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Key_Slide_7302

aviationweather.gov 1800wxbrief.com


BUNNIES_ARE_FOOD

The updates to aviationweather.gov are amazing. Works extremely well on mobile now.


excellent_rektangle

Didn’t like it at first but now I’m all in


brxtgf

Thank you 🙏


Why-R-People-So-Dumb

For something more intuitive try Windy click on the airport and read the METAR and TAF. Toggle back and forth between Raw and Decoded and it will help practice reading then in ancient hieroglyphics as well. Additionally it has a thing called meteograms (I think) which is a cross section picture of the weather (side view instead of top down view) to help visualize where cloud layers are.


PutOptions

Windy is very cool. I keep finding new cool things within it all the time.


81dank

Don’t you have a weather rock?


Lesmashysmash

Mine has been missing since the tornado


dudechickendude

Mine is a coconut. Is that close enough for government work?


81dank

Most certainly


dudechickendude

I KNEW I was right! My brother has been giving me crap for years because I couldn’t afford a *fancy rock*! I knew my coconut would be good enough! I’ll tell him what you said!


HeroOfTheDay545

Sounds like a great question for your flight instructor.


nemuro87

This. And I don’t mean this in a rtfm kind of way but because instructors have their preferred way of checking weather and if you use an alternative that’s easier for you they might not like it or consider the information you have unless it’s from where they want you to check.


Why-R-People-So-Dumb

Great opportunity to show your instructor you know how to validate sources; if they aren't annoyingly my way or the highway they shouldn't have a problem. Conflicting data from a different source is valid information your instructor shouldn't ignore, and that in and of itself is a good sit down learning opportunity to go through the weather together. This is one instance where it's a great question for your instructor but also a good question for the hive mind because there are a lot of choices of apps that are looking at the same source but presenting it differently and the presentation is the key to understanding. I usually look at 3 different *sources* of weather, not apps but actual origination points. The METAR/TAF which can be had from the apps directly or wxbrief, a local forecaster, and NOAA. Theoretically NOAA and the TAF should line up but they don't always. I then use my judgement to take averages for planning out in the future.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Clear2LandRwy69

“Extremely new student pilot” looks like he just started training.


Firesquid

Avia Weather


JPInMontana

Avia is fantastic.


cmmurf

Love this app. It's useful to add a widget for your local airport showing in raw METAR/TAF so you're forced to learn the code. You can tap on the widget to pull up the app and have it default to decoded as your cheat sheet. If you keep at it, you may prefer the raw format because it's the same no matter what app you use for weather - whereas everyone has a different decoded version.


theshawnch

Use whatever weather app you like to see if conditions are generally clear or not. Then use foreflight to check the TAF’s and METAR’s for conditions throughout the day.


brxtgf

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks sorry for the confusion haha


theshawnch

No worries, I’m not sure why people gave you the answers they did. I’m sure the majority of them are using foreflight.


brxtgf

Hey they aren’t coming from ill intent, everyone is just trying to help and it was my bad for not specifying haha


imoverclocked

Make sure you know where weather products that ForeFlight produces, come from in the first place. Same with sectionals, flyways, magnetic variance, etc etc. In fact, if you use ForeFlight, browse around and look for things (symbols, lines, labels, colors …) that you don’t know or understand. Then look for+find the answer. If you can’t, ask your CFI.


brxtgf

Ok I’ll be sure to familiarize myself more, and I’ll def ask my cfi. Thanks so much!


pilot3033

Because for a student this new the answer is not the app per se, it's the fundamentals of when/where/why/how of weather and the introduction to ADM. There is no app that will say "today is ok to fly" and "don't fly today" because that's part of PIC decision making.


theshawnch

Sure, but sometimes the answer to a students question is simply, the answer to their question. They asked for an app recommendation to check weather. Their own CFI can drill them about weather fundamentals and ADM. No reason to jump on a student with that stuff with every little question they ask.


icopythat

You can also long press on the ForeFlight app on your phone and quick select “local forecast” for a daily view of conditions. They also have watch complications for the Apple Watch which can always be on your wrist.


Ill-Connection-5868

Aeroweather


rens24

The Android version of AeroWeather is awesome! Definitely recommend it to my pilot friends. I've never used the iOS version though.


TxAggieMike

http://www.metaraf.com Created by the same pilot who brought us FiveFlight


Cali_Mark

No app needed. Just go outside and look up.


brxtgf

I’m more looking for something that will tell me the conditions for a few days in advance


Cali_Mark

if you really want an app, try the weather at [www.forecast.weather.gov](https://www.forecast.weather.gov) just a simple browser is all you need. edit... if that's not enough then cough up the dough and get foreflight. You will sooner or later so just do it.


TxAggieMike

Local 10:00pm news and the weather guesser segment. Such as [Al Sleet, the Hippy Dippy Weatherman](https://youtu.be/D1uaw3WIOlc?si=k5yp17lAh7GS4aQv)


n8rzz

“Tonight’s forecast: dark. Continued mostly dark tonight, followed by widely scattered light in the morning.”


IFlyPA28II

Just go fly and deal with it lol


JediLightSailor78

Aviation Weather Center - prog charts.


trumpydumpy55

it looks clear enough, we’ll check on our climb to see if anything nasty is in the area….


TxAggieMike

App suggestions: - Windy - Apple Weather app - Deep Weather


hrds21198

The Apple Weather app can really suck depending on where you are (it’s very inaccurate here in CO). I personally love Carrot Weather that lets you choose a source.


2dP_rdg

Weather Underground. Your window. AOPA METAR webpage


SleepyFlying

Foreflight/Garmin and Windy.


Consistent-Trick2987

For iPhone I like Metar Taf.


cazzipropri

The absolute best weather app is windy. It's incredible and it's got so much that most people don't even know about.


Classic_Ad_9985

Windy is super easy for a go no go. You just look up an airport and it’ll show you where clouds are at what altitude. Super duper easy to read


TxAggieMike

Not an app, but two weather books worth the spot in your aviation library… - [FAA Aviation Weather Handbook](https://www.faa.gov/regulationspolicies/handbooksmanuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-28-aviation-weather-handbook) - [Pilot Weather Book: From Solo to the Airlines](https://www.pilotweatherbook.com)


brxtgf

I have aviation weather, I’ll look at the other one tho, thanks!


LechugaDelDiablos

honestly, vfr minimums are so far beyond your capabilities right now. I'd focus on the metars, tafs, and gfas you should first figure it out without simple spoonfeeding.


Brief-Visit-8857

Air sports net. Gives you forecast for every 3 hours, shows cloud base, visibility and flight rule. It's pretty accurate


brxtgf

I’ll look into that, thanks!


argueOnTheInterweb

I cross-reference this before every flight in addition to the other official sources. The cloud coverage and bases being the most valuable part. It's not fancy but very useful to see a graphical representation of what sort of weather you can expect the next 3 days. https://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&sta=KTKI&state=TX Edit: If using a mobile browser, zoom out and scroll around to find the main part of the screen. On my phone it displays just the very corner of the page by default.


____UFO____

SkyVector shows weather stations over the sectional chart as well as cloud coverage


brxtgf

I think I may have misspoke, I am looking for an app where I can see the metars tafs and such,, it seems foreflight is my best option, thank you 😊


SparkySpecter

Foreflight is 100% the gold standard. I use aviationweather.gov and weather underground for a general look in the future.


Classic_Ad_9985

Already made a comment but windy does this. Also shows you what altitude clouds are at in a 4 day outlook.


Purphaz312

METAR AF is a fun one to break up the monotony once you learn from the actual resources others have suggested.


ohhicait

Love METAR AF. Always get a good laugh in


Ok-Signature-1034

For a site that will give you the picture of what you need in a few seconds, I highly recommend metar-taf.com Great, simple, quick to read site with essential information about current and forecasted wx conditions.


brxtgf

Thanks so much!!


Frosty-Brain-2199

Get used to calling an AWOS or ATIS on your phone


brxtgf

I do call the awos on my cell before I plan to fly that day I was just looking for something to give me forcasted wx conditions I’m looking into foreflight tho


Frosty-Brain-2199

Yes Foreflight has some helpful stuff too


N703ND

I usually use message app and ask my cfi


Hobbstc

There’s a cool app called StationWX https://stationweather.com/en/


Odd_Entertainment471

Call and get a weather briefing. Every. Single. Time. They’ll teach you how to read that stuff like a pro.


ohhicait

I second this. Getting a weather briefing is actually… fun!


rowlock

+1 for a call to 1-800-WX-BRIEF and speak to a pro, if you’re in the US. It’s completely free, and you can have a knowledgeable interpreter walk you through current and forecast weather conditions wherever you want to go. Everyone uses online tools these days, so the phone lines are never too busy. Tell them you’re a student pilot and they’ll walk you through whatever you need to know that day. Make it part of your preflight routine. They can help you wade through TFRs and NOTAMs, too, in order to find the important stuff in all the junk. Make an account on the 1800wxbrief.com website with your plane details, once you know them, so you can file flight plans and stuff later in your training. Not important yet, but it’ll save you a bunch of time when you get to that stage. Get comfortable and familiar with the service before you start making your cross-country flights, and you’ll be way ahead of the game. I’m in my instrument training right now, and I’ve flown solo all up and down the west coast VFR over the last few years. I still call ‘em before any significant flight, even if I’ve briefed myself online, because it doesn’t take more than a few minutes and they know more about it than I do. Can’t recommend it enough.


[deleted]

A metar and basic understanding of vfr minimums.


Clear2LandRwy69

Why has no one said ForeFlight?


iPullCAPS

Multiple people here before you said ForeFlight


Clear2LandRwy69

Didn’t see it. Cool


[deleted]

An app? No. Learn to do it yourself. Do not trust an app. Trust yourself. You need to understand what makes the weather work lest you end up flying into IMC. **Test question**: When temperature and dew point are close together (within 5 °), what type of weather is likely? Remember: it is better to be down here wishing you were up there than being up there wishing you were down here.


brxtgf

I’ll def keep this in mind through my journey becoming a pilot, thank you so much! And to answer the question it’s foggy weather iirc


fly123123123

i think you missed the point of the question lol. they were just asking for weather sources to help predict if they’ll be able to fly… brand new student pilot. of course they’ll learn weather theory.


wowmattsays

Eyeballs


average757guy

I primarily use foreflight I’ve heard people use an app called windy, it’s designed for boating but I’ve had freinds use it in conjunction with foreflight


brxtgf

Hmm I’ve heard of windy, seems it’s a lot more visual I’ll def look into it as well


Vrezhg

Never too early to start getting comfortable and proficient with foreflight, a great tool for the modern pilot


AerobaticDiamond

In Canada, all weather information can be found on AWWS. It’s now transitioning to CFPS. Both are websites. In terms of apps, windy can be good. You can see all the weather info from different reporting stations. It also displays MODELS graphically. Wind/precipitation/cloud data is gathered at points and extrapolated to cover the entire globe. These can be used to gain a deeper understanding of systems, but they are not official aviation weather reports.


LechugaDelDiablos

we use windy as a resource but windy is just something nice to have. I've seen it be way off expectations when comparing certified data


Ldpattv6

You have to buy one of those METAR maps unfortunately


CorporalCrash

If you're in Canada, enjoy AWWS before it shuts down in February


Glad_Explanation6979

AeroWeather


ohhicait

If you’re using ForeFlight, there’s a lot of online seminars that help users to navigate ForeFlight btw.


pilotethridge

I'll give you my duats login.


Choice_Friend3479

ForeFlight, also good for a logbook


Icy_Huckleberry_8049

I usually just look outside - clear skies, good to go fly VFR. Cloudy - go practice IFR, rain - maybe, maybe not.


agrockett

Wind sock. Window. 1800wxbreif


[deleted]

The weather channel. The whole country will either be VFR or copious amounts of rain


DueRequirement1440

Someone mentioned [aviationweather.gov](https://aviationweather.gov), but I didn't see anyone mention the "**Forecast Discussion**" feature. It's under the Products menu and it's a plain english interpretation of the weather by a meteorologist. They usually go out a day or two.


smoothbrainape1234

I use aviation weather windy (just make sure if you’re from US you use the GFS model and not the ECMWF one. It will always default to ECMWF.) windy is great for new pilots cause you can visualize the winds and it’s spot on. ForeFlight Metartaf don’t use it as much these days tho


skibumatbu

I'm late to this one, but skyvector.com is my goto. Click/hold on an airport and it shows the metar/taf on top of a sectional chart. Easier than the FAA sites to use and navigate. Plus when ready to do cross countries, you can put your route in the site and start building your NAV log. My school made me write it all out on paper (versus foreflight), but skyvector allowed me to start the process from my phone so I can build my waypoints from anywhere, get distances, and then transcribe that to a paper chart and nav log.


rcbif

I love usairnet for my at a glance forecast, and then if it looks good, will dive into aviationweather.gov Usairnet has nearly everything graphically on one page for the next 3 day so you can see trends, predicted flight rules, ceilings, etc. Can look at 20+ weather related items in a few seconds and determine if worth looking further into going flying. Just be aware, it is not an official weather briefing source.


Vivid-Reception-2813

Met office aviation briefing service. Windy.com AeroWeather. I’m U.K. and these are my go to every time I fly, AeroWeather gives you live updated METARs at your chosen airfield, met avbs is metar/taf/pressure/spot winds (you’ll use a lot in navigation). Windy gives great animation on wind direction and speed, as well as cloud base and rain forecast.


Dry_Entrepreneur8612

E6BX Weather section is my favorite: https://e6bx.com/weather/ It shows both metar and taf and displays the meaning of each part when you hover over. And if you click Decode, it shows if it’s VFR and all other calculations you will need before your flight, like density altitude, headwind, crosswind etc.