Weather is a fact of life for pilots. Developing your weather knowledge and expertise is well worth the time and effort you put into it, because weather wisdom will help keep you – and your passengers – safe in the skies.

The immediate post flight period is one of the best opportunities to increase your weather knowledge and understanding.  At the end of a flight involving weather, take a few minutes to mentally review the flight and reflect on what you learned from this experience.  Consider:

• What weather conditions/hazards existed, and how did they impact this flight?
  • Turbulence / Winds
  • Ceilings / Visibility
  • Aircraft Performance

• How did the conditions encountered during this flight compare with the information obtained in the preflight briefing?

• Which source(s) of preflight weather information provided the best (or most useful, most accurate, most relevant) data for this flight?

• Which source(s) of enroute weather information provided the best (or most useful, most accurate, most relevant) data for this flight?

Another way to develop your weather knowledge and judgment is simply to observe and analyze the weather every day. This simple habit will help you develop the ability to “read” weather cues, such as clouds.   As your skill develops, try to correlate the temperature, dew point, humidity, and time of day to the types of clouds that have formed. Take note of the wind and try to visualize how it wraps around the tree or whips around the corner of a building. These exercises will help you become more aware of wind at critical points in your flight.