Aviation Weather Center
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Aviation Weather Center
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| image = 2016-08-02 07 48 48 Sign at the entrance to the National Weather Service Training Center and the Aviation Weather Center along NW 101 Terrace in Kansas City, Platte County, Missouri.jpg
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| image_caption = Headquarters of the AWC
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| jurisdiction = Government of the United States
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| headquarters = Kansas City, Missouri
| coordinates = {{coord|39.276694|-94.662575|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}}
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| parent_agency = National Centers for Environmental Prediction
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| website = {{URL|www.aviationweather.gov}}
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The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) provides weather information and forecasts for air flights over United States territory and at certain altitudes for global traffic. It works with customers, such as commercial airlines, and international partners to improve flight safety and efficiency. It is one of the components of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction of the National Weather Service (NWS) of the United States.
Responsibilities and Products
File:Aviation weather forecast chart.png issued by the AWC of the US National Weather Service for transatlantic flights.]]
Each local NWS office issues Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs) for airports under its area of responsibility. These forecasts are only valid for 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) around the airfield.{{cite web|language=en|url=https://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/foundations/aviation_weather/welcome.html#today |title=Aviation Weather Forecasting: A History of Enhancing Air Flight Safety |work=Celebrating 200 years |date=2021-01-21|publisher=NOAA|access-date=2021-05-09}}
AWC forecasts, in text and chart, conditions over all of the continental United States from the surface to over 20 km altitude (Aviation Area forecast). These include freezing level, icing, wind and turbulence levels, cloudy areas and thunderstorms at various altitudes.{{cite web |language=en|url=https://www.aviationweather.gov/gfa/help?page=products|title=Graphical Forecasts for Aviation Products|author=AWC|year=2021|publisher=NWS|access-date=2021-05-09}} It does the same for high altitudes {{convert|25000|ft|m}} around the world.
The AWC is also responsible for aviation warnings, such as AIRMETs and SIGMETs, for the United States, including its overseas territories, and northern portions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/aviation/A%20Pilots%20Guide%20to%20Aviation%20Weather%20Services.pdf |title=A Pilot's Guide to Aviation Weather Services |date=2020-10-01|publisher=NOAA|access-date=2021-05-09}} It is finally the center that issues forecasts for the displacement of volcanic ash and forest fire smoke plumes for the same territories.
References
{{National Centers for Environmental Prediction}}
Category:National Centers for Environmental Prediction
{{Meteorology-stub}}