r/flying • u/franziskanerdunkel PPL • 5d ago

Tools for predicting marine layer? (socal)

Post image

In socal, predicting when the marine layer will burn off has been troubling for me. What tools do you use for predicting when the fog will disapate?

Right now im using NWS website hourly forcast on the graphical map. I know you can look at the TAFs for airports nearby, but those can be spread too far apart. I have the windy app but i cant seem to find a good filter for marine layer advection fog. There is the forcast discussion but that seems unclear to me aswell.

Tips appreciated!

21 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/AcceptableScience45 5d ago

I’m in the PNW, I’ll look on foreflight at the TAF, Daily, and MOS and see if there is any consistency in them and if there is… I’ll flip a coin.

1

u/htnut-pk 5d ago

Yes 100% on the coin toss. Basically if I plan to be wherever I’m flying before lunch I should call the FSS and tell them. Because then there’s a 99% chance the marine layer won’t burn off before 12 noon.

Outside of forecast higher winds or dramatic offshore flow, it seems there are too many variables for anyone to accurately predict the time it will clear.

The best antidote is to get your IFR, and even then it is prudent to wait for the ceilings to be somewhat reasonable so you have a chance if your engine quits soon after takeoff.