Expert: Christopher McKenna - 2/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: How high do ya fly to avoid bad weather?

ANSWER: It all depends. Sometimes as low as 8 or 10 thousand feet will get you over the weather. Other times, especially with midwest thunderstorms, it is impossible to get over the weather. Thunderstorms can top 50 thousand feet, making it impossible for most aircraft to get over it.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help. I wonder if I might be a bit more specific and ask what's typical in the tropics, especially on the equator?  It's my understanding that weather is milder there.

Answer
You're welcome. Although the weather in the tropics, and the subtropics to the equator, is generally milder, individual weather events can be significantly stronger. While thunderstorms in the midwest, for example, routinely hit 40-50 thousand feet high, thunderstorms further south can reach into the 60's and occasionaly, though rarely, higher. In the tropical bands is also where the vast majority of large scale weather events happen, like hurricanes, typhoons, etc.

Hope this helps a little!