My experiences mirror that of others, in that much below the freezing level, virga is evaporating fast and causing an accelerating downdraft that sensibly you’d keep clear of. When the sky gets really big, airbrakes seem to be a very minor part of the equation, so the exit plan is best made before you get there.

Having said that, some of my longest and most fulfilling flights have been on days where the atmosphere feels like it’s boiling throughout its whole depth. All that energy...