US airports in severe weather conditions

[Marko Korosec]

Hey guys!

We are arriving tomorrow to OKC at around 8pm local time. I am wondering how things are usually working on such situations like tomorrow could be in central KS/OK. Conditions are really outstanding, this could be updated to HIGH risk in the next outlook updates.

Few weeks ago, when we were making plans for this year's US chase trip, we were joking around like lets just hope there will be more active this season than it was in the last two years. When we noticed maps for May 5th, then we came out with funny thing; what if there will be high risk day over OK and we won't be able to land? And look at the maps now!

So does someone know how are flights working in those conditions, do airports become closed and all flights are redirected to the closest airports available? I guess they're not going to land if conditions are inappropriate. Also this might become quite a mess if we have to land somewhere else.

Stay safe all who is out tomorrow, looks like a BIG day!

Marko

 

[David Drummond]

They aren't going to close or delay flighs unless thunderstorms are threatening the area around the airport, or perhaps the approach vectors. Just the fact SPC has issued any sort of risk doesn't figure in to their plans.

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Hey guys!

We are arriving tomorrow to OKC at around 8pm local time. I am wondering how things are usually working on such situations like tomorrow could be in central KS/OK. Conditions are really outstanding, this could be updated to HIGH risk in the next outlook updates.

Few weeks ago, when we were making plans for this year's US chase trip, we were joking around like lets just hope there will be more active this season than it was in the last two years. When we noticed maps for May 5th, then we came out with funny thing; what if there will be high risk day over OK and we won't be able to land? And look at the maps now!

So does someone know how are flights working in those conditions, do airports become closed and all flights are redirected to the closest airports available? I guess they're not going to land if conditions are inappropriate. Also this might become quite a mess if we have to land somewhere else.

Stay safe all who is out tomorrow, looks like a BIG day!

Marko

I'm pretty frightened about that: it will be very difficoult landing with 50 knots of LLJ and 25 at the ground..Anyway, man, we'll be ready to catch any supercell that will develop 50-100km west of Ok City.

 

[David Drummond]

Nah, winds blow like that pretty regularly out here and west TX and the planes come and go all the time. Makes for a fun ride though.

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Nah, winds blow like that pretty regularly out here and west TX and the planes come and go all the time. Makes for a fun ride though.

That encourages me

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I been on a plane that was landing at night as a big storm was rolling into Amarillo years ago. It will get your heart going to say the least. There has to be a storm right on the airport and they have to really be fearing microbursts before they would turn your plane away, which they would likely just have the plane circle for 5 minutes and then come back in after the storm passed. If anything you would get a spectacular view of the storm.

 

[Marko Korosec]

If anything you would get a spectacular view of the storm.

Thats exactly what looks like a good thing in this case...at least the should be an amazing view over the whole system from above even the plane would shake like nuts =)

I am still ready for chasing close to OKC if there is something tomorrow evening.

The FCST sounding for the time 00z tomorrow looks quite impressive btw.. http://beta.wxcaster.com/cgi-bin/parse_skewt_trace.cgi?model=NAM&fcsthr=036&STATIONID=72558

 

[Doug Lee]

I have heard on local radio that the FAA banned air traffic controllers from having AM/FM radios in the towers. Sen. Jim Inhofe is working to get that changed so the ATC's can get weather updates. The station that reported that is KRMG AM 740. They have very good severe weather coverage, so they would be concerned about the issue.

I don't mean to frighten anybody, but I just wanted to make everyone aware that they might want to keep a eye on any clouds they see out the window of the jet they're riding in, and be ready to let the crew know if you see any supercells!

 

[MClarkson]

dont worry about it. As long as the cells dont train over the airport or a tornado cut the power lines or something unlikely like that, you probably figure to take a moderate delay at worst. The airport will only stop landing planes if there is a decent(~50dbz) cell right over the field or within a few miles of it. A relatively small airport like OKC will not get too backed up either when the delays occur, so once the tstorm moves on you are in.


Be glad you arent trying to get into JFK or ohare in similar circumstances