Why aren’t convective sigmets issued for Alaska or Hawaii?

3 Answers

1. 
   

   
   

   MaggotCFII on Apr 12, 2011

   The following shows SIGMETs are issued for Hawaii and Alaska.
   For Hawaii try this link:
    
   http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/aviation.php
   It is the Hawaii Aviation Products page. Beneath the graphic are links – the SIGMET link shows “issued as needed”.  The link goes to a SIGMET Warning Products page.
    
   For Alaska try this link:
    
   http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/
   It is the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit link.  On the left menu is a SIGMET choice and on the graphic a SIGMET tab.

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2. 
   

   
   

   Wes Beard on Apr 12, 2011

   It appears that Alaska and Hawaii can issue international sigmets.  It looks like it meets most of the criteria necessary for a convective sigmet.  Reference AIM 7-01 section D.
    
    

   +2 Votes 2 Votes  0 Votes

3. 
   

   
   

   MaggotCFII on Apr 13, 2011

    
   Adding to Wes’s info -
   This link takes you to the AWC Oceanic SIGMETs page: (a/k/a International SIGMET)
   http://aviationweather.gov/products/sigmets/intl/
   The “FYI/Help” link explains the product.
   Also, there is a link at the top of the product page to a NWS Directive .pdf which provides further explaination. (Only 3 pages)  A quote:
   “In Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and International Oceanic Flight Information Regions (FIRs),SIGMETs are also issued for the following convective related potential hazards:
   a. Tornadoesb. Lines of thunderstormsc. Embedded thunderstormsd. Hail greater than or equal to inch in diameter”
   “Convective activity implies the likely presence of severe turbulence, severe icing and lowlevel wind shear. SIGMETs advising of convection in the conterminous U.S. are issued as Convective SIGMET Bulletins and are described in a separate Product Description Document.”

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