The weather briefer confirms the predictions of the Weather Channel giving forecast conditions that are at or near minimum landing minimums at both BHM and GPT for the proposed departure time. The briefer provides NOTAM information for GPT indicating that the localizer to runway 32 is scheduled to be out of service and that runway 18/36 is closed until further notice. Also check for temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) along the proposed route.

After receiving a weather briefing, continue flight planning and begin to transfer some preliminary information onto the navigation log, listing each fix along the route and the distances, frequencies, and altitudes. Consolidating this information onto an organized navigation log keeps the workload to a minimum during the flight.

Next, obtain a standard weather briefing online for the proposed route. A check of current conditions indicates low IFR conditions at both the departure airport and the destination, with visibility of one-quarter mile:

SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS METAR KBHM 111155Z VRB04KT ¼ SM FG –RA VV004 06/05 A2994 RMK A02 SLP140

METAR KGPT 111156Z 24003KT ¼ SM FG OVC001 08/07 A2962 RMK A02 SLP033

The small temperature/dewpoint spread is causing the low visibility and ceilings. Conditions should improve later in the day as temperatures increase. A check of the terminal forecast confirms this theory:

TERMINAL FORECASTS TAF KBHM 111156Z 111212 VRB04KT ¼ SM FG VV004 TEMPO1316 ¾ SM OVC004

FM1600 VRB05KT 2SM BR OVC007 TEMPO 1720 3SM DZ BKN009 FM2000 22008KT 3SM –RA OVC015 TEMP 2205 3SM –RA OVC025 FM0500 23013KT P6SM OVC025

FM0800 23013KT P6SM BKN030 PROB40 1012 2SM BR OVC030

TAF KGPT 111153Z 111212 24004KT ¼ SM FG OVC001 BECMG 1317 3SM BR 0VC004

FM1700 24010KT 4SM –RA OVC006 FM0400 24010 5SM SCT080 TEMPO 0612 P6SM SKC

In addition to the terminal forecast, the area forecast also indicates gradual improvement along the route. Since the terminal forecast only provides information for a 5-mile radius around a terminal area, checking the area forecast provides a better understanding of the overall weather picture along the route, as well as potential hazards:

SYNOPSIS AND VFR CLOUDS/WEATHER FORECASTS SYNOPSIS… AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CNTD OV AL RMNG GENLY STNRY BRNGNG MSTR AND WD SPRD IFR TO E TN. ALF…LOW PRES TROF ACRS CNTR PTN OF THE DFW FA WILL GDLY MOV EWD DURG PD.

NRN LA, AR, NRN MS SWLY WND THRUT THE PD. 16Z CIG OVC006. SCT –SHRA. OTLK… IFR SRN ½ … CIG SCT – BKN015 TOPS TO FL250 SWLY WND THRUT THE PD. 17Z AGL BKN040. OTLK…MVFR CIG VIS.

LA MS CSTL WTRS CIG OVC001 – OVC006. TOPS TO FL240. VIS ¼ – ¾ SM FG. SWLY WND. 16Z CIG OVC010 VIS 2 SM BR. OCNL VIS 3-5SM –RN BR OVC009. OTLK…MVFR CIG VIS.

FL CIG BKN020 TOPS TO FL180. VIS 1–3 SM BR. SWLY WND. 18Z BRK030. OTLK…MVFR CIG.

At this time, there are no SIGMETs or PIREPs reported. However, there are several AIRMETs, one for IFR conditions, one for turbulence that covers the entire route, and another for icing conditions that covers an area just north of the route:

WAUS44 KKCI 111150

DFWS WA 0111150

AIRMET SIERRA FOR IFR VALID UNTIL 111800