Harriers Final goodbye happenings (updated)

[KarlADrage]

Only advise is weather is "currently" forecast NW om Monday.

NW wind should mean they'll use runway 22 surely.

NW is essentially a perfect cross wind and therefore it'd be pot luck!

It's melting nicely here too, but we've had nothing like what COT reportedly has.

[Blue Diamond]

I should be in the area tomorrow so I'll be able to see how much snow is still on the ground.

[LN Strike Eagle]

BBC weather and the Met Office both have a SW wind forecast for Monday - straight down (up) RWY 22.

MetCheck forecast showing NW wind, which looks to favour RWY 04 though.

Would appreciate the snow update tomorrow Blue Diamond - thanks.

[Blue Diamond]

If all else fails, I'll ask for a snow report from a mate who lives about five miles north of the airfield.

[rich71]

Its currently raining in oakham (sat 7pm) snow is begining to shift from our estate so hopefully the same can be said of cottesmore.

[Blue Diamond]

xcw showing w backing to sw. With a Westerly veering, it get's very marginal and that's when they start swapping back and fourth.

Given that using 22 points them pretty much SW, I would have thought anything from W to SW would have guaranteed use of 22. Mind you my earlier thoughts regaring an NW wind were wrong so what do I know?

[KarlADrage]

Looks like the latest actual for Oakham according to the Beeb is quite a bit different to what we've got here:

Observed at 09:00, Sunday 5th December
Weather
N/A

N/A

* Temp
(°C°F) -1°C 30°F
* Wind
(mphkm/h) Westerly11mph 18km/h

* Humidity: 100%
* Pressure: 1003mb, rising
* Visibility: Fog

Observation station: Cottesmore

(Lat: 52.733 | Lon: -0.65)

Their forecast for tomorrow is currently saying freezing fog all day with a max temp of -2C.... Not good....

[LN Strike Eagle]

They won't fly in fog. Same conditions forecast for Lakenheath too, so that's useless. Looking like I'll have to scrub now.

[Blue Diamond]

Glorious day at Cottesmore but although the taxiway past where the Tornado detuner was is clear, there is quite a bit of ice on it near the 22 end. Just make out the stripes on 22's threshold but there is still a thin layer of snow/ice on the runway. It's just thawing but will it thaw enough to allow flying? Assuming the forecast of fog is wrong anyway.

[KarlADrage]

Hmmm, MetOffice is saying that it'll stay below freezing all day tomorrow but that the fog will burn away to leave moderate visibility and sunshine by noon....

[LN Strike Eagle]

Thanks for the updates chaps. I genuinely have no idea what to do based on the info and the forecasts!

[KarlADrage]

Probably worth keeping an eye on the actuals on the Beeb site for a while this evening, Dan. Last update from 1500 showed vis as being good, whereas it was only forecast to be poor....

[Ben Montgomery]

It's not just you in a conundrum Dan, it's the same for us!

Weather forecast is showing the fog burning off, and good winds for 22, but will they fly?

[LN Strike Eagle]

BBC 24 hour forecast saying the fog will still be there at midday. Metcheck predicting no fog, just blazing sunshine. Depends who you believe. Even then, there's the issue of ice and snow. The sun might be out, but at -2 any remaining ice won't be shifting.

[richpittman]

If its your only chance Dan go for it!

1 week to go, your only regret it in the future if you dont.
LN can be done in 1 hour 30 ish from Cot so head there if things dont look good early on?

Didnt they have some supply of de icing there still but no full snow equipment?

[paulh]

Slightly off topic fellas, regarding the weather forecast at RAF Bases and Civvy Airports there's a very
handy IPhone app called Aeroweather Lite (free one).

Link here
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/aeroweat ... 86079?mt=8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I see in the threads above it mentions temperature and visibility at Cottesmore its all on there
and updates regular throughout the day. Could save someone a wasted trip sometime.
Recommended to me by 'Coldfinger' - Thanks mate .

Cheers Paul.

[Richard B]

Snow forcast again for tonight .
if not snow, thick foggy weather will keep the jets down.
temps not going above freezing all week with fog on the cards snow and ice . forget Cotss this side of XMAS.
Our kids off to Tenenrife with many others?.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Beeb 5-day forecast for Stamford says sunny intervals tomorrow, wind for 22. Moderate vis, 0 degrees.

24 hour forecast still shows fog all day long.

[KarlADrage]

Latest actual for Oakham, at least in terms of vis, is still better than they were predicting:

Observed at 19:00, Sunday 5th December
Weather
Clear Sky

Clear Sky

* Temp
(°C°F) -3°C 27°F
* Wind
(mphkm/h) North Westerly7mph 11km/h

* Humidity: 96%
* Pressure: 1004mb, rising
* Visibility: Moderate

Observation station: Cottesmore

[Blue Diamond]

Pays your money takes your chances, once they are gone they are gone. I say go for it LNSE, but get there early. I've been using XC weather which is not bad, but the forecast wind directions have been changing all day!

Blue Diamond; thanks for the update on the runway situation.

My pleasure. Tempted to head for Cottesmore anyway. Anyone know when they start answering the phones?