In order to help formulate their plan for the day, Traffic Management personnel utilize numerous weather products, including the Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) and the CCFP.
The CCFP is a forecast for intense convection activity that is updated every 2 hours and made for 2, 4, and 6-hour periods by a group consisting of the National Weather Service (NWS), the customers, ARTCC weather units, and the Canadian meteorological service of Canada.
The CCFP is discussed, critiqued, and adjusted to develop a forecast based on many different inputs. It is the primary weather planning tool for Traffic Management personnel during severe convective weather periods. It consists of a defined area (polygon) and describes maximum cloud tops, growth and decay tendencies, the direction and speed of movement, and the forecaster’s confidence in the forecast.
More information about the CCFP can be found by visiting the following web page: https://www.aviationweather.gov/ccfp/help.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.