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Launch weather forecast
Posted: December 16, 2004

 Forecast for Friday, December 17

Issued: Thursday, December 16
Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "The high pressure that dominated our weather pattern through the week is breaking down and migrating to the East. Winds will be from the Northeast this morning becoming from the East this afternoon with decreasing speeds as we approach the evening hours. The low level wind pattern will transport a thick layer of stratocumulus clouds onshore from the Atlantic. These conditions are expected to prevail through the countdown this evening and into the window tomorrow with occasional light drizzle. Isolated coastal showers are expected. A trough of low pressure is expected to develop off the East Coast this evening through Saturday which will enhance the thick cloud layer and increase the coverage of isolated coastal showers. This will increase the probability of violating weather constraints on Saturday.

"The main weather concern on launch day will be a nontransparent, thick cloud layer. These conditions persist into Saturday with the aforementioned disturbance off the Florida peninsula. Winds will be light as we approach the launch window and may become Northwesterly due to a land breeze."

Clouds: Broken at 3,000 feet with 7/8ths sky coverage and tops at 7,000 feet; Broken at 10,000 feet with 7/8ths sky coverage and tops at 12,000 feet

Visibility: 10 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 330 degrees at 8 gusting to 12 knots

Temperature: 62 degrees F

Dew Point: 58 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 90 percent

Weather: Mostly cloudy, Isolated Coastal Showers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 30 percent

Concerns:Thick clouds
 

 Times of note

Friday's launch window: 4:41-7:21 a.m. EST (0941-1221 GMT)
Friday's sunrise: 7:08 a.m. EST (1208 GMT)

Saturday's launch window: 4:41-7:21 a.m. EST (0941-1221 GMT)
Saturday's sunrise: 7:09 a.m. EST (1209 GMT)
 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Saturday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 40 percent
Concerns:Thick clouds
 

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