PlaneWX Documentation

Weather Products & Timeframes

PlaneWX intelligently selects weather products based on your departure time to provide the most relevant and reliable forecast data.

Imminent Flights
HIGH
0-2 hours until departure

Primary Sources

  • • METARs (current observations)
  • • TAFs (terminal forecasts)
  • • PIREPs (pilot reports)
  • • SIGMETs (significant weather)
  • • G-AIRMETs (graphical airmets)
  • • CWAs (center weather advisories)

Secondary Sources

AFDs (aviation section)

Near-Term Flights
HIGH
2-6 hours until departure

Primary Sources

  • • TAFs
  • • G-AIRMETs
  • • SIGMETs

Secondary Sources

METARs (trend only), PIREPs (trend), AFDs (aviation section)

Medium-Term Flights
MEDIUM
6-12 hours until departure

Primary Sources

  • • TAFs (if valid for timeframe)
  • • G-AIRMETs
  • • AFDs

Secondary Sources

SIGMETs (trend only)

Excluded

METARs, PIREPs

Extended Flights
MEDIUM-LOW
12-24 hours until departure

Primary Sources

  • • AFDs (synopsis + short term sections)
  • • TAFs (if extended coverage available)

Secondary Sources

NBM forecasts, METARs (trend context), G-AIRMETs

Excluded

PIREPs, Current SIGMETs

Long-Range Flights
LOW
24-48 hours (1-2 days) until departure

Primary Sources

  • • AFDs (full discussion)
  • • WPC Medium Range discussions

Secondary Sources

NBM forecasts, GFS model data

Excluded

METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, G-AIRMETs, SIGMETs

Very Long-Range Flights
VERY LOW
48-96 hours (2-4 days) until departure

Primary Sources

  • • AFDs (long term and extended sections)
  • • WPC Extended discussions
  • • GFS model data (MAV 6-72h, MEX 24-192h)

Secondary Sources

CPC outlooks (6-10 day)

Excluded

METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, G-AIRMETs, SIGMETs, NBM

Extended Planning
MINIMAL
96+ hours (4+ days) until departure

Primary Sources

  • • WPC Extended discussions
  • • CPC outlooks (6-10 and 8-14 day)
  • • GFS model (extended forecasts)

Secondary Sources

AFDs (if discussing extended period)

Excluded

METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, G-AIRMETs, SIGMETs, NBM

Product Glossary

METARs
Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Reports - current observed conditions at airports
TAFs
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts - 24-30 hour forecasts for specific airports
PIREPs
Pilot Reports - real-time weather observations from pilots in flight
G-AIRMETs
Graphical Airmen's Meteorological Information - forecasts of potentially hazardous weather to aircraft
SIGMETs
Significant Meteorological Information - warnings of hazardous weather affecting all aircraft
AFDs
Area Forecast Discussions - detailed text forecasts from local Weather Forecast Offices
NBM
National Blend of Models - NOAA's advanced probabilistic forecasting system combining multiple weather models. Provides point-specific forecasts for ceiling, visibility, wind, and precipitation probability up to 72 hours.
WPC
Weather Prediction Center discussions - national-scale synoptic pattern outlooks (short/medium/extended range)
CPC
Climate Prediction Center outlooks - 6-10 and 8-14 day temperature/precipitation anomaly trends
GFS MOS
Global Forecast System Model Output Statistics - statistical guidance from numerical weather models (MAV: 6-72h, MEX: 24-192h)