10-11-2017, 03:05 AM
Any type of thunderstorm within the immediate area of an airport will cause a ground hold. Mainly because ground crews have to get inside. How long it last is going to really depend. I do think at a minimum it is going to be at least 30 minutes. Think about it, it will take at least 5 minute getting crew in, 5 minutes out, that's a time loss. Then you have the time they are inside, then the delay in general (ex getting planes shuffled around), thirty minutes is by no means outlandish.
With the weather codes, I think that gives a good hint at how strong the storm might be hence why I put the less rain intensive storms lower. Re-look below. You can see a simple storm may max out at 60 minutes.
Weather Min Delay Max Delay
thunderstorm with light rain 30 60
thunderstorm with rain 60 90
thunderstorm with heavy rain 90 120
light thunderstorm 30 45
thunderstorm 60 120
heavy thunderstorm 120 240
ragged thunderstorm 240 360
thunderstorm with light drizzle 30 60
thunderstorm with drizzle 60 90
thunderstorm with heavy drizzle 90 120
But as you said Unk, if we have a heavy thunderstorm that only last 10 minutes, yes, it is somewhat unfair. I do like that last part about the delays and makes perfect sense. Really it's the only balancing act you can add to it. (The other layer we haven't added that weather is being drawn not always from the airport but could be miles away.) In the end it's a give and take. Possibly the best way to do it is implement it and gather data. Then we can fine tune times and such as it goes.
With the weather codes, I think that gives a good hint at how strong the storm might be hence why I put the less rain intensive storms lower. Re-look below. You can see a simple storm may max out at 60 minutes.
Weather Min Delay Max Delay
thunderstorm with light rain 30 60
thunderstorm with rain 60 90
thunderstorm with heavy rain 90 120
light thunderstorm 30 45
thunderstorm 60 120
heavy thunderstorm 120 240
ragged thunderstorm 240 360
thunderstorm with light drizzle 30 60
thunderstorm with drizzle 60 90
thunderstorm with heavy drizzle 90 120
But as you said Unk, if we have a heavy thunderstorm that only last 10 minutes, yes, it is somewhat unfair. I do like that last part about the delays and makes perfect sense. Really it's the only balancing act you can add to it. (The other layer we haven't added that weather is being drawn not always from the airport but could be miles away.) In the end it's a give and take. Possibly the best way to do it is implement it and gather data. Then we can fine tune times and such as it goes.