May 15 POD

Day 0 (Sunday): ER-2 and Citation hard down today.  Continue instrument work on aircraft as needed.

Day 1 (Monday): ER-2 still hard down due to runway closure.  Upper level ridge continues with dry conditions over SGP-CF and most of central US.  Likely down day for Citation due to complete lack of precipitation.  Science presentations at 1400 CDT.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Various models are handling progression of upper level trough off the west coast differently.  Some chance for precipitation over CO mountains and possibly further eastward into eastern CO and NE panhandle.  Details of upper level trough and associated precipitation vary from model-to-model so uncertainty is high. 

Runway at Offutt opens 0800 CDT (13 UTC) on Tuesday. ER-2 has 7.5 hours of fuel in hangar.  We are looking at the possibility of flying an ER-2 mission on Tuesday if there is light precipitation in the region where HIWRAP can transmit (CO/NE/KS).  This could give us a good science flight (and shakedown) after instrument work over the weekend before some potential good events over CF later in the week.

Extended:

Chances for light precipitation over CO/NE/KS and possibly OK improve by Wednesday as upper level trough progresses eastward during the week.  First flights could be Wednesday, if precipitation for Tuesday doesn't pan out.  Pattern in all models suggests the return of wet conditions later this week but models differ on when/where.  Should be one or likely more precipitation events over SGP-CF later this week.  With multiple potential opportunities for missions later in the week and current model uncertainty on timing , we'll be looking to optimize flight plans early in the week (Mon/Tue).