U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan Byrnes

Airman 1st Class Jocelyn Huls, 57th Operations Support Weather Flight weather forecaster, uses a Kestrel Meter to record weather conditions at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 3. A Kestrel Meter is a handheld device that calculates wind speed, temperature and other weather parameters.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Atmospheric weather conditions vary every day due to changes in heat, wind and moisture. Weather is constantly changing and is not something that can be controlled.
The 57th Operations Support Weather Flight is tasked with calculating and monitoring weather to provide key information that directly affects daily flying operations. Red Flag brings a new set of challenges as it causes a huge increase in flying missions at Nellis AFB.
“The Weather Flight’s role during Red Flag is to coordinate weather support requirements with tasked (exercise) weather forecasters prior to arrival, provide training upon arrival and ensure they have the resources and expertise needed to provide weather support for the flying missions throughout the exercise,” said Staff Sgt. Jarad Guerrero-Salinas, 57th OSS mission weather forecaster.
The 57th OSS mission weather support NCO in charge, Tech Sgt. Melvin Watson, is the focal point for exercise operations and is an integral part in ensuring both the 57th Operations Support Weather Flight and Red Flag forecasters are consistent with weather information.
“He provides training and ensures resources are available for Red Flag personnel. There are two to four temporary duty forecasters for Red Flag,” said Guerrero-Salinas. “Their mission is to integrate the current and forecasted atmospheric and space weather conditions into Red Flag operations and planning. They provide mission safety for aircraft and personnel and maximize training through exploitation of timely, accurate and relevant weather information.”
Not only does Watson provide training to Red Flag weather personnel, he also checks the daily flight schedule so that he can tailor weather calculations to the specific aircraft that is flying.
“Typically in a daily operation what I want to know off-hand is the type of aircraft that are flying that day and where they are actually going,” said Watson. “Once I determine the aircraft and the location, I must then determine the mission type. That is the next important step.
“Is it air-to-ground or air-to-air? If it is an air-to-ground mission the pilots care about the weather from the surface to 15,000 feet. If it’s an air-to-air then they care about the weather from 10,000 to 35,000 feet. I take all this information and can tailor the weather to that particular mission and give the pilots only the weather information that they need to know for the mission.”
When aircrews go in for the Red Flag pre-flight briefing, the weather section is one of the first to go and is able to provide the mission essential information needed for the flying mission.
“Weather briefings contain airfield weather for takeoff and landing, route weather, (Nevada Test and Training Range) weather, and divert weather,” said Guerrero-Salinas. “Most people are familiar with surface weather; they see watches, warnings and advisories that pop up on computer screens.”
“The watches, warnings and advisories primarily impact take-off and landing, but there is a lot of additional information pilots can use to truly make the most of a mission set. Space weather can impact the ability to use GPS communications, the amount of moonlight can determine whether night vision googles can be used.
“A significant difference in flight level winds could prevent dropping live ordinance. Tailored targeting data with weather impacts can change the ideal approach direction of a target. Icing could stop refueling missions and high winds on the range means parachutes could be impacted.
There are endless parameters that must be examined, briefed and monitored. From take-off to touch down, from surface to space, weather forecasters handle the entire sortie and must brief any impacts or hazards within the spectrum of the mission.
Now multiply that by the number of sorties we have every day at Nellis, particularly during Green Flag and Red Flag exercises, and you can see the massive amounts of information weather personnel could communicate to flying personnel. During briefings, this is typically accomplished by focusing on mission-limiting weather, as pilots don’t have time for a detailed account of every aspect of weather.”
The weather flight is unique in the amount of flying squadrons it supports and Red Flag just adds to the mission.
“Absolutely the most unique thing about our mission is the scope. Generally, weather flights have two or three flying squadrons to support; here we support 16,” said Guerrero-Salinas.
“Most weather flights know their pilots personally. They spend years cultivating a relationship and trust, and most forecasters are specifically assigned to a unit. Here we support hundreds of pilots, many of whom we never see face to face.
“It is a balance trying to ensure we can provide the best support possible and establish that level of trust. Additionally our flight supports 17 annual exercises, either by providing training to TDY personnel, or actually supplying a forecaster, if sufficient TDY personnel were not identified. “
According to Guerrero-Salinas, it is possible to think weather information isn’t all that important at Nellis AFB because the take-off and landing weather is generally “good” but it is important to know just how crucial their support is even during good weather.
“While a lot of people might believe forecasters have a Magic 8 Ball under their desk, the daily tasks of a weather forecaster involves a lot of advanced mathematics and physics, forecasting is a science, not an art,” said Guerrero-Salinas.
Air Force Weather has placed a new focus on mission integration and weather personnel are expected to tailor the weather for each sortie. Every aircraft has different weather criteria that restricts or prohibits takeoff, route and landing weather. The weather flight uses their vast knowledge and training to professionally showcase Airpower by providing tailored weather briefs to aircrew that specifically impact the supported mission.