Winds aloft

Winds Aloft, officially known as the Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast (These reports were known as "FD" in the US, but are becoming known as "FB", following the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) nomenclature.), is a forecast of specific atmospheric conditions in terms of wind and temperature at certain altitudes, typically measured in feet (ft) above mean sea level (MSL). The forecast is specifically used for aviation purposes.

The components of a Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast are displayed as: DD ss +/- TT.

• Wind Direction (DD) and Wind Speed (ss), displayed as a 4-digit number, e.g. 3127, indicating a wind direction of 310 degrees True North and a wind speed of 27 knots. Note that wind direction is rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and the zero is excluded.
• Temperature (TT), displayed as a +/- two-digit number, e.g. -12, which means -12 degrees Celsius.

Example

FBUS31 KWNO 190440

DATA BASED ON 190000Z DATA VALID 190600Z FOR USE 0600-1200Z.

TEMPS NEG ABV 24000

FT      3000        6000       9000     12000     18000    24000    30000    34000    39000  (feet)

ABR   1027   1326+01  1428-03  1431-09  1639-21  1749-34  175849  175957  174758

ABI               2849+04  2857-02  2760-07  2670-20  2682-32  760344  760648  259451

ALS (etc.)

(ABR, ABI, and ALS are the station abbreviations used in this report)

Wind speeds over 99 knots are decoded by subtracting 50 from the direction and adding 100 to the speed. Thus, for example, the wind forecast for Abilene (ABI) at 30,000 feet, shown above as 7603, indicates a forecast wind of 260 degrees at 103 knots.

This forecast is now made four times a day based on 0000Z,06000Z,1200Z and 1800Z data (the Z stands for Zulu and indicates Coordinated Universal Time). The forecasts are valid 6 (FD1/8), 12 (FD2/9), and 24 (FD3/10) hours after the observation date/times of 0000Z and 1200Z upon which they are based. Depending on station elevation, FD1/2/3 wind forecasts are issued for the following levels: 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 34, and 39 thousand feet.

The first level for which a wind forecast is issued is 1,500 feet or more above the station elevation. Temperature is forecast for all wind levels, except the 3,000 foot level, that are 2,500 feet or more above the station. As indicated in the third line of the forecast, the temperatures at all levels above 24,000 feet are generally negative and the minus sign is excluded. FD8/9/10 are for the 45,000 and 53,000 foot levels.

9900 / If there is no velocity, then there is no direction, so light and variable is coded as 9900

References & Links

• NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INSTRUCTION 10-812 - Aviation Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecasts Instructions
• NOAA's National Weather Service - Forecast Winds and Temps Aloft Help