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4 Answers

Identifying turbulent clouds

Asked by: 4219 views , ,
General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

Now that summer is here we have a lot of those days where clouds build up in the afternoon heat. Some of these can build pretty high even if no rain falls. I'm typically flying something like a C172 below 10,000 feet. 

My question is when flying IFR in these conditions how can you tell if a cloud is safe to fly though or if it's better to ask atc for a deviation? I'm talking about clouds without thunderstorms or rain falling. Is there some rule of thumb that can be used, visual clues, or is it just a matter of experience? I know you can check pireps, convective signets, etc. 

Thanks

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4 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Jun 19, 2014

    Cumulus clouds are bumpy. If the tops are below 10,000 feet, it is my experience that any turbulence is manageable. I don’t fly thru clouds with significant vertical development. Low stratus clouds are usually smooth. I spend a lot of time in the summer going around clouds rather than thru them. If I can top the build ups, the ride is normally smooth.

    Other tools you may have available are Nexrad in the cockpit (XM or ADS-B) and a Stormscope.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Jun 19, 2014

    I have the same general philosophy as John. All cumulus clouds contain some degree of turbuence so, whenever I can, I also try to circumvent. With scattered cumulus, ATC is usually amenable to a request for continuous left and right deviations.

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  3. Brent on Jun 19, 2014

    John, can you elaborate on what you would consider “significant” vertical development?

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  4. Mark Kolber on Jun 19, 2014

    Not John but…

    It’s difficult to develop good rules of thumb about this. Turbulence in this scenario is not only a function of the depth of the build-ups but other factors as well.

    But a as very general guideline, John already gave his experience that he finds the turbulence in build-ups less that 10,000′ manageable. That’s similar to general guidelines I’ve come across elsewhere: Light turbulence at about 5000′; moderate turbulence at about 10,000′ and severe at 20,000′.

    I can’t talk for the 20,000′ (we’re talking AGL not MSL) cloud tops, but my my own experience is that the other two are pretty accurate.

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