also one other question. When you are flying over the Pacific or Atlantic are you normally planned around most weather? I guess I was wondering since it's not as easy to just call call atc for a turn around weather. Or is it just that easy?

Thanks again for the information

 

[BrickTop]

As expected Midwest region is a nightmare in Summer when fast moving cold fronts cross the plains driving tops to 70kft and creating squall lines HUNDREDS of miles long.

 

[Fliteidol]

I have never seen weather phenomena to compare to central USA where Pacific or Arctic systems colide with Gulf moisture and kaboom. I, as most of you have seen days with solid magenta level 4 and 5 lines from the Mexican border to past Chicago with no one getting through. Hundreds and hundreds of miles of inpenetrable CB`s. Never seen this over the ITCZ, Bay of Bengal etc.

 

[thunderworm]

In a book "north star over my shoulder" by Bob Buck. He was given a B29 and told to fly around the world looking for wx. After a year he said that the worst wx is in the midwest where the warm gulf aair meets the cold air from Canada. I think most agree.

 

[DHPFLYN]

thanks, So when you are crossing the pond is it easy to deviate around? or do they usually plan you around most weather? Like I said I was just more curious how it works when usually ATC plans on you being at certain points and times.

Thanks

 

[DHPFLYN]

Actually this video was what got me thinking about this stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm1kL07V8P0

 

[thunderworm]

Never went all the way across, but when we fly HF meaning position reports and such we plan around the weather. It is possible to get deviations, but it may take some time so you have to plan ahead.

 

[TMMT]

Some of those African easterly waves that go blasting out into the ITCZ can be intense.

But yes, I agree some of the worst wx is right in in the good ole Midwest USA.

 

[Mookie]

Some of those African easterly waves that go blasting out into the ITCZ can be intense.

But yes, I agree some of the worst wx is right in in the good ole Midwest USA.

Have done the Midwest summer and NE winter(lake effect) and while they both have challenges, SE Alaska when it goes bad, gets really bad. Bad weather, big mountains, small runways, and few options to divert. The Arctic and Kodiak can be sporty too.

Mookie

 

[TMMT]

Have done the Midwest summer and NE winter(lake effect) and while they both have challenges, SE Alaska when it goes bad, gets really bad. Bad weather, big mountains, small runways, and few options to divert. The Arctic and Kodiak can be sporty too.

Mookie

Alaska is like another planet altogether regarding wx extremes.

 

[Pasturepilot]

Alaska is like another planet altogether regarding wx extremes.

I'm reading Don Sheldon's biography, "Wager With The Wind" that I picked up in a used bookstore last week. I've gotta agree, Alaska's weather extremes are amazing, and the stories of battling Denali's weather in a Super Cub... enthralling. Pick up a copy if you can find it.

The pop-up thunderstorms of the Southeast U.S. can be intense, but once you get out to the Midwest, the storms deserve some serious respect. I was battling a line of storms near Omaha in early April that rivaled anything I'd expect to see in late summer.

 

[tomgoodman]

FWIW, the worst weather in the U.S. is frequently reported at Mount Washington, NH (KMWN).
Here's the current report, which happens to be relatively nice:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.28&lon=-71.3

 

[waveflyer]

Sometimes it gets foggy in California ....

 

[igneousy2]

If you're talking about consistent severity of the weather systems..then I think the answer clearly are the midwest storms. The spring/summer CB's and the winter snow storms are all incredible demonstrations of the power of nature. That being said, although it is true that you sometimes have to deviate hundreds of miles and the only good alternate is usually 3 states away there really isn't anything to hit in the midwest and there are usually plenty of airports with big long runways if things don't work out.

As far as Alaska goes...saying "Alaska" has extremes of weather is a bit like saying the lower 48 has extremes of weather as the distance comparisons are similar. SE Alaska has a lot of small runways cut into valleys or on the side of mountain on relatively small islands. The weather rarely gets that "bad" in SE, it's the combination of everything that makes this place particularly tough.

The Arctic winter flying in Alaska can be pretty crazy as the weather is truly misreable (-40F wouldn't be surprising) and it is always dark, and the runways are always contaminated. The good thing is that most of these places are geographically pretty wide open so terrain isn't nearly the issue that it is in SE Alaska.

Then there are Kodiak, Adak, and Dutch...Sometimes I am surprised that some of these airports are served with passengers at all, let alone in the winter. These have got to be the worst operationally as they have near arctic like weather conditions with the terrain problems of SE. Although I never went to Dutch myself, that is one airport that I am glad we don't do anymore.

 

[paulsalem]

Actually this video was what got me thinking about this stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm1kL07V8P0

I fly through this area weekly. It ranks near the top on the planet in lightning strikes. It's always air mass thunderstorms so there is always holes between them. The tropopause is usually in the mid-upper 50,000 foot range, so there is no topping them.

It's not as bad as central Africa though.

http://geology.com/articles/lightning-map/lightning-map.gif

 

[waveflyer]

Good thread btw- loving the stories so far

 

[Rough67]

Joplin, MO.... It's like a magnet for some reason.

 

[fareview]

The worst weather in my experience is in the US central and southeast...BUT they have the best controllers hands down. Regular super cells 100+ wide in Texas with excellent vectors.

Joint second is Indian during monsoon and central Africa (anytime)? Particularly within Kinshasa FIR and South Sudan north of Jubu.

With Africa you essentially self navigate and let them now on HF when you can get them - not always.

The real stress is India, busy airspace, congested frequencies, and marginal ATC that somehow are razor sharp when it comes to you leaving their airways - nightmare.

And while we are on it ...in my humble opinion ATL TMA controllers are cream of the crop and # 1 of any controllers I worked with.

fv

 

[TMMT]

Sometimes it gets foggy in California ....

Thats just haze from all the pot being smoked Wavey.... :0

 

[Flyby1206]

Joplin, MO.... It's like a magnet for some reason.

Its all the trailer parks

FWIW, the worst weather in the U.S. is frequently reported at Mount Washington, NH (KMWN).
Here's the current report, which happens to be relatively nice:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.28&lon=-71.3

Always good to print up the KMWN METAR and slide it over to the CA when beginning descent and say "Damn glad its your leg!"