Update on LHR & LGW METARS - 1320z-1720z - for the record.
 

HEATHROW
EGLL 101320Z 18021KT 4300 +RA SCT013 BKN017 07/06 Q0963 TEMPO 20025G35KT BKN020CB
EGLL 101350Z 19017KT 9999 FEW011 BKN018 07/04 Q0962 RERA TEMPO 20020G35KT SHRA SCT020CB
EGLL 101420Z 18017G27KT 160V220 9999 FEW022 08/05 Q0962 TEMPO SHRA SCT020CB
EGLL 101450Z 19016KT 6000 VCTS FEW020CB SCT023 09/06 Q0962 TEMPO NSW
EGLL 101520Z 23020KT 9999 -RA FEW023 SCT027 BKN031 09/06 Q0962 RETS TEMPO SHRA SCT020CB
EGLL 101550Z 24022KT 9999 FEW015 SCT023 BKN031 08/06 Q0963 REDZ TEMPO SHRA SCT020CB
EGLL 101620Z 24023G34KT 9999 SCT028 08/04 Q0963 TEMPO SHRA SCT020CB
EGLL 101720Z 25024G37KT 7000 SHRA SCT022 SCT029 07/04 Q0964 TEMPO NSW
TAF EGLL 101517Z
10 1601 20015G25KT 9999 SCT020
BECMG 1618 26020G35KT
TEMPO 1622 25025G35KT 5000 +SHRA TSRA BKN020CB PROB30 TEMPO 1601 BKN012 PROB30 TEMPO 0001 4000 RA=

A trough system appears to have transited Heathrow at about 1400z - 1500z, and the winds have veered more in line with the Rwys 27L/R. The crosswinds were at their most testing , apparently, between 1200z and 1430z.
Rwy 23 would almost certainly have been in use for landing - in similar conditions - a few years ago. [And Rwy 27R for departures.]

GATWICK
EGKK 101320Z 19021G38KT 3000 RA SCT012 BKN018 07/05 Q0965
EGKK 101350Z 19022G34KT 150V230 3000 TSRA BKN012 BKN016CB 07/05 Q0964
EGKK 101420Z 22016KT 180V250 8000 -SHRA FEW009 BKN018CB 07/05 Q0964 RERA
EGKK 101450Z 20018G29KT 6000 -SHRA FEW016 SCT020CB BKN022 09/06 Q0963
EGKK 101520Z 21017KT 9999 -SHRA FEW018 SCT020CB 08/05 Q0963
EGKK 101550Z 21015KT 170V240 9999 -SHRA FEW018 SCT020CB BKN028 08/05 Q0964 RERA
EGKK 101620Z 24016KT 9999 VCSH SCT020 SCT026 BKN040 08/05 Q0964
EGKK 101650Z 24018G30KT 9999 -SHRA SCT018 BKN026 08/04 Q0965
EGKK 101720Z 23016G27KT 9999 -SHRA SCT026 BKN035 08/04 Q0966
TAF EGKK 101517Z
10 1601 20015G25KT 9999 SCT020
BECMG 1618 26020G35KT
TEMPO 1622 25025G35KT 5000 +SHRA TSRA BKN020CB PROB30 TEMPO 1601 BKN012 PROB30 TEMPO 0001 4000 RA=

The same (double?) trough system that may have cleared Heathrow at 1500z appears to have affected Gatwick between about 1400z and 1600z.
The crosswinds were at their worst between 1150z and 1450z. The wind has since veered.

Hello PKPF68-77, note that the KK/LL TAFs are identical; prepared by the same Forecaster. Hope the above comments are acceptable???

In reply PKPF68-77... the Trends for Heathrow are appended to the METAR by the Airfields Forecaster (for the SE) at the Met Office HQ in Exeter and then re-transmitted. Aviation forecasters there also add Trends to Norwich, North Denes, Penzance and Manchester METARs.

The window...
 

Quote from FCUK12:
In reply PKPF68-77... the Trends for Heathrow are appended to the METAR by the Airfields Forecaster (for the SE) at the Met Office HQ in Exeter and then re-transmitted. Aviation forecasters there also add Trends to Norwich, North Denes, Penzance and Manchester METARs.
[Unquote]

When I started flying at LGW, etc., in 1967, many of the old chaps I flew with used to complain that the Met forecasters should "try looking out of the window."

These days, there wouldn't be much point... :sad:

The whole thing was a complete non-event at Cottesmore, wind not over 15 kts (my guesstimate) and some short heavy showers during the afternoon.

Bit blustery here over night but I nearly got sunburn today.

Us Isle of Man folks are missing our wind! Give it back you southerners please!

The trees are nearly falling over here without the 30mph winds to hold them up!

The LCY landing was a corker. Bang on the line and a lesson in landing on a tricky approach in tough conditions.

I honestly can't believe it made the news.

A prime example of how the BBC are wasting Licence payers' money by trying to make the news and not report it.

:mad:

The coverage of the storm in general has been a waste of money.

It was put at the top of the news agenda when it was first forecast on Wednesday last week, and the new agencies were going to make news out of it no matter how mild or severe it was.

In the event, it was/is a typical winter storm of the type we see most years. We live in a temperate climate, for fcuck's sake.

Add it to the list of annual un-newsworthy items, along with stories such as 'Spring comes early' and 'A Levels are getting easier'.

I guess it depends on what you were expecting. There was a gust of 41KT on the 0750Z METAR, may have been higher in the SYNOPs.

Cottesmore METAR EGXJ 100750Z 16027G41KT 8000 -RA BKN010 OVC016 05/04
Q0966 GRN=

40-50KT appears to be the approximate range of the maximum gusts at inland stations with 60-70KT at some coastal sites. Pretty much inline with the warnings/forecasts.

Morning shift this morning at LHR tower. Constant swaying and movement, bit like being on a ship really. Some superb landings this morning , the pick of which was a springbock , SAA 226 I think , at about 7.30 in an A340-600.

Well done to all you jockeys , it was fascinating to watch!!!

Autothrottle:D

What's all the fuss about at Heathrow?

Channel Islands today: 6 sectors. Runway 26. Surface wind 220/37G56. Gusted to 70 kts but I wasn't flying then...

Landing off the last one: 280/42 G58... the landing roll was quite short!:ooh:

What was all the fuss about then? Pax'd MAN-AMS this evening, smooth as anything for the most part really, had bumpier flights in the middle of Summer, although AMS provided its usual rollercoaster finals :)

Anyone here know what the wx was in AMS this evening? I'm wondering what the headwind component landing 18R was as it seemed a verrrryyy low speed touch down compared to normal.

Sometimes the simple methods are best.

Glad i'm not SLF for a few weeks.

http://www.missyouso.com/img/weather...ting_stone.jpg

AMS and JER
 

Quote from chrisr150:
Anyone here know what the wx was in AMS this evening? I'm wondering what the headwind component landing 18R was as it seemed a verrrryyy low speed touch down compared to normal.
[Unquote]

Do try to be more precise, Hoskins...

EHAM 101955Z 16022G32KT 9999 -RA FEW020 BKN027 07/04 Q0974 TEMPO 18025G37KT 6000 SHRA SCT018CB
EHAM 101925Z 15022KT 130V190 9999 -RA FEW028 BKN032 07/04 Q0974 TEMPO 18025G37KT 6000 SHRA SCT018CB
EHAM 101855Z 15022G32KT 9999 -RA BKN034 07/04 Q0974 TEMPO 17027G37KT 6000 -SHRA SCT018CB
EHAM 101825Z 15021G31KT 9999 FEW028 SCT045 07/04 Q0975 TEMPO FM1900 18027G38KT 6000 -SHRA SCT018CB

For once, Schiphol couldn't provide a runway precisely into-wind. But it probably lined up quite well during the gusts. The wind has since veered.

Quote from eyeinthesky:
Channel Islands today: 6 sectors. Runway 26. Surface wind 220/37G56. Gusted to 70 kts but I wasn't flying then...
Landing off the last one: 280/42 G58... the landing roll was quite short!
[Unquote]

Yes, it's when you have to taxi along the runway to reach the main apron exit, after landing in a heavy A320, that you know it's windy! Here's a sample of METARS:

EGJJ 102020Z 27037G59KT 240V330 9999 BKN032 09/03 Q0984 NOSIG
EGJJ 101820Z 27037G52KT 9000 FEW020 BKN030 09/04 Q0980 NOSIG
EGJJ 101650Z 27042G62KT 4000 -SHRA BKN018CB 09/06 Q0977 TEMPO 8000 NSW SCT018CB
EGJJ 101520Z 26038G58KT 5000 -SHRA BKN015CB 08/06 Q0975 RESHRA TEMPO 3000 SHRA
EGJJ 101250Z 24044G55KT 5000 -RA BKN018 08/05 Q0974 TEMPO RA
EGJJ 101120Z 23036G54KT 190V260 8000 SHRA SCT015CB BKN030 08/04 Q0975 TEMPO 5000 +SHRA BKN012CB
EGJJ 101020Z 23028G43KT 180V260 9999 -SHRA FEW015CB BKN040 08/04 Q0975 TEMPO 5000 +SHRA BKN012CB
EGJJ 100950Z 22024G35KT 9999 FEW 015CB SCT020 BKN040 08/04 Q0975 TEMPO 5000 SHRA BKN012CB
EGJJ 100920Z 24025G36KT 210V270 9999 FEW018CB SCT022 08/03 Q0976 TEMPO 5000 SHRA BKN012CB
EGJJ 100820Z 25023G38KT 220V300 9999 SCT020 BKN040 09/01 Q0975 TEMPO 5000 SHRA BKN014CB
EGJJ 100720Z 24027G40KT 210V280 9999 SCT012 BKN035 07/05 Q0975 NOSIG
EGJJ 100650Z 22019KT 190V260 9999 SCT012 BKN020 07/06 Q0974 TEMPO 5000 SHRA BKN010CB

The Ridge... LHR & LGW TAFs/METARs
 

EGLL 101820Z 26023G33KT 9999 SCT020 BKN030 08/04 Q0967 RERA
EGLL 102020Z 26017KT 9999 SCT038 07/02 Q0971 NOSIG
EGLL 102320Z 27017KT CAVOK 06/03 Q0977
EGLL 110020Z 26015KT 9999 FEW040 07/03 Q0979
TAF EGLL 102359Z
11 0110 25015G25KT 9999 SCT020 PROB40 TEMPO 0104 6000 -RA BKN014 PROB30 TEMPO 0810 7000 -RA BKN012
TAF EGLL 102245Z
11 0606 26015G25KT 9999 BKN025 BECMG 0912 7000 RA BKN012
PROB30 TEMPO 0914 21025G35KT DZ BKN008
BECMG 1315 26025G35KT 9999 NSW SCT025
PROB30 TEMPO 1406 23025G45KT 7000 SHRA=

EGKK 101820Z 25022G32KT 9999 SCT035 BKN040 08/02 Q0968
EGKK 101920Z 24014KT 9999 FEW035 SCT040 07/02 Q0970
EGKK 102020Z 25011KT 9999 FEW045 07/02 Q0972
EGKK 102250Z 24010KT CAVOK 06/03 Q0976
EGKK 102350Z 25012KT 9999 FEW030 06/03 Q0978
EGKK 110050Z 26013KT 9999 SCT020 BKN030 07/04 Q0980
TAF EGKK 102359Z
11 0110 25015G25KT 9999 SCT020 PROB40 TEMPO 0103 6000 -RA BKN014 PROB30 TEMPO 0810 7000 -RA BKN012
TAF EGKK 102245Z
11 0606 26015G25KT 9999 BKN025 BECMG 0912 7000 RA BKN012
PROB40 0914 21025G35KT 4000 DZ BKN008
BECMG 1315 25025G35KT 9999 NSW SCT025
PROB30 TEMPO 1406 24025G45KT 7000 SHRA=

Make the most of the ridge... Safe flying again tomorrow, guys.

Where can I get one of those forecast stones, does the pilot shop sell them ? :)

Did they say 940?
 

Doesn't say that when the string snaps it breaks your foot - HSE banned them. :)

Dublin seems to have caught the EYE at about 10/0730z ?
955 mb [sorry, hPa] at that stage.
EIDW 100930Z 10007KT 9999 -RA FEW014 BKN022 BKN030 05/03 Q0956 NOSIG
EIDW 100830Z 04008KT 9999 FEW018 SCT060 BKN090 04/02 Q0955 NOSIG
EIDW 100800Z 08008KT 9999 FEW018 SCT060 BKN090 03/01 Q0955 NOSIG
EIDW 100730Z 11010KT 9999 FEW018CB SCT060 BKN090 03/01 Q0955 NOSIG
EIDW 100630Z 16006KT 9999 FEW017 SCT100 03/M00 Q0955 NOSIG
EIDW 100530Z 20010KT 9999 FEW017 SCT100 03/M00 Q0956

Or Shannon at 10/0630z (950) ?
EINN 100800Z 31010KT 9999 FEW010 SCT018CB BKN025 04/04 Q0954 NOSIG
EINN 100730Z 36004KT 9999 FEW014 SCT018CB BKN030 04/03 Q0952 NOSIG
EINN 100700Z 10005KT 9999 FEW014 SCT018CB BKN038 04/03 Q0951 NOSIG
EINN 100630Z 12008KT 9999 -SHRA FEW014 SCT018CB BKN036 04/03 Q0950 WS RWY06 NOSIG
EINN 100600Z 14017KT 9999 -SHRA FEW014 SCT018CB BKN033 04/03 Q0950 WS RWY06 NOSIG
EINN 100530Z 12021KT 8000 -SHRA FEW014 BKN018CB BKN023 04/03 Q0950 NOSIG
EINN 100500Z 12018KT 8000 -SHRA FEW014 BKN018CB BKN034 04/02 Q0951 NOSIG

Or perhaps BFS Aldergrove at 10/0520z (954) ?
EGAA 100620Z 21009KT 9999 BKN012 05/03 Q0955
EGAA 100550Z 21009KT 9999 SCT014 05/03 Q0954
EGAA 100520Z 15011KT 9999 -SHRA SCT011 BKN016 05/04 Q0954
EGAA 100450Z 14021G32KT 9999 -RA BKN011 05/04 Q0954
EGAA 100420Z AUTO 13021G33KT 7000NDV -RA FEW013/// SCT017/// BKN021/// 05/03 Q0955 RERA

Looking at the Belfast timing (earlier than Shannon), was it a dumbell?

Was supposed to fly ABZ - LGW yesterday morning (2 hour delay due to the wind and I guess limited slots at LGW?). When we did get to LGW I must say that they did a good job up front to get us on the deck as it was rather bumpy.

Also kudos to the crew of BA2027 (LGW-IAH) who sat and waited for a heavy shower/ thunderstorm to pass over us before we took off... whilst a steady stream of orange Airbusses took off into the gloom and a B757 kept going around...

One last thing - do you feel turbulence more or less in a big jet... I mean if it's just as bumpy in a 777 as it was in a 737 does that mean the turbulence was worse as it has to shift about a larger lump of metal?

They all weigh nothing up there!

Bumpy Flight!
 

Morning All,

I flew Cayo Coco to Manchester overnight the 9th arriving Man yeterday at 7am heard all the hype about the wind and read the paper on the way across the pond, it was very very bumpy west of Ireland for about 2hrs seatbelt signs where on and cabin crew told to sit down!!

Landing at Manchester was a bit bumpy as it was a cross wind but the skipper did a good job! (Well there was 3 of them!!)

Turned up for my four leg day in the windy West to be told by ATC that the airport was closed due to 'ramp danger'. Apparently caused by a person in a position of 'authority' deciding that it was too windy to move steps, baggage trolleys etc. (wind from ATC given as 190/45-65 so fair enough) Phone rang to be told by security 'comb' that it is too windy to let the rest of my crew on the ramp to get to our crew room! They might get blown away, in spite of the fact that they managed to make it from the car park without being blown away. Is the ramp windier than the surrounding area I wonder?
Sat nursing a cup of tea for 20 mins when I noticed outside was absolute calm. Stood outside the door and the wind was around 5 kts. After some persuasion, my crew were let out and we went flying.
Wind at Take off, 250/19-24 on rwy 27.
Four hours later it was down the runway at 30-35.
By the end of the shift at 1630, it was 270/14
Like I said earlier, much ado about nothing really!

Handling the 747-400 on take off from 27R @ LHR between 1200 and 1400 hrs (don't want to be too specific:}) was quite 'interesting'. The 747 has a wet x-wind limit of 25kts, and we had to wait a short while for the 37kt gusts at the stop end to subside:hmm: to accept take off clearance.

In the end it was reported as 180/24 ish but the take off roll was 'lively' with lots of variable rudder input required and holding 5 units of aileron into wind always feels strange (about 40 degrees control wheel deflection).

The 747 is great in crosswinds when landing but more of a challenge than smaller aircraft on take off due to the degree of sweep on the wing and its propensity to lift the upwind wing and the enormous surface area of the tail.

We also of course, don't get as much practice as our shorthaul cousins;)

Chris Scott
 

Sorry for the simple SLF questions & possible thread drift, but would the windspeed at AMS last night be sufficient to reduce a/c groundspeed by a noticable margin?

I was on one of those 757s - g/a due to windshear warning on short-final and then a 30 min hold at Timba whilst the weather cleared. It was a fascinating experience!

Forecast changed for EGCC...

EGCC 111045Z 111818 25025G40KT 9999 SCT020 PROB40 TEMPO 1824
6000 SHRA BKN014CB BECMG 0003 25035G50KT 6000 -RADZ PROB40 TEMPO
0310 27038G65KT 4000 RADZ BKN012 PR0B30 TEMPO 0409 2400 RASN
PROB40 TEMPO 1018 6000 SHRA BKN018CB BECMG 1417 27022G34KT=

Thats some serious gusts !!!, wonder if we will get the BBC filming aircraft on approach ???? prob not....its outside London so not major news.

BBc South news last night, film of a swaying street lamp, a reporter having difficulty being heard talking into a squall, and a woman in tears that her uninsured caravan on the south coast had flooded at spring tide with windy conditions....
Blimey, storm of the millenium or what!

Not sure if you are suggesting the orange airbusses were being a bit gung ho.

The BA2027 waited initially due to lesser x-wind limits. When the cell came overhead the wind changed sufficiently for it to go.
However ALL a/c at this time elected to sit and wait for the weather to improve.

The orange busses started departing before the BA because they were nearer the holding point with other a/c scattered everywhere!
However if the BA had been at the front of the queue it would have gone first as it had accepted the weather conditions too.

PKPF68-77 - well said!

These people need to get a sense of perspective on life.

The trouble is that the weather has become "entertainment" - look at the trend to have "actors" presenting the weather who seem to have been trained also to be politically correct - bring back Bert Ford all is forgiven!

Its all part of dumbing down - when's the last time you saw a synoptic chart on the BBC?

The 'Daddy of All' wasted TV time was a one minute shot, and discussion, of - wait for it ------------ a garden trampoline which had been blown into a hedge. :eek:

Don't you think the "global warming" guys are suspiciously
not heard of at these times, for a good reason? I wonder
if any "global warming" guy ever flew an airplane? But
that's JMMW.

Looks like we ooppp norf are going to get a battering again tonight, I await to hear news of the PM in crisis planning talks with Manchester council and hordes of Beeb reporters decending on us to watch the projected chaos oh hang on a minute thats north of Watford so it dosnt matter does it.

Rob

You are stating the obvious. Of course it does not matter being ooop norf:{

When did it ever???.

Posted by me on 1st March elsewhere on this site


Didn't even make the local news - but it was in South Cumbria

Lads

Can one of you clever bods tell me what the ICAO wind is. They were giving the ICAO and the Instantaneous Wind. One being self explanatory. I was a bit busy to ask at the time. Went around (EGKK) first time and straight back for another approach which we got in!

There was an American who said on the RT that he didn't want to end up on You tube so I think he diverted to AMS!

I was on a double and got hit by both fronts. The morning one was by far the worst.

Good luck for those heading for the north tomorrow

...talking of recent strong winds, have these rather cheeky (understatement) conditions at Hamburg for a landing Lufthansa been mentioned yet?

Video of hairy approach at Hamburg

@suggs:

I am not sure, but I believe the ICAO wind is the average wind of the last hour...or twenty minutes...something like that, so in a storm you might get cheated a bit, if winds suddenly pick up or slow down. Good job from the tower to provide the actual, the guy or gal obviously understood something about flying...

Nic

Suggs

Taken from another thread on this forum

Hope this helps

Suzeman

The BBC News footage from a helicopter of a rather good 146 landing at LCY had me falling of my chair when the reporter commented that the "pilot struggled with the controls" and "then made a safe landing"....

How the hell does the Beeb allow stuff like that to get broadcast?

EGCA

Erm, ITN had him "navigating onto the runway"......there again, that's ITN for you....shame the "new and improved" News at Ten isn't.... I had hopes the programme would restore itself to the past quality standards it was capable of.....alas, we get the above.

EMA looks rough tomorrow too. Similar forecasts for BHX/MAN/LBA/LPL

EGNX 111637Z 120024 25024G38KT 9999 SCT020 TEMPO 0315 27035G50KT PROB40 TEMPO 0511 28040G65KT 6000 RA BKN012 PROB40 TEMPO 1020 6000 SHRA BKN018CB :uhoh: