yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/21/91)
TO: PIOS/PRESS FROM: George Diller/NASA-KSC 407-867-2468/FTS 823-2468 L-2 Day Weather Forecast for STS-40 UPDATED 2:30 p.m. Conditions expected on Wednesday, 5/22/91 Synopsis: Low pressure will cover the central and western Gulf of Mexico while an upper level low pressure trough approaches Florida. The trough will create offshore showers, while the Gulf low located adjacent to Atlantic high pressure will create a gradient that generates strong surface winds. Main concerns are the increase in winds, a chance of showers, and possible ceilings below the 8,000-foot minimum. At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning conditions are forecast to be: Clouds: 3,000 to 6,000 scattered cumulus (50% sky cover) 8,000 to 11,000 scattered altocumulus (40% sky cover) 25,000 to 28,000 broken cirrostratus (60% sky cover) Visibility: 7 miles Wind - Pad 39B: ESE-14 knots, gusts 20 knots Temperature: 76 degrees Dewpoint: 73 degrees Humidity: 86% Precipitation: chance of showers Probability of launch weather criteria violation at the beginning of the launch period: 40% Probability of launch weather criteria violation over the duration of the launch period: 30% Probability of tanking constraint violation: 5% Chance of violation at launch time on Thursday: 40% overall window 30% Friday: 30% overall window: 20% Developed by Cape Canaveral Forecast Facility USAF Air Weather Service 5/20/91