How are TAFs made?

ARFlyer

ARFlyer

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ARFlyer
I saw on our local NOAA page that my school's airport is finally getting a TAF. The new TAF will start at 12Z JAN 26.

The nearest TAF is KHOT about 20 miles away and most of the time it's completely wrong for M89.

So I was wondering if any of you guys know what goes into making a TAF.

The nearby cold water river, the fact the airport is in a swamp and a "valley" gives M89 some of the worse weather in AR. So this is why our flight school requested a TAF a few years ago.

http://www.aviador.es/Weather/Flight_Rules/KM89 AVG METAR for M89
http://www.aviador.es/Weather/Flight_Rules/KHOT AVG METAR for KHOT

P.S. Denverpilot. Our weather is worse then KDEN!
http://www.aviador.es/Weather/Flight_Rules/Kden
 
I love when they show the snow during Broncos games. Everyone thinks winters are bad in Denver. In fact I think they run a snow machine when the cameras turn on, just for "effect", and to keep more Kalifornians out. :D
 
I've sat beside the guy while he punched one in. There's a NOAA guy sitting in a NOAA office probably at an airport with about 5 fancy computers running some complex software(That's really cool to look at), they run models (6 different ones IIRC) then make their forecast, then he switches over to another computer and types in the TAF and wha-la.

You can call this same guy (in addition to your official weather), they will give you a blurb about not being official but can often give you a better idea of the weather in Montana over the briefer in Florida. On two ocassions I've felt the need to call them in addition to the briefer.
 
TAFS are composed by the meteorologist on the aviation desk of your friendly, local Nat'l Weather Service office. Some are done by DOD mets (for AFBs, NASs, etc)
 
bartmc said:
I've sat beside the guy while he punched one in. There's a NOAA guy sitting in a NOAA office probably at an airport with about 5 fancy computers running some complex software(That's really cool to look at), they run models (6 different ones IIRC) then make their forecast, then he switches over to another computer and types in the TAF and wha-la.

You can call this same guy (in addition to your official weather), they will give you a blurb about not being official but can often give you a better idea of the weather in Montana over the briefer in Florida. On two ocassions I've felt the need to call them in addition to the briefer.
Click to expand...

I wonder what the software is running about the site. I.e. how the geography and local weather patterns affect the 10 mile area.

How do you go about calling these guys? I have on several ocassions questioned the forecast given by the briefer.
 
ARFlyer said:
I wonder what the software is running about the site. I.e. how the geography and local weather patterns affect the 10 mile area.

How do you go about calling these guys? I have on several ocassions questioned the forecast given by the briefer.
Click to expand...

NWS Tulsa does factor in the differences (especially wind) between KRVS and KTUL, even though they are around 10 miles apart.
 
ARFlyer said:
I wonder what the software is running about the site. I.e. how the geography and local weather patterns affect the 10 mile area.

How do you go about calling these guys? I have on several ocassions questioned the forecast given by the briefer.
Click to expand...

I have a card that the guys there gave me and told me to call, I don't know if it's policy everywhere but the guys here pass out index sized cards encourage you to call, Don't have the card on me, But, I'd just use the number at the bottom of this page

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mso/

I've heard more than one briefer get excited about mountain obscurations but they're like the little boy who cried wolf around here, they seem to put them out anytime it's not CAVU. If you're maintaining VFR, IMHO mtn obscurations shouldn't be much of an issue so I called the local guys to see what they said. The other time I called was to verify that the big UFO shaped weirdness going on over the mountains was standing lenticulars, they just looked out the window and said "yeah"
 
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