Cloud Height Forecast

I have faced this issue many times on flights between the Carolinas and
New England. I've probably flown the trip 25 times and mostly in toy
airplanes similar to an Archer.

I think you're asking a lot from the weather forecasters. Modest
changes in moisture content, solar heating, winds and what not can make
for big changes in the clouds density, bases and tops. Even if the data
you want were available, what good are these forecasts if not highly
accurate?

Usually I have to spend hours looking at the forecasts before I leave on
a trip and in the winter time, I rarely know if I can go until 12-24
hours before departure.

One tip is that if you flight plan through NYC airspace, avoid flying
between 5 pm and 9 pm local if you expect to ask ATC for weather vectors
or help with ice. They can be quite busy then. Otherwise, I prefer V1
over a route west of Washington, DC. There just isn't that much room
between the mountains and possible clouds on V143, for example. I've
been squeezed more than once, but have always had an out.

Good luck in your planning.

-John

wrote:
If I'm thinking about flying somewhere in the northeast and returning
in a few days, it'll be very helpful to know forecast cloud height
three days down the road. Knowing it'll be "cloudy" isn't too
helpful. In my Archer (not approved for icing) a hugh difference
between an overcast layer at 40,000 feet (no problem at all) and a
broken layer at 800 feet (better to drive). The usual souces of
weather will describe both days as cloudy and the aviation sources of
which I'm aware only forecast 36 hours or less into the future.

I'd like to know forecast cloud height 3-4 days out. Does anyone know
a site where I can get cloud base forecasts for the northeast ? Is
there such a site ?

Thanks,
Evan