You can look at the weather at the WRE Weather page. http://ozreport.com/txweather.php
We are most interested in the wind speed and
direction both on the ground and aloft, cloud base, and the forecasts for lift.
I have given you the ability to check the weather at many sites along our
prospective routes, but this is overkill. One or two will do.
The forecasts provide you with general weather information, wind speed and
direction on the ground, and the predicted high temperature. This gives you a
general idea of what to expect. You'll need that high temperature later.
The National charts give you the big picture, whether there are front nearby,
what the overall wind pattern at 5000' looks like, what the clouds look like.
The Windcast tells gives a easy to understand graphic that depicts the surface
winds (in knots). In is centered on Texas and you an see your whole route. On
any given day, the afternoon windcast and perhaps the evening one and the ones
you want to look at.
The Marine buoy data gives you the winds and direction off the Texas East coast
for the last 24 hours. Combine this with the forecast for winds and by now
you'll got a pretty good idea of the wind situation for the day.
Balloons are sent up at Midland and Brownsville to so temperature and wind
soundings. The soarcast site uses the predicted high temperatures for San
Antonio to give you an idea of how high you are going to get today (height of
the minus 3). Also shows you the winds at elevation.
Using your predicted high temperature you can how use a FSL sounding chart to
determine cloud base and get a general idea of thermal strength. Just click on
the chart at ground level at a predicted high temperature on a chart for about 2
PM. This will show you the difference between the adiabatic lapse rate and the
predicted air temperature profile. It will also predict the cloud base.
You can do this for a few towns along the way, or just Zapata.
After going through this exercise you should have a pretty good notion of what
is in store for you on any given day.
Davis Straub
davis@davisstraub.com
http://ozreport.com