Foggy Mornings

The forecast was for good VFR the last two mornings.  The reality was different.  Both days I awoke to Low IFR.  I did not despair, I did take my time getting ready.  Yesterday I planned to leave between 9:30-10:00, I ended up firing up just after 10.  It really looked VFR when we started the engines but the beacon is broken so we could not tell for sure.

Taxiing out to where ground could see us, the ATIS said it was still IFR and speaking to them, they agreed.  What do my lying eyes know?  To be fair the official report is based on an average over time so when it goes VFR, the box is still behind.  I took a chance and taxied out.  I figured it would change soon.  I also had to wait for the engines to warm, it was cold for this Florida boy and the engines.

I had left the ATIS playing on the number 2 radio and on the way to the runway, we got our VFR weather.  The weather was good over the field and to the South but the further North you went the lower it got.  Our flight was nice and uneventful.  We got our stuff done and I headed home with the thought that at least Wednesday was supposed to start clear.

Today I woke up to a bunch of pink all over the map.  The clear skies were a lie.  Today I was heading to Montgomery, Alabama.  Not only was it foggy, but it was also cold.  Today I would be IFR so I could take some clouds but widespread 200 feet or less was out.  I knew all we needed was for Mr. Sun to come out.  Sunrise in Montgomery is about 26 minutes later than home so I expected things to improve.

Again, I did not rush.  I was sort of surprised that our local weather did not improve as fast as I expected.  It did go to 900' and 10 miles which met departure needs.  Heading out, I departed 32 and popped thru a thin layer.  After that there were some occasional clouds but it was mostly clear.

Arriving in Montgomery it was clear and after finishing our business, we were headed home.  On the way up I fought 30 knot headwinds down low.  On the way back I climbed into a nice 40 knot tailwind.  Other than having to avoid some military airspace both ways it was a smooth run.

Returning home the weather was saying 1000 overcast still.  As we got close it went to 1600 Broken and approach wanted to send me onto the ILS which was out of the way.  Crossing JAX it was clear and I had the field in sight so I requested the visual.  Approach obliged and we headed down below the broken clouds which were higher than 1,600 by then.  We sequenced into the pattern and were soon shutting down.  By the time we got out it was clear above the airport.  

The lesson, the forecast may be way off, patience is your friend, and don't let an old weather report make you fly a bunch of extra miles when you have good VFR.