Forecast for Sunday, August 27

Issued: Thursday, August 24 Launch Weather Officer: Kathy Winters, 45th Weather Squadron Synoptic Discussion: "Currently, the Bermuda high pressure ridge is located over the Florida Straits resulting in southwesterly flow over Central Florida. This pattern causes afternoon thunderstorms to migrate toward the east coast of Florida; therefore, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) will continue to have afternoon thunderstorms for the next two days. By launch day, the ridge will migrate to the north, causing easterly flow to set in over Central Florida. Morning coastal showers will affect KSC, and afternoon thunderstorms will migrate inland. Still, trough of low pressure over Central Florida could enhance offshore showers and thunderstorms, and upper-level winds from the east may cause anvils from thunderstorms offshore over the Gulf Stream to advect west toward the coast. "Our primary concerns for launch are anvil clouds from thunderstorms offshore and showers and thunderstorms within 20NM of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF)." Clouds: Cumulus Scattered at 3,000 feet and tops at 6,000 feet with 3/8ths sky coverage; Altocumulus Scattered at 12,000 feet and tops at 13,000 feet with 2/8ths sky coverage; Cirrus Scattered at 25,000 feet and tops at 26,000 feet with 4/8ths sky coverage Visibility: 7 miles Launch Pad Winds: Easterly from 110 degrees at 12 to 18 knots Temperature: 86 degrees F Relative Humidity: 70 percent Weather: Inland and offshore showers and thunderstorms Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 30 percent Concerns: Anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility

Forecast for 24- and 48-hour delays

Monday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 20 percent Concerns: Anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility Tuesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 20 percent Concerns: Anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility