AN OBJECTIVE TECHNIQUE FOR FORECASTING STRONG AND GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AT LAJES AIR FORCE BASES, AZORES (STUDY NO. III),

The objective forecasting technique presented in the study is an attempt to refine and improve the technique Study No. II now being used at Lajes Air Force Base, Azores. The problem concerns forecasting critical values for winds from the NW and SW quadrants during the windy months of December through April. With specific and more or less arbitrarily determined limits established, the problem as set up is To forecast once every twelve hours for the period ten to twenty-four hours in the future, the occurrence or non-occurrence of strong surface winds with gusts equal to or greater than 30 knots from either the SW and NW quadrants - and to continue for a period of six hours or more. This to be valid for the months December through April.