"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
We will be flying (hopefully) to Bremerton, WA (KPWT) on Wednesday and the
weather in the PNW does not look very good either now or in the forecast
(widespread fog, vis 1/8sm). Are there any local fog effects at
Bremerton? Are there airports in the area that are not as likely to have
fog? Which ones? Thanks!

As Karl says, the current weather pattern is one of widespread fog. You're
unlikely to find significantly different conditions at Bremerton than
elsewhere. However, on some days the fog burns off an hour or so before
sunset, and the distribution of this can be somewhat variable. So toward
the end of the daylight hours, some places may still be fogged in while
other places may not be.

As far as alternates go, I'd disagree with the claim that Boeing Field is
reliably the best weather when conditions are foggy. It often is, but it
really depends on the nature of the fog. If the fog has a little bit of
elevation to it, then Boeing Field, being so close to sea level, can be
landable (at least IFR). This is the current situation.

But if the fog is right down to the water, then KBFI will be fogged in,
while some of the airports at higher elevators may actually be fog-free, or
at least will have the fog burn off earlier in the day. This would include
Sea-Tac Airport and Paine Field (Snohomish County Airport).

Also, getting away from the water can sometimes improve things. So (for
example) Arlington Airport could have better conditions than Paine Field.
But we don't really have that many airports far enough away from the water
to help.

All that said, unless you have Cat II or Cat III capabilities, you should
anticipate that on this Wednesday, you might not be able to land anywhere in
or around Puget Sound, including Bremerton. Make sure you've got a good
alternate somewhere else (and just getting on the other side of the Cascades
might not be sufficient...at this particular instant, it would be good
enough -- though still not good VFR -- but it can get just as foggy over
there sometimes).

On top of all this, forecasts for when the fog will dissipate cannot be
trusted. The fog could clear hours before they say it will, or it could not
clear at all. It's important to know the forecasts (and of course current
conditions), but I'd say that around here, fog-related forecasts are about
as unreliable as weather forecasts get (other than "there will be fog" ),
and that's saying something.

Sorry to not have better news. Hopefully, Boeing Field will remain a good
alternate. On the bright side, if you wind up landing in Seattle, you can
easily take a ferry from there to Bremerton. That's always fun.

Pete