Best posts made by midlifeflyer

@Gkikas-LGPZ said in How to use a route planner:

@midlifeflyer
The planner shows data as they come directly from the models.
TAF is written down by a meteorologist.
Meteorologists can add value to the model data.
A human forecaster has knowledge of the local topography, as well as historical knowledge
of how the land affects the wind, the visibility, cloud bases etc in an area,
and can therefore predict the weather with accuracy.
For flight decisions, is better to rely on TAFs.

Thank you. Depending on the model, I can see similar differences between MOS and TAF forecasts. Switching models in Windy, I can also see differences.

Still trying to get a feel for this for flights. Guess I just need to play with it more.

Two basic question.

1. While the VFR planner shows all sorts of good information, the IFR planner is very bare. I wonder what went into the decision that IFR pilots don't care about cloud bases and surface visibility.

2. I'm trying to reconcile METAR/TAF discrepancies with the planner. Fore example, the TAF at Florence, SC (KFLO) at 3 pm today is winds 240 at 10-17 knots, 3,500 overcast with visibility >6 statute miles and light rain showers. If I am reading the Windy chart correctly, while the winds are consistent, I'm seeing a cloud base substantially lower at 1800-2000' and visibility only 1.7 statute miles