AWC - Aviation Area Forecasts (FA) Help

Aviation Area Forecasts (FA) Help

NWS Product Description Document (PDD) ...

An area forecast (FA) is a forecast of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) clouds and weather conditions over an area as large as the size of several states. It must be used in conjunction with the AIRMET Sierra (IFR) bulletin for the same area in order to get a complete picture of the weather. The area forecast together with the AIRMET Sierra bulletin are used to determine forecast enroute weather and to interpolate conditions at airports which do not have a terminal forecast (TAF) issued. FAs are issued 3 times a day from Kansas City for each of 6 areas in the contiguous 48 states (domestic) as well as the Gulf of Mexico (FAGX) and Caribbean (FACA).

Map of Current FAGX:

Detailed maps of domestic FA regions and geographic areas are available in GIF (185K) or PDF (4.3M) formats.

In Alaska, FAs are issued by the Weather Service Forecast Office (WSFO) in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau for their respective areas (Alaska). The WSFO in Honolulu issues FAs for Hawaii (Hawaii).

The FA consists of a:

12 hour forecast plus a 6 hour outlook. All times are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). All distances except visibility are in nautical miles. Visibility is in statute miles.
synopsis section which is a brief summary of the location and movement of fronts, pressure system, and circulation patterns for an 18 hour period.
VFR clouds and weather section which is a 12 hour forecast, in broad terms, of clouds and weather significant to flight operations plus a 6 hour categorical outlook. This section is usually several paragraphs. AIRMET Sierra supplies information regarding Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) conditions. The breakdown may be by states, by well known geographical areas, or in reference to location and movement of a pressure system or front. A categorical outlook, identified by OTLK, is included for each area breakdown.

Amendments to the FA are issued as needed. An amended FA is identified by AMD, a corrected FA by COR, and a delayed FA is identified by RTD.