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Weather forecast - The latest forecast for launch day conditions.

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Launch weather forecast
Posted: August 29, 2004

 Forecast for Sunday, August 29

Issued: Saturday, August 28
Launch Weather Officers: F. Clay Flinn, Johnny Weems, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "Tropical Storm Gaston is expected to be in South Carolina by Sunday afternoon. This will result in Westerly surface winds throughout most of the day. If the seabreeze does set in, it will be late in the afternoon and should not push very far inland. As Tropical Storm Gaston pulls North, drier air is expected to encroach on the peninsula. However, steering level winds remain unfavorable and will act to bring afternoon thunderstorms back toward the coast in the late afternoon and early evening hours.

"The main concern for the launch will be isolated thunderstorms within 10 nm of the complex and associated anvil clouds."

Clouds: Scattered at 3,000 feet with 1-2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 5,000 feet, Scattered at 10,000 feet with 1-2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 14,000 feet; Scattered at 25,000 feet with 2-3/8ths sky coverage and tops at 28,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 300 degrees at 10 knots

Temperature: 85 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 80 percent

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 60 percent

Concerns: Isolated showers/thunderstorms, anvil clouds

 

 Times of note

Launch time: 6:57 p.m. EDT (2257 GMT)
Moonrise: 7:55 p.m. EDT (2355 GMT)
Sunset: 7:46 p.m. EDT (2346 GMT)

 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Monday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 60 percent
Concerns: Isolated showers/thunderstorms, anvil clouds

 

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