Scott Dennstaedt

Dan, Good feedback. Even though I sell a weather book, this is just the foundation. Important, but there is a need to learn how to integrate all of this guidance so you understand how to characterize that big picture. I have been doing a 1-on-1 online training with pilots over the last 15 years for flights they are looking to take. This makes it real and likely one of the best ways to learn how each piece of guidance contributes to making a good decision. Given that each weather event is unique, it’s really hard to put this kind of training in a book. So seeing it all in action for a f

Wrote up some more details in my blog here.

Robert, I didn't cut the CAPE out of this chart. This is a radiosonde observation and they don't include CAPE on RAOBs. But this might help.

Alex, About 25 workshops including a couple recorded webinars on the Skew-T.

So it's -30°C at 15,000 feet over Boise, Idaho at the end of February. Any chance of icing at this altitude based on this Skew-T diagram?

FWIW, I never use windy unless I am watching a possible landfalling hurricane. The interface is horrible and very hard to navigate and doesn't give me the aviation-specific information that I prefer to use.

Notice that I did not say that experience isn't important. Actually what works the best is having a pilot to mentor with. I do that for dozens of pilots from a weather perspective. Scaring the hell out of yourself is a BAD approach to learning. In fact, it teaches you nothing. When I hear "older" pilots say things to "younger" pilots such as, "just get out there and fly in some real weather and you will figure it out" is when I turn away and shake my head. It has and will always be a recipe for disaster. In my 40+ years, I have heard it all and have talked to thousands of pilots abo

Wish that was true, but sadly it isn't. In fact, it's one of those many myths. Experience means nothing unless you know what you are looking at. In fact the NTSB released a safety notice in October 2005 that states, "It appears that pilots generally require formal training to obtain weather knowledge and cannot be expected to acquire it on their own as they simply gain more flight experience." Can't underscore this enough. Mother Nature doesn't care how many hours are in your logbook.

Okay, thanks to everyone who responded.

I'll be attending, Hangar C, Booth 92. I'll also be doing 4 presentations at the education forums (dates/times are TBD).

I will be doing a free webinar for EAA coming up in May where I will present the top 10 weather questions pilots ask. I've been an instructor for over 20 years and I've heard dozens of the same questions over and over again...but I am curious...if you had one weather question (related to aviation) that's been bugging you, what would that question be? These need to be relevant to aviation safety in some way. For example, "I see these long dashed lines on the prog charts and wondering if I should be concerned about flying through that area?" Interested to hear your questions.

Appears there was a warm front nearby the boot heal of Missouri. So, you likely crossed over from the warm sector to the cold sector along the route. Here's the freezing level chart showing a sharp gradient in central TN. Here's the RAOB for central Arkansas (black) and Nashville (magenta). Notice the temperature drop at 7K between the two.

At what point in the route (some nearby airport/navaid) did you experience the temperature drop at 7K? Approximately what time was that (zulu)?

Would need to know the specifics...date and time (zulu) this occurred and exactly where it was observed (nearest airport and the approximate route...maybe a flightaware track).

Keep in mind that the freezing rain signature they show here only accounts for about 8% of the cases. It’s the exception, not the rule. While the signature they point out is dangerous for pilots, the nonclassical case is the one that tends to not be well understood by pilots. In fact, the entire temperature profile can be below freezing and still produce freezing rain or more likely freezing drizzle. Also what is said about sleet (below) is not entirely accurate. The snowflake only partially melts and retains a slushy core. The retained core is what allows the partially melted drop to ref