Why Should Youcircle Around Thunderstorms From the Upwind Side?
Reasons to Circumnavigate Thunderstorms From the Upswind Side:
If you've ever found yourself facing a line of thunderstorms during flight, you might wonder if you should veer left or right. Generally, going around the upwind side is your best bet.
1) Smooth Sailing Ahead
The air upwind tends to be less disturbed by storm convection, making it a great spot for clear, calm flying.
2) Keep the Precipitation at Bay
Once the winds aloft push the storm downwind, the anvil spreads and precipitation drops on the downwind side. It's not likely you'll find clear skies there.
3) Hail-Free Zone
Pilots often come across hail when they fly beneath overhanging anvil clouds. Hail showers usually form within the core of the storm, only to be spit out by the wind.
4) Stay Away from Other Hazards
Severe turbulence, lightning, and strong straight-line winds might lurk outside the visible storm. Most of the time, these elements lurk on the downwind side, in the storm's wake.
5) Fuel Struggles
If your plan is to thread the needle and fly down the line of storms, the wind isn't on your side. You may find yourself grappling with prolonged fuel constraints as you search for a clear flying lane.
Taking a detour around the upwind side of a thunderstorm isn't just about avoiding turbulence. You'll also be dodging hail, reducing your risk of icing, improving your visibility, predicting weather patterns, and even staying relatively safe from lightning.
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1) The weather patterns around thunderstorms can significantly affect an aviation flight, as the air upwind tends to remain less disturbed by storm convection, offering a spot for clear, calm flying.
2) When regarding the approach to storms, it's crucial to remember that once the winds aloft push a storm downwind, precipitation typically falls on the downwind side due to the anvil spread.
3) In the aerospace industry, understanding the behavior of thunderstorms is essential for pilots, as they often encounter hail when flying beneath overhanging anvil clouds, with hail showers forming within the storm's core.
4) During a flight near thunderstorms, it's not just the visible storm you have to worry about. Severe turbulence, lightning, and strong straight-line winds might lurk outside the storm, usually on the downwind side in the storm's wake.
5) When dealing with flight finance, it's important to recognize that if you plan to thread the needle and fly through a line of storms, you might encounter extended fuel constraints as you search for a clear flying lane due to the adverse wind conditions.