ZOA Weather Impact Playbook (WIP)

## Facility and NWS Management Contact Information

1.  Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC): **ZOA Oakland**

    i.  Air Traffic Manager: *Randy Park*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3301*

    ii. Assistant Air Traffic Manager: *Mike Muhl*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3302*

    iii. Air Traffic Executive Secretary: *Tressie Fields*\
         Contact Information: *(510) 745-3303*

    iv. Airway Facilities: *Vaughn Turner*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3362*

    v.  Quality Assurance: *Kevin Joseph*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3469*

    vi. Training Officer: *Pete Marcuzzo*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3474*

    vii. Logistics Officer: *Diane Sanchez*\
         Contact Information: *(510) 745- 3365*

    viii. Flight Data: *John Fisher*

> Contact Information: *(510) 745-3481*

2.  Supporting Warning Forecast Office (WFO): **Monterey, CA (MTR)**

    i.  WFO Meteorologist in Charge (MIC): *Dave Reynolds*\
        Contact Information: *(831) 656-1710 x222*

    ii. WFO Science Operations Officer (SOO): *Warren Blier\
        * Contact Information: *(831) 656-1710 x224*

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

    iv. CWSU Meteorologist in Charge (MIC): *Ken Venzke*

    v.  Contact Information: *(510) 745-3425*

    vi. WFO Administrative Services Assistant (ASA): *Arlean Most*\
        Contact Information: *(831) 656-1710*

    vii. Electronics Systems Analyst (ESA): *Wayne Bailey*\
         Contact Information: *(831) 656-1710x260*

    viii. Aviation Focal Point (AFP): *Carolina Horne*\
          Contact Information: (831) *656-1710*

3.  Supporting WFOs writing TAFs within the airspace

    i.  San Francisco Bay Area in Monterey, CA (MTR)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *STS, SFO, OAK, SJC, MRY, SNS*

        b.  Contact Information: *(831) 656-1749*

    ii. Sacramento, CA (STO)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *RDD, RBL, SAC, SMF, MHR, SCK*

        b.  Contact Information: *(916) 979-3045*

    iii. San Joaquin Valley in Hanford, CA (HNX)

         a.  TAF Identifiers: *MCE, FAT, BFL*

         b.  Contact Information: (*209) 584-9051*

    iv. Eureka, CA (EKA)

        a.  TAF Identifiers: *CEC, ACV, UKI*

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

4.  Traffic Management Unit (TMU)

    i.  Traffic Management Officer (TMO): *Wess Hall*\
        Contact Information: *(510) 745-3812*

    ii. Supervisory Traffic Management Controllers\
        Contact Information *(510) 745-3332*

        a.  *John Berggen*

        b.  *Carol Dryden*

        c.  *Dave Criswell*

5.  Air Route Traffic Control Centers

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

![](media/image2.png){width="6.125in" height="4.298611111111111in"}

## ARTCC Facility Structure

6.  TMU Positions:

    i.  SFO Arrival-Spacing (ASP)

> Weather Impacts: *IFR or LIFR ceilings and visibilities, surface
> winds, and thunderstorms*

ii. SJC and OAK Arrival-Spacing (ASP)

> Weather Impacts: *Same as for SFO*

iii. LAX Enroute-Spacing (ESP)

> Weather Impacts: *IFR or LIFR ceilings and visibilities, surface
> winds, and thunderstorms*

iv. Dynamic Oceanic Tracks System (DOTS)

> Weather Impacts: *Tropical Cyclones and areas of severe turbulence*

v.  Weather Coordinator

> Weather Impacts: *Solicitation and dissemination of pilot reports,
> dissemination of SIGMETS, dissemination of CWAs from neighboring
> CWSUs*.
>
> vi\. ZOA High-elevation Sectors
>
> ![](media/image3.png){width="6.248611111111111in"
> height="3.863888888888889in"}
>
> vii\. ZOA Low-elevation Sectors
>
> ![](media/image4.png){width="6.248611111111111in"
> height="3.863888888888889in"}

7.  Area D

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *John Fisher*

General Area: *Coastal Mountains from Bay Area northward + northwest
Nevada*

i.  High#: 31, 32, 43

ii. Low#: 40, 41, 42

iii. VORs: *RBL, SAC, LIN, OAK, FMG, HZN, LLC, ECA, MXW, ILA, ENI, STS,
     SGD, PYE*

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

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8.  Area E

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Dave Foyle*
>
> General Area: Western Nevada + Sierra Nevada in eastern California

i.  High#: *33 and 34*

ii. Low#: *44, 45, 46*

iii. VORs: FMG, LLC, HZN, SWR, MVA, OAL, BIH, MOD

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

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9.  Area I (formally Areas A and B - now combined)

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Sam Gross*
>
> General Area: *Coastal Mountains from Bay Area southward + large
> portions of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys + Sierra Nevada
> foothills*

i.  High#: 11, 13, 14, 15

ii. Low#: 10, 16, 22

iii. VORs: *OSI, SNS, BSR, PXN, CZQ, FRA*

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

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```
10. Areas G+H (Ocean areas)

> Operations Manager/Area Supervisor: *Tom Lane*
>
> General Area: *Coastal Mountains north of San Francisco to near Oregon
> border, plus the adjacent coastal and offshore waters of the Pacific
> Ocean*

i.  High#: *35 and 36*

ii. Low#: *35*

iii. VORs: ENI, PYE, SAU

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 Oakland ARTCC

    i.  *Northern California Tracon (NCT): commercial: 916-366-4019
        VSCS: 156-94*

    ii. *Reno Tracon: commercial: 775-348-8840 VSCS: 161-63*

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

    i.  *APC commercial: 707-255-1533 VSCS: 156-08*

    ii. *BAB commercial: 530-634-4108 VSCS: 156-54,55*

    iii. *CCR commercial: 925-685-5743 VSCS: 122-58*

    iv. *CIC commercial: 530-896-7699 VSCS: 163-38*

    v.  *FAT commercial: 559-621-4500 VSCS: 174-26*

    vi. *HWD commercial: 510-293-8678 VSCS: 110-09\*122-63*

    vii. *LVK commercial: 925-443-0667 VSCS: 122-57*

    viii. *MHR commercial: 916-874-7077 VSCS: 156-50*

    ix. *MOD commercial: 209-526-4555 VSCS: 122-09*

    x.  *MRY commercial: 831-375-7433 VSCS: 111/993-20*

    xi. *NFL commercial: 775-426-2611 VSCS: 165-26*

    xii. *NUQ commercial: 650-604-5000 VSCS: 993-54*

    xiii. *OAK N. commercial: 510-273-7418 VSCS: 111/122-92*

    xiv. *OAK S. commercial: 510-273-7418 VSCS: 110-08\*111/122-90*

    xv. *OAK Sup commercial: 510-577-4000 VSCS: 993-90*

    xvi. *PAO commercial: 650-858-0606 VSCS: 993-37*

    xvii. *RDD commercial: 530-221-4475 VSCS: 163-69*

    xviii. *RHV commercial: 408-929-2256 VSCS: 122-88\*993-24*

    xix. *RNO commercial: 775-328-6490 VSCS: 161-64*

    xx. *SAC commercial: 916-428-8020 VSCS: 156-78*

    xxi. *SCK commercial: 209-946-6223 VSCS: 111/112-04*

    xxii. *SFO commercial: 650-876-2722 VSCS: 111/122-49*

    xxiii. *SJC commercial: 408-277-5388 VSCS: 111-02*

    xxiv. *SMF commercial: 916-929-5871 VSCS: 156-80*

    xxv. *SNS commercial: 831-424-5022 VSCS: 993-84*

    xxvi. *SQL commercial: 650-592-5289 VSCS: 122-33*

    xxvii. *STS commercial: 707-546-4294 VSCS: 156-59*

    xxviii. *TVL commercial: 530-541-3302 VSCS: 161-65*

# Hub/Pacing Airports

> 1\. **San Francisco International (SFO)**
>
> ![](media/image5.png){width="4.852777777777778in"
> height="6.966666666666667in"}
>
> ![](media/image6.jpeg){width="4.626388888888889in"
> height="3.703472222222222in"}

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

      a.  Morning: *9:45 a.m. -- 11:30 a.m.*

      b.  Afternoon: *5:00 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m.*

      c.  Evening: *8:00 p.m. -- 9:30 p.m.*

xxx. Significant Weather

     a.  TS: Any thunderstorm

     b.  Visibility: \< 3 statute miles

     c.  Ceilings: \< 3500 feet

     d.  Weather: stratus, fog, heavy rain, southerly winds, and
         cross-winds

     e.  Other: Wind shift for West Plan/SE Plan

xxxi. **Climatology**: (the following is extracted from NOAA Technical
      Memorandum, NWS-WR-126 by Jan Null, January 1995.)

San Francisco\'s climate is modified by the location of the city on the
northern end of a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the relatively
cool waters of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. In addition to
the normal cool temperatures of the mid-latitude Pacific Ocean, the
water temperatures are modified by the upwelling of cold water along the
California coast. This phenomenon is caused by the persistence of the
Pacific High and the northwest winds that are constrained by the Coast
Range to blow parallel to the coastline. The effects of these winds
cause a net transport of surface waters away from the shore.
Consequently, as the surface waters drift away from the coast, they are
replaced by the upwelling of colder waters from below (Ahrens, 1991).

Summertime in San Francisco is characterized by cool marine air and
persistent coastal stratus and fog, with average maximum temperatures
between 60F and 70F, and minima between 50F and 55F. The mornings will
typically find the entire city, \[and much of San Francisco Bay\],
overcast followed by clearing on the warmer bay side, but only partial
clearing on the cooler ocean side. The summertime temperature gradient
across the city is generally from northwest to southeast, with the
warmer readings farthest from the coast and in the wind sheltered
valleys. These differences are enhanced further by a strong afternoon
and evening sea-breeze that is a result of the temperature (and
consequently pressure) difference between the Pacific Ocean and the
interior valleys of California. These westerly winds are channeled
through the Golden Gate and lesser breaks in the high terrain of the
Coast Range, reaching a maximum during the afternoon with speeds between
20 and 30 miles per hour being typical (Root, 1960).

Rainfall from May through September is relatively rare, with an
aggregate of less than an inch, or only about 5 percent of the yearly
average total of approximately 21.5 inches. Off- season rains, which do
occur, are usually the result of weak early or late season occluded
fronts, or surges of subtropical moisture from the south that result in
brief showers or thundershowers spreading into the area. Considerable
moisture is due to drizzle when the marine layer deepens sufficiently.
This is seldom enough to measure (i.e., less than .01 inch) on any given
day, except along the immediate coast.

Winter temperatures in San Francisco are quite temperate, with highs
between 55F and 60F and lows in the 45F to 50F range (Null, 1978). The
main source region of wintertime fog in San Francisco is the Great
Valley. Radiation fog is formed in the moist regions of the Sacramento
River Delta and is advected through Suisun and San Pablo Bays and into
San Francisco Bay on cool easterly drainage winds. This type of fog is
less common than that of summer, but is typically much denser and has a
greater impact upon transportation systems due to greatly reduced
visibilities (Root, 1960).

Over 80 percent of San Francisco\'s seasonal rain falls between November
and March, occurring over about 10 days per month. Winter rains on the
California coast are primarily due to occluded fronts on a trajectory
from the west-northwest, and an occasional cold front from the Gulf of
Alaska. These systems are driven southward during the winter as the
Pacific High drifts south and westerlies and Polar jet stream dip south
of 40N. Winter thunderstorms occur on the average only twice per season
in cold unstable post-frontal air masses. There is also considerable
aerial variation of annual precipitation amounts.

Snow is extremely rare in San Francisco, with only 10 documented
instances of measurable snow at the official observing site in the past
143 seasons. Snow has fallen on a number of other occasions, but usually
only in trace amounts or at the higher elevations. Additionally, some of
these occurrences are not true snow events but were the result of either
small hail or ice pellets (Pericht, 1988).

Spring and fall are transition periods for San Francisco. These seasons
usually produce the most cloud-free days between the overcast days of
summertime stratus and the rain laden clouds of winter. San Francisco\'s
hottest days are typically during the spring and fall when high pressure
builds into the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin, and dry offshore
winds replace the Pacific sea-breeze. The three hottest days in San
Francisco occurred in September and October (Pericht, 1988).

The occurrence of rainfall during the early spring and fall is
infrequent, with only about 5 days per month on the average. While most
storms during these periods produce light precipitation, the occasional
coupling of polar and subtropical air masses can produce heavy rainfall
events. For example, the \"Columbus Day Storm\" (October 11, 1962
through October 13, 1962) dropped over five inches of rain on San
Francisco (Null, 1978). The diversity of San Francisco\'s microclimates
in general and its rainfall patterns in particular, must be considered
when utilizing the data from a single site. In a relatively flat region,
without the influences of the ocean and topography, there is little
discernible change in annual rainfall averages with distance. However,
within a distance of only a few miles in San Francisco there can be as
much as a 20 percent difference in average annual rainfall (i.e., from
18\" to 22\").

**San Francisco International (SFO)**

> ![](media/image7.png){width="5.3125in" height="3.0208333333333335in"}
>
> ![](media/image8.png){width="5.3125in" height="3.0208333333333335in"}

xxxii. San Francisco International Airport

+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| **A  |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| AR** |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| **La | **   | *  | *  | **   | **Sug  | **Notes**                  |
| nd** | Depa | *I | *V | VAPS | gested |                            |
|      | rt** | FR | FR | (2   | P      |                            |
|      |      | ** | ** | 000/ | rogram |                            |
|      |      |    |    | 3)** | Rate** |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | **1L | 30 | 45 | 60   |        | Minimum ceiling for VAPS   |
| *28L | /R** |    |    | Du   |        | 3000-3500                  |
| /R** |      |    |    | ring |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Dayl |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | ight |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Ho   |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | urs. |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | 50   |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Du   |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | ring |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Non- |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Dayl |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | ight |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | Ho   |        |                            |
|      |      |    |    | urs. |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | *    | 30 | 45 | 45   |        | Minimum ceiling for VAPS   |
| *28L | *28L |    |    |      |        | 3000 to 3500               |
| /R** | /R** |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | **1L | 30 | N  | 30   |        | Minimum ceiling for VAPS   |
| *28L | /R** |    | /A |      |        | 3000 to 3500               |
| or   |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| 2    |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| 8R** |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| **1L | **1L | 30 | N  | 30   |        |                            |
| /R** | /R** |    | /A |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | *    | 2  | N  | 40   |        | Minimum Ceiling for VAPS   |
| *19L | *19L | 5- | /A |      |        | 4000                       |
| /R** | /R** | 30 |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | *    | 2  | N  | 30   |        | Minimum ceiling for VAPS   |
| *19L | *10L | 7- | /A |      |        | 4000                       |
| or   | /R** | 30 |    |      |        |                            |
| 1    |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| 9R** |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | *    | 2  | N  | 40   |        | Minimum ceiling for VAPS   |
| *19L | *10L | 7- | /A |      |        | 4000                       |
| /R** | or   | 30 |    |      |        |                            |
|      | 1    |    |    |      |        |                            |
|      | 0R** |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    | *    | 2  | N  | 40   |        |                            |
| *10L | *10L | 7- | /A |      |        |                            |
| /R** | /R** | 30 |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+
| *    |      | 27 | N  | 27   |        |                            |
| *Any |      |    | /A |      |        |                            |
| Si   |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| ngle |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| R    |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
| wy** |      |    |    |      |        |                            |
+------+------+----+----+------+--------+----------------------------+

  ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------
  **Holding Capacities**                     

  **Center/Fix**                             **Capacity**

  **PYE**                                    6

  **ENI**                                    5

  **CEDES**                                  5

  **MOD**                                    5

  **INYOE**                                  2

  **BRINY**                                  2

  **SKUNK**                                  6
  ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------

  ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------
  **Arrival Flows**                              

  **Centers**                                    **Fixes**

  **ZSE, ZLC**                                   PYE: N

  **All Centers\                                 MOD and\
  except ZSE**                                   CEDES: E

  **International Traffic**                      BRINY: W

  **ZLA, ZAB**                                   BSR and\
                                                 SKUNK: S
  ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Category\                         
  Minimums**                          

  **Category**                        **RVR**

  **I**                               1800 ft

  **II**                              1200 ft

  **IIIa**                            700 ft

  **IIIb**                            150 ft

  **IIIc**                            0 ft
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

xxxiii. Arrival Fixes/Gates

**↓**

> **→ SFO ←**
>
> **↑**

xxxiv. Arrival Fix/Gate Significant Weather

       a.  TS: *Anytime TS in the vicinity*

       b.  Visibility: \<5nm may change to 45-rate

       c.  Ceilings: \<3500-4000ft

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

xxxv. Departure Fixes/Gates

xxxvi. Departure Fix/Gate Significant Weather

       a.  TS: *Any thunderstorm causing deviations*

       b.  Visibility:

       c.  Ceilings:

> ix\. Bay Area Flow Patterns
>
> a\. West Flow Pattern (normal)

![](media/image9.png){width="5.626388888888889in"
height="5.626388888888889in"}

> b\. South East Flow Pattern (SE Plan)

![](media/image10.png){width="5.979166666666667in"
height="5.979166666666667in"}

> c\. Night Pattern

xxxvii. ![](media/image11.png){width="5.979166666666667in"
        height="5.979166666666667in"}

> 2\. **San Jose International (SJC)**
>
> ![](media/image12.wmf){width="4.072916666666667in"
> height="5.916666666666667in"}
>
> i Time of Daily Pushes (i.e., aviation "rush hour")
>
> a Morning: *8:00am - noon*:
>
> b Afternoon: *4:00 -- 5:00 p.m.*
>
> c Evening: *7:00 -- 9:00 p.m*.
>
> ii Significant Weather
>
> a TS: *Any TS in the vicinity*
>
> b Visibility:
>
> c Ceilings:
>
> d Weather: *Dense fog, mainly winter*
>
> e Other: *LLWS*.
>
> iii Climatology (the following is extracted from NOAA Technical
> Memorandum, NWS-WR-259 by Miguel Miller, April 1999.)

San Jose is located in the Santa Clara Valley which extends to the
southeast from San Francisco Bay. The valley is oriented in a
northwest-southeast direction with mountain ranges on both sides. To the
west and south lie the Santa Cruz Mountains. East of the valley lies the
Diablo Range. Southern and eastern reaches of the city extend into the
foothills of these ranges.

San Jose's latitude and location on the west coast of North America
place the city in a Mediterranean-type climate. This classification is
mainly identified by sharply contrasting wet and dry seasons. The wet
season runs from November through March. 82% of the yearly precipitation
total falls within this period. Rainfall is sparse from May through
October. Rain during the summer months of June, July and August normally
totals only 0.20\". Wet seasons are cool, but mild. Dry season weather
is very consistent, with warm sunny days.

Coastal California experiences a marine-dominated climate largely
influenced by the cold California Current. During the dry season, a
large and semi-permanent high pressure area over the eastern Pacific
establishes itself. This produces steady northwest winds parallel to the
coast. These winds propel other physical forces which transport the
surface water offshore. The surface water is replaced by the colder
upwelling water. Strong upwelling during the summer and weak upwelling
during the winter keep sea surface temperatures normally in the 50 to 60
degree range all year. Air coming in contact with the ocean surface is
cooled and often condenses to form stratus clouds. The air near the
surface, cooled by the ocean waters, contrasts sharply with the warm
summer air aloft; this creates the stable marine inversion. The cool
layer underneath the warm air is called the marine layer.

Dry season weather is a combination of nocturnal low cloudiness, sunny
days, and an afternoon sea breeze. The interior of California is heated
by the hot summer sun, creating a thermally-induced low pressure area.
This creates a strong temperature (and pressure) contrast (gradient)
from the coast inland. Cool air from the ocean moves inland with a
strength proportional to the strength of the pressure gradient. This
pressure gradient has been termed an "onshore flow". San Jose lies in a
zone between true coastal influence and true inland influence. These
influences are governed by the strength of the onshore flow. Onshore
flow is the typical pattern during the dry season. Under neutral or
offshore flow, the weather in San Jose has little marine influence.

Summer weather includes nighttime low clouds to some extent for roughly
two-thirds of the nights. In the presence of a strong and deep marine
layer, clouds will develop during the evening and not clear until late
morning. With a weaker marine layer, aerial coverage of the nighttime
clouds is often incomplete and random, or absent. Summer stratus clouds
are almost never low enough to produce fog with visibilities that hamper
transportation.

Mid-summer high temperatures, assuming a weak to moderate onshore flow
pattern, normally range from 80 to 85 degrees. Lows are consistently
between 55 and 60. Afternoon high temperatures are tempered by the sea
breeze off the bay.

Offshore flow occurs when high pressure at the surface builds over the
Great Basin province, with lower pressure off the coast. During offshore
flow, all marine influence disappears, and temperatures can soar to 100
degrees or more during the dry season. These events occur during any
season, but are most common in Fall, and secondarily in the Spring.

Dry season winds are nearly calm every day during the time period of an
hour or two after sunset to around midday. Then, almost like clockwork,
a northwest sea breeze of 10 to 15 knots will develop in the afternoon.
Occasionally during the summer the pressure gradient is oriented from
south to north, producing a southerly flow. The onshore flow then
reaches San Jose through the back door - through the southern part of
the valley. Southeast sea breezes then develop, mainly in southern
sections of the city. During wet season storms, strong southeast winds
blow ahead of the cold front.

Rainfall during the dry season is rare, but does happen as a result of
late or early season storm fronts or southerly surges of subtropical
moisture. Coastal drizzle, which can accumulate to measurable levels
along the coast with a sufficiently deep marine layer, hardly ever
amounts to more than a trace in San Jose.

Radiation fog from the Central Valley advects into the Bay Area through
the Carquinez Strait during wintertime offshore flow. It can also spill
into the Fremont area over Sunol Pass from the Livermore Valley. Rarely,
if ever, does this fog advect all the way to San Jose. Rather, radiation
fog is more likely to form on its own, especially in sheltered pockets
away from the bay such as the Almaden Valley, Evergreen, and Coyote
Creek areas. Dense fog can develop overnight when the antecedent
conditions include a moist lower layer (i.e. following a recent rain
event), clear skies, and calm winds. Dense fog is not very common at San
Jose International Airport, but it can have a great impact upon air
transportation because of reduced visibilities.

Winter storms normally occur due to occluded fronts moving into the
region from the west- northwest. The Pacific High moves southward as the
westerlies of the Polar jet stream migrate southward into the California
latitudes. Occasionally, cold fronts from the Gulf of Alaska or warm
rain events induced by an active subtropical jet stream can produce
significant rainfall. Thunderstorms are rare, but can occur in cold and
unstable air masses following a cold front. Normally, the thunderstorms
only produce brief heavy rainfall. Infrequently, they produce small hail
or exhibit severe behavior such as a funnel cloud or very rarely a
tornado.

Rainfall during early spring and fall is infrequent. Most storms during
this period produce light showers.

San Jose lies in the rain shadow of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Air
flowing over the mountains sinks upon reaching the valley, decreasing
the necessary lifting mechanism for cloud formation and rainfall.
Distribution of average annual rainfall over the San Jose area is
largely dictated by topography, gradually decreasing from south to
north. San Jose averages about one-fourth of the rainfall received in
the mountains.

Snow is extremely rare in San Jose, with only a handful of well
documented instances in over 100 years. Amounts are usually a trace and
have never exceeded one inch.

> **San Jose International Airport (SJC)**
>
> ![](media/image13.png){width="5.3125in" height="3.0208333333333335in"}
>
> ![](media/image14.png){width="5.3125in" height="3.0208333333333335in"}

xxxviii. Arrival Fixes/Gates (West Plan)

**↓**

> **→ SJC ←**
>
> **↑**

xi\. Arrival Fix/Gate Significant Weather

a.  TS: *Anytime thunderstorms in the vicinity*

b.  Visibility: \<3nm

c.  Ceilings: IFR

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

e.  Other: SE winds \>10kts

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xxxix. Departure Fix/Gate Significant Weather

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

       b.  Visibility: \<3nm

       c.  Ceilings: IFR

       d.  Weather: *Heavy rain/TS*

       e.  Other: *LLWS*

## 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.  *Invokes MIT and/or gate closure*

15. Weather Impacts to Outer-Tier Airports

    i.  *Invokes MIT and/or gate closure*

16. Airway Closers

    i.  *ZOA not included*

17. East to West Transcon Routes

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

18. West to East Transcon Routes

    i.  *no changes in west-east transcon routes to ZOA 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)  *7:15 A.M.*

2)  *3*:15 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: *0715L & 1515L*

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    b.  Forecast Updates: *as required/requested*

> iii\. Other Routine Briefings: *Oceanic FIR SIGMET updates*

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, local TRACON, New Controller training,
        various NWS aviation outreach participation.

4.  Center-Unique Support to FAA and NWS Components: *Oceanic FIR*

    i.  Monitor Volcanic Ash Advisories/VA SIGMETS

    ii. Support to DOTS plus Oceanic Winds & Track development