Just finally checking the Baro on the system that blew threw and the reason for canceling my Saturday flight to Macon (KMCN).  I went to the METAR's from my favorite weather site http://adds.aviationweather.gov and KACY (Atlantic City) has an altimeter setting of 28.91 or (14.2) PSI.  That places it in the Category Two Hurricane (28.50-28.94 in) range if it had a warm core and was primarily a low level system.

I called my student and asked him about the weather just after getting a full weather briefing from Macon FSS (1-800-WX-BRIEF).  Macon said they would be shut down for 6 weeks while they fix the place up.  Leesburg Virginia FSS will reroute all of their calls.  Doesn't make any since to me, because they will be shutting them all down soon and Lockheed will be taking over.  The plan is to incorporate them all (57) into 3 physical locations.  You can pre-register by going to the new web site http://www.afss.com

My student was reviewing the METAR's and TAF's and was trying to come up with a decision about our flight for 2 PM on Saturday.  The weather system was moving though Alabama and working into Georgia.  He kept giving me the details and then finally said that it seems like we would be flying directly toward worsening conditions and that is not something he would feel comfortable doing.  Correct Answer!   My other concern was the crosswind at our departure and destination.  We had an 11 knot crosswind, based on the METAR.  After quickly calling the ASOS at KSAV 966-0364, on another line it told me the current winds were 17 gusting to 23 vice only 14 on the METAR.  I asked my student what the current time was.  He told me it was 25 after the hour.  That made our METAR weather report a half hour old information.  I told him of the current winds and that ended the whole (try to teach my student judgment) example.  With winds exceeding the demonstrated crosswind capability of the aircraft, there was no decision to be made.

I often fall into the same feelings of disappointment in my abilities to judge weather and make "Go" or "No Go" weather decisions when things are not as bad as I had predicted.  You have a certain amount of information available to you.  You have to make a decision and after you do you have to live with it.  It feels so much better when you hear about things like "It's a good thing you didn't go.  Man it was raining and the ceiling was low and no one was flying".

 I know I shouldn't feel this way, but it SUCKS when you decide not to go and its beautiful

Know your limits and ignore everyone else, unless you're the only one taxiing out.

Joe