PTK Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Has anyone come across a quick and accurate method of determinng cloud tops? Something quicker than calculating it from IR satellite imagery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob - S50 Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Quick? Yes. Accurate? The weather? Maybe. Skew-T plots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarmaster Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Skew-TSent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 I use this: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 The most accurate way to find cloud tops is to climb through them . . . . Then file a PIREP so the rest of us know what they were. Leaving the Summit, a friend a couple hours ahead said he broke out at 5700 and flew to Atlanta in the clear. My course was shorter and a little west, and I was solid IMC at 7000 until almost even with Montgomery. Someone who left a couple hours after me was solid IMC almost to Birmingham. The thing about the weather is, you get what you get . . . . . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 16 minutes ago, teejayevans said: I use this: Im on aviation weather page now - I can't see which button navigates me to clouds forecast you are showing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsengle Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 ADDS flight path tool. Go to relative humidity. 95-100 relative is where the clouds are. You get to see vert slice of atmosphere from I believe the MOS computer model derived from skewT and other inputsz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Im on aviation weather page now - I can't see which button navigates me to clouds forecast you are showing. Forecasts to aviation, select plot =clouds 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 9 minutes ago, teejayevans said: Forecasts to aviation, select plot =clouds Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kortopates Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 The easiest to use web site for clouds and could tops is windytv.com - way above the rest. SkewTLogPro is great for a point in space, like your departure and destination, but not that helpful is x-ctry planning IMO.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 The easiest to use web site for clouds and could tops is windytv.com - way above the rest. SkewTLogPro is great for a point in space, like your departure and destination, but not that helpful is x-ctry planning IMO.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I use their app, it doesn't seem to have cloud tops, just %. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 Andrew, more details, if able? I looked up flight meteo.... in the App Store But din't find exact name. It suggested sky met as a similar app... and another but required 5usd... to not be comfortable. Thanks bud, (mate?) -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kortopates Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 11 hours ago, teejayevans said: I use their app, it doesn't seem to have cloud tops, just %. I haven't yet used their app, so their website may have different functionality than their app. Their website allows you to look at total clouds, low clouds only, middle clouds only, high clouds only (all by coverage from Scattered, Few etc.), cloud tops and cloud bases. The cloud tops function itself, which does 0, 15K, 30K etc doesn't give as much resolution as just toggling between Low, Middle and High. Its based on the same data as the GFA forecast tool on aviationweather.gov replacing our textual forecast area, but I find Windytv.com provides much better graphics, better resolution and also lets you choose between different resolution models (NAM, ECMWF and more). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piloto Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 Check https://skyvector.com/ On Layers select Cloud Top Height. The cloud tops show in different colors. José Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 Check https://skyvector.com/ On Layers select Cloud Top Height. The cloud tops show in different colors. José Since they appear to start at 30000' as the minimum, not very useful for Mooney pilots. And it's showing current weather, not a forecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piloto Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 On 10/16/2017 at 3:05 PM, teejayevans said: Since they appear to start at 30000' as the minimum, not very useful for Mooney pilots. And it's showing current weather, not a forecast. When you zoom in you will notice three different shades of gray for cloud tops below FL300. José Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert C. Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 While I like (and use) the AWC forecast pages a lot, they do have shortcomings. Scott Denstaedt has commented numerous times on what they are (sadly he favors Beechtalk ). The main one: while very decent for stratus it doesn't really capture convective well at all. It can predict clear skies and you'll fly under/above/through cumulus all day long. Most of the SkewLogT apps and websites have route functions that give you a very good idea of convective as well as stratus. A funky site is GRAMET/Ogimet. Not the most intuitive and user friendly interface and It doesn't work when the RUC Soundings are being processed (i.e. evenings East Coast time) but when it works it gives a very nice route visualization of the weather you can expect at various altitudes. http://ogimet.com/display_gramet.php?lang=en&icao=KDXR_KASH&hini=02&tref=1508286034&hfin=04&fl=100&submit=submit (Look at the sidebar for Gramet Aero). Another site with route function is: http://www.skewt.aero/# and it seems to work 24/7 but is harder to interpret. Robert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLYFST Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 If you use an iPhone or iPad download and use SkewTLogPro - very usefulSent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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