Weather Impact Playbook (WIP)

## Facility and NWS Management Contact Information

1.  Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC): **ZSE Seattle**

    i.  Air Traffic Manager: *Jamie Erdt*\
        Contact Information: *(253) 351-3501*

    ii. Assistant Air Traffic Manager: *Bob Watkins*\
        Contact Information: *(253) 351- 3502*

    iii. Air Traffic Executive Secretary: *Sheri Lawson*\
         Contact Information: *(253) 351-3500*

    iv. Airway Facilities: *Julie Lemay*\
        Contact Information: *(253) 351-3309*

    v.  Quality Assurance: *John Chadwick*\
        Contact Information: *(253) 351-3540*

    vi. Training Officer: *Ron Cody*\
        Contact Information: *(253) 351-3518*

    vii. Logistics Officer: *Susie Slyfield*\
         Contact Information: *(253) 351-3319*

    viii. Flight Data: *Lee Wilson*

> Contact Information: *(253) 351-3763*

2.  Supporting Warning Forecast Office (WFO): **Seattle (SEW)**

    i.  WFO Meteorologist in Charge (MIC): *Chris Hill*\
        Contact Information: *(206) 526-6095 x222*

    ii. WFO Science Operations Officer (SOO): *Brad Colman\
        * Contact Information: *(206) 526-6095 x224*

    iii. Regional Aviation Meteorologist (RAM): *Scott Birch*\
         Contact Information: *(801) 524-4000 x264*

    iv. CWSU Meteorologist in Charge (MIC): *John Werth*

    v.  Contact Information: *(253) 351-3402*

    vi. WFO Administrative Services Assistant (ASA): *Valencia McNair*\
        Contact Information: *(206) 526-6095 x221*

    vii. Electronics Systems Analyst (ESA): *Dick Pettipiece*\
         Contact Information: *(206) 526-6095 x260*

    viii. Aviation Focal Point (AFP): *Allen Kam*\
          Contact Information: (206) *526-6095 x234*

3.  Supporting WFOs writing TAFs within the airspace

    i.  Seattle (SEW)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *BLI, CLM, PAE, BFI, SEA, OLM, HQM*

        b.  Contact Information: *205-526-6085*

    ii. Portland (PQR)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *AST, ONP, PDX, HIO, TTD, SLE, EUG*

        b.  Contact Information: *503-326-3720*

    iii. Spokane (OTX)

         a.  TAF Identifiers: *EAT, MWH, GEG, COE, LWS, PUW, SFF*

         b.  Contact Information: *509-244-0420*

    iv. Pendleton (PDT)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *ALW, PSC, DLS, PDT, YKM, RDM*

        b.  Contact Information: *541-276-8234*

    v.  Medford (MFR)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *MFR, OTH, LMT*

        b.  Contact Information: *541-776-4326*

    vi. Eurka (EKA)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *ACV, CEC*

        b.  Contact Information: *707-443-4162*

4.  Traffic Management Unit (TMU)

    i.  Traffic Management Officer (TMO): *Lorraine Vomacka*\
        Contact Information: *253-351-3550*

    ii. Supervisory Traffic Management Controllers\
        Contact Information *253-351-3521*

        a.  *Bob Mercer*

        b.  *Leon Fullner*

        c.  *Tom Schafer*

        d.  

5.  Air Route Traffic Control Centers

> ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.028472222222222in"
> height="3.7444444444444445in"}

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## ARTCC Facility Structure

6.  TMU Positions:

    i.  SEA Meter

> Weather Impacts: *Frozen precipitation, thunderstorms, IFR or LIFR
> ceilings and visibilities, LLWS, surface winds, winds below FL050 \>
> 30kt, icing, turbulence*

ii. PDX Meter

> Weather Impacts: *Same as for SEA meter plus freezing rain and SW
> winds \>25kt.*

iii. Flow Control and Monitor Alert

> Weather Impacts*: thunderstorms (lower sector volume), low level
> turbulence (greater separation for severe turbulence), icing,
> compression in the vicinity of airports.*

iv. Military

> Weather Impacts: *Ceilings, icing, and turbulence*

v.  Weather Coordinator

> Weather Impacts: *Solicitation and dissemination of pilot reports,
> dissemination of SIGMETS, dissemination of CWAs from neighboring
> CWSUs*.
>
> vi\. ZSE High-elevation Sectors
>
> ![](media/image2.png){width="5.372916666666667in"
> height="4.326388888888889in"}
>
> vii\. ZSE Low-elevation Sectors
>
> ![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.375in" height="4.3284722222222225in"}

7.  **A Area**

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Carl Dennhardt*

General Area: *W WA + east slopes WA Cascades + WA offshore waters*

i.  High#: *1, 2, 3, 12, 31, 32*

ii. Low#: *1, 2, 3, 12, 31, 32, 33*

iii. VORs: *SEA, OLM, HQM, TOU, TCM, PAE, HUH, CVV, NUW*

iv. En Route Weather Impacts: *Thunderstorms, high level turbulence and
    icing, jet stream winds*

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8.  **B Area**

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Lee Willson*
>
> General Area: *NW Oregon + southern WA Cascades + north central
> Oregon*

i.  High#: *16, 42, 46*

ii. Low#: *4, 5, 6, 34*

iii. VORs: *ONP, CVO, BTG, EUG, DSD, IMB, LTJ, UBG, PDX, AST, CBU*

iv. En Route Weather Impacts*: thunderstorms, high-level turbulence and
    icing, jet stream winds*

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9.  **C Area**

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Russ Burks*
>
> General Area: *E WA + NE OR + ID Panhandle + NW MT*

i.  High#: *7, 11, 47, 48*

ii. Low#: *8, 9, 18*

iii. VORs: *PDT(L), YKM, EAT, EPH(H), ELN, MWH, PSC, ALW(L), GEG, SKA,
     COE, MLP,* *PUW, MQG*

iv. En Route Weather Impacts: *thunderstorms, high-level turbulence and
    icing, jet stream winds*

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10. **D Area**

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Bill Buck*
>
> General Area: *SW OR + S CNTRL OR + NRN CA*

i.  High#: *13, 14, 15*

ii. Low# : *10, 30, 36*

iii. *VORs: OTH(L), RBG, OED, LMT, LKV, CEC(H), ACV(H), FOT, FJS*

iv. En Route Weather Impacts*: thunderstorms, high-level turbulence and
    icing, jet stream winds*

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11. TRACONs and Phone #s (commercial and VSCS) within Seattle ARTCC

    i.  *EUG: commercial: 541-607-4630 VSCS: 107-62*

    ii. *GEG: commercial: 509-363-6910 VSCS: 104-55*

    iii. *LMT: commercial: 541-885-2480 VSCS:*

    iv. *MWH: commercial: 509-762-1367 VSCS: 104-47*

    v.  *NUW: commercial: 360-257-2887 VSCS: 131-82*

    vi. *PDX: commercial: 503-493-7580 VSCS:114-49*

    vii. *PSC: commercial: 509-542-4209 VSCS: 129-49*

    viii. *SEA: commercial: 206-214-4657 VSCS: 110-60*

12. FAA Towers and Phone #s (commercial and VSCS) within ARTCC

    i.  *ALW commercial: 509-529-9750 VSCS: 129-57*

    ii. *BFI commercial: 206-658-6406 VSCS: 119-5273*

    iii. *BLI commercial: 360-734-2745 VSCS: 172-08*

    iv. *GEG commercial: 509-363-6912 VSCS: 104-57*

    v.  *HIO commercial: 503-615-5477 VSCS:*

    vi. *LMT commercial: 541-885-2502 VSCS: 132-58*

    vii. *LWS commercial: 208-742-1537 VSCS:130-55*

    viii. *MWH commercial: 509-762-1367 VSCS: 104-46*

    ix. *MFR commercial: 541-776-4296 VSCS: 133-52*

    x.  *OLM commercial: 360-754-1517 VSCS:*

    xi. *PAE commercial: 425-923-1410 VSCS:*

    xii. *PDT commercial: 541-278-1993 VSCS:*

    xiii. *PDX commercial: 503-493-7550 VSCS: 114-52*

    xiv. *PSC commercial: 509-542-4209 VSCS: 129-58*

    xv. *RDM commercial: 541-548-2574 VSCS: 132-54*

    xvi. *RNT commercial: 206-764-6632 VSCS:*

    xvii. *SEA commercial: 206-214-2550 VSCS: 102-62*

    xviii. *SFF commercial: 509-353-2946 VSCS:*

    xix. *SLE commercial: 503-581-3323 VSCS: 133-59*

    xx. *TCM commercial: 253-982-6503 VSCS: 161-58*

    xxi. *TIW commercial: 253-905-0616 VSCS:*

    xxii. *TTD commercial: 503-665-0108 VSCS:*

    xxiii. *YKM commercial: 509-249-1480 VSCS: 130-57*

    xxiv. *YVR commercial: 604-775-9531 VSCS: 168-002*

# Hub/Pacing Airports

> 1\. **Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)**

xxv. Time of Daily Pushes (i.e., aviation "rush hour")

     a.  Morning: *10:30 a.m. -- noon*

     b.  Afternoon :

     c.  Evening: *7:30 p.m. -- 9 p.m.*

     d.  Other:

> ![](media/image4.jpeg){width="4.0in" height="4.322222222222222in"}

xxvi. Runways: 2

      a.  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 16R/34L

          1.  Approaches: *ILS 16R/34L, ILS 16R for CAT II and CAT III
              aircraft, RNAV (GPS) 16R/34L, VOR 16R/34L, NDB 16R, Bay
              visual 16R, Husky visual 16R, Mall visual 34L*

          2.  Minimums: *200' and ½ sm ILS for aircraft with no
              additional equipment, CAT II 1200' RVR, CAT III 700' RVR*

          3.  Limiting Issues: *Used when visibility \< 1 sm, so
              equipment outages would limit operations under certain
              weather conditions*.

      b.  16L/34R

          1.  Approaches: ILS 16L/34R, VOR 16L/34R, RNAV (GPS) 16L/34R,
              VOR 16L/34R, NDB 34R, Bay visual 16L, Husky visual 34R,
              Mall visual 34R

          2.  Minimums: ILS with no extra equipment...16L 300' and 1 sm,
              34R 200' and ½ sm.

          3.  Limiting Issues: Not used with RVR \< 5000'

xxvii. Significant Weather

       a.  TS: Any TS

       b.  Visibility: \< 1 sm

       c.  Ceilings: \< 6000'

       d.  Weather: freezing rain, snow, cross winds, convergence zone,
           and fog

       e.  Other:

xxviii. Climatology:

> Seattle is located on a hill between the salt waters of Puget Sound to
> the west and the fresh waters of Lake Washington to the east. The lake
> shore roughly parallels the shore of Lake Washington at distances
> varying from about 2-1/2 to 6 miles. Hills rise abruptly from both
> shorelines and reach elevations of more than 300 feet in the central
> area to more than 500 feet in the northern and southwestern sections.
> The north-south orientation of the city is matched on the east by the
> Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains to the west and northwest.
>
> The climate of Seattle is mild and moist, the result of the prevailing
> westerly winds of the Pacific Ocean approximately 90 miles to the
> west, and the Cascade Mountains which tend to shield the city from the
> cold continental air from the east. Winters are comparatively warm and
> summers cool because of the steady influx of marine air. The daily
> temperature range is small and extremes of temperature, both hot and
> cold, are moderate and usually of short duration.
>
> The warmest summer and the coldest winter days come with the north
> winds from British Columbia or east winds from Eastern Washington. An
> average year will have less than three days during the summer with a
> high temperature of 90 degrees or more than the maximum temperature
> rarely reaching 100 degrees. Nighttime temperatures during the warmest
> months seldom remain above 65 degrees. Daily highs during the winter
> fail to rise above 32 degrees on an average of about two days per
> year, while the minimum temperatures of 32 degrees or less averages
> only 15 days per year. Low temperatures may vary by several degrees
> throughout the city and depend upon the wind direction, distance from
> water, and site elevation.
>
> The growing season often lasts from about the mid-March to late
> November and grass is usually green throughout the winter.
>
> The city lies within the lee side dry area caused by the Olympic
> Mountains. As a result, the normal precipitation of less than 36
> inches is relatively light when compared to the 50 inches or more that
> falls on the nearby Cascade foothills. The western slopes of these
> hills and mountains lift the moist marine air, causing very heavy
> precipitation on the seaward slopes. The winter wet season, usually
> from October to March, is the result of the air flowing around the
> Aleutian low pressure system, but, in the summer the Eastern Pacific
> high pressure system moves north and forces moist marine air to the
> north of Washington and brings relatively dry and cool air to the
> state. The warmest temperatures of the summer usually occur when the
> Pacific high extends into southwest Canada creating a hot and dry flow
> of continental air across the Cascade Mountains into the Puget Sound
> area. Less than 20 percent of the annual rainfall occurs during the
> summer dry season, April through September.
>
> The average snowfall is about 9 inches but the snow seldom remains on
> the ground for more than two days at a time. Annual totals range from
> as little as a trace in several instances to over 36 inches in one
> season. Fog is a frequent occurrence during the late fall and winter
> months. Severe weather is relatively infrequent over Seattle with an
> average of six thunderstorms per year and no tornado ever reported
> within the city.
>
> ![](media/image5.png){width="4.874305555555556in"
> height="3.502083333333333in"}
>
> ![](media/image6.png){width="5.371527777777778in"
> height="3.676388888888889in"}

xxix. Arrival Fixes/Gates

> ![](media/image7.png){width="4.500694444444444in" height="3.25in"}

xxx. Arrival Fix/Gate Significant Weather

     a.  TS: *Anytime TS in the vicinity*

     b.  Visibility:

     c.  Ceilings:

     d.  Weather: *moderate or severe icing and turbulence, convergence
         zone can affect JAWBN and JAKSN*

xxxi. Departure Fixes/Gates

> ![](media/image8.png){width="5.751388888888889in"
> height="3.8340277777777776in"}

xxxii. Departure Fix/Gate Significant Weather

       a.  TS: *Any thunderstorm causing deviations*

       b.  Visibility:

       c.  Ceilings:

xxxiii. Seattle Flow Patterns

        a.  North -- North winds at SEA usually result in a north flow
            pattern at the airport. Planes arriving land from the south.
            Departing aircraft take off heading north. (See the map on
            the following page north flow patterns.)

> ![](media/image9.png){width="6.2444444444444445in"
> height="5.397222222222222in"}

b.  South -- South winds at SEA usually result in a south flow pattern
    at the airport. Planes arriving land from the north. Departing
    aircraft take off heading south.

> ![](media/image10.png){width="6.243055555555555in"
> height="5.6409722222222225in"}
>
> 2\. **Portland International (PDX)**

xxxiv. Time of Daily Pushes (i.e., aviation "rush hour")

       a.  Morning:

       b.  Afternoon: *noon -- 1 p.m.*

       c.  Evening: *4:30 -- 6:00 p.m*.

> ![](media/image11.jpeg){width="5.122916666666667in"
> height="3.390277777777778in"}

xxxv. Number of runways: 3

      a.  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 10R/28L

          1.  Approaches: *ILS, ILS 10R (CAT II & CAT III), RNAV, TACAN
              28L, NDB (GPS) 28L, Columbia visual 10R, MILL visual 28L*

          2.  Minimums: *ILS with no extra equipment...10R 200' and ½
              sm, 28L* *300' and ½ sm*

          3.  Limiting Issues: *none*

      b.  10L/28R

          1.  Approaches: *ILS, RNAV, VOR 28R, NDB (GPS) 28R, MILL
              visual 28R, Columbia visual 10L*

          2.  Minimums*: 10L...300' and ½ sm, 28R...300' and ¾ sm* .
              *ILS with no extra equipment.*

          3.  Limiting Issues: *none*

      c.  3/21

          1.  Approaches: *RWY 21...LOC/DME, VOR/DME*,

          2.  Minimums: *700' ceiling and 1 sm using ILS with no extra
              equipment*

          3.  Limiting Issues: *none*

xxxvi. Significant Weather

       a.  TS: *Any TS in the vicinity*

       b.  Visibility:

       c.  Ceilings:

       d.  Weather: *Freezing rain and snow winter, dense fog fall and
           winter*

       e.  Other: LLWS. Storms approaching the Oregon coast (usually in
           winter) can cause strong east winds at low levels through the
           Columbia River Gorge with strong southerly winds
           aloft...resulting in LLWS in the Portland area.

xxxvii. Climatology

> Sheltered by two mountain ranges, Portland enjoys mild weather all
> year long, rarely experiencing the severe weather extremes common to
> much of the rest of the country.
>
> However, that doesn't mean that Portland doesn't have seasons. July
> and August are warm and dry, with average high temperatures in the
> upper 70's and lower 80's. The occasional winter snowstorm blankets
> the city in a few inches of snow that stay around long enough to be
> enjoyed but rarely long enough to
>
> annoy. East winds and freezing rain can be a problem at the airport
> during the winter months when winter storms approach the Oregon coast
> from the southwest, overrunning very cold, Arctic air entrenched over
> the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington and eastern Oregon.
>
> ![](media/image12.png){width="4.875694444444444in"
> height="3.783333333333333in"}
>
> ![](media/image13.png){width="4.997222222222222in" height="3.9125in"}

xxxviii. Arrival Fixes/Gates

> ![](media/image14.png){width="4.75in" height="4.75in"}

xxxix. Arrival Fix/Gate Significant Weather

       a.  TS: *Anytime thunderstorms in the vicinity*

       b.  Visibility:

       c.  Ceilings:

       d.  Weather: *moderate to severe icing and/or turbulence*

       e.  Other:

xl. Departure Fixes/Gates

> ![](media/image15.png){width="5.751388888888889in"
> height="3.8340277777777776in"}

xli. Departure Fix/Gate Significant Weather

     a.  TS: *Anytime thunderstorms in the vicinity*.

     b.  Visibility:

     c.  Ceilings:

     d.  Weather: *Freezing rain and snow*

     e.  Other: *LLWS*

> xviii\. Portland Flow Patterns

The flight track maps that appear here are examples of actual flight
patterns that are typically observed during the various weather systems
in the Portland area. The prevailing winds in Portland are from the east
out of the Columbia Gorge during the fall and winter months (from about
October to March), and from the west off of the ocean during the spring
and summer months (April to September).

> All aircraft must take off and land into the wind, so for
> approximately six months the typical patterns are landing from the
> west and departing to the east (fall/winter) and the other six months
> the typical patterns are landing from the east and departing to the
> west (spring/summer). It is important to note that these wind patterns
> are very general, and may vary from day to day depending on other
> atmospheric conditions. However, the majority of the aircraft traffic
> flow will be as outlined during either the summer or winter periods.
>
> During the winter months Portland sometimes experiences strong weather
> systems that come through the area from the south. If this happens, it
> will usually occur sometime during the October-to-March timeframe.
> With the strong winds associated with these systems, the typical
> patterns are landing from the north and departing to the south
>
> a\. West Flow Pattern (using runways 10R/28L and/or 10L/28R)
>
> ![](media/image16.png){width="6.248611111111111in"
> height="5.504166666666666in"}
>
> b\. East Flow Pattern (using runways 10R/28L and/or 10L/28R)
>
> ![](media/image17.png){width="6.248611111111111in"
> height="5.504166666666666in"}
>
> c\. Crosswind Flow Pattern (using runway 3/21)
>
> ![](media/image18.png){width="3.998611111111111in"
> height="3.998611111111111in"}

## FAA Playbook Operations and CCFP

13. Support to Strategic Plan of Operations Telcon

    i.  Participants: *TMUs (ARTCC and TRACONs), ARTCSCC, Airlines*

    ii. Telcon Schedule: *Every 2 hours on the even hours*

    iii. Weather Requirements: *Determine areas impacted by severe
         weather, time of development, tops, movement and duration*

14. Weather Impacts to Internal Airports

    i.  *none*

15. Weather Impacts to Outer-Tier Airports

    i.  *none*

16. Airway Closers

    i.  *ZSE not included*

17. East to West Transcon Routes

    i.  *no changes in east-west transcon routes to ZSE approach or
        departure airspace*

18. West to East Transcon Routes

    i.  *no changes in west-east transcon routes to ZSE approach or
        departure airspace*

19. Regional Routes

    i.  *Sierra North*

    ii. *Sierra South 1*

    iii. *Sierra South 2*

## Special ARTCC Requirements

20. Quality Control Office Weather Support Requirements for

    i.  Operational Errors

        a.  *Pireps*

        b.  *Airmets*

        c.  *Sigmets*

    ii. Aircraft Accidents (fatal and non-fatal)

        a.  *Pireps*

        b.  *CWAs, MISs, Sigmets, Airmets*

        c.  *Metars, TAFs, FD winds, radar*

21. Routine Briefings to ARTCC and other FAA Facilities

    i.  ARTCC Verbal Briefings

        a.  Standup/Management Briefing Times

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1)  *8:00 A.M.*

2)  *4*:45 P.M.

    a.  Locally Required Briefing Content

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1)  *Ceilings and visibilities*

2)  *Airmets and Sigmets, i.e., high and low level turbulence, icing and
    ifr conditions*

3)  *Satellite images*

4)  *Radar images*

5)  *Surface pressure systems and surface winds*

    i.  ARTCC Written Briefings

        a.  Full Forecast Briefings: *none*

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    b.  Forecast Updates: *no written updates*

> iii\. Other Routine Briefings: *none*

1.  Special Event Briefings

    i.  Event/Facility Briefed: *none*

2.  Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) Support

    i.  No routine support, AFSS calls CWSU when urgent pireps reported

    ii. Occasionally notify AFSS of unexpected wind shift or
        thunderstorm in the vicinity

3.  Outreach Programs

    i.  Visits to parent WFO and local TRACON

4.  Center-Unique Support to FAA and NWS Components: *none*