The strongest hazards may be hidden inside cloud
Pilots cannot judge a storm reliably by appearance alone, especially at night or when layers obscure it. Weather radar provides a picture of precipitation intensity and helps identify areas to avoid.
Heavy rain can mask what lies behind it
Radar energy can be absorbed by intense precipitation, creating attenuation. Crews learn to recognize suspicious shadows and avoid assuming that a dark area behind a strong return is clear.
Hail can occur outside the visible core
Strong updrafts can carry hailstones away from the most obvious rain shaft. That is one reason aircraft maintain lateral distance rather than merely skirting the edge of a bright radar return.
Wind shear is especially dangerous near the ground
A storm can produce rapid changes in wind speed and direction during takeoff or landing. Airports and aircraft may provide alerts, and crews can delay, go around or choose another runway.
Route changes are normal in convective weather
Air traffic control may establish broad deviations or close portions of airspace. Flights can take longer routes because safe separation from storms is more important than the published airway.
Avoidance margins depend on the situation
Storm motion, altitude, terrain, radar quality and surrounding traffic all matter. Airline procedures provide minimum guidance, while crews use judgment to create additional space when conditions warrant it.
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