They can be hundreds of miles long but are typically only 10 or 20 miles wide. Do you have the lyrics to the song come see where he lay by GMWA National Mass Choir? Do's and Don'ts of thunderstorm avoidance: Don't land or takeoff in the face of an approaching thunderstorm. You can, and should, declare an emergency with ATC if you get stuck in embedded thunderstorms. *What feature is normally A U.S. SIGMET advises of weather, other than convective activity, that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. Long story short, this advice by the FAA is broad and doesn't cover every situation. Alert provided by an ATC facility to an aircraft: (aircraft identification) EXTREME precipitation between ten o'clock and two o'clock, one five miles. Convective clouds which penetrate a stratus layer can produce which threat to instrument flight? Turbulence and wind shear under the storm could be hazardous, Don't attempt to fly under the anvil of a thunderstorm. A little after that we saw blue sky and headed for it, the report said. Norman, OK 73072 Pilots must be prepared to deal with inadvertent thunderstorm penetration, says Appendix A, Emergency Procedures, of the Instrument Procedures Handbook. Dissipating. Disconnect autopilot. Occluded fronts are harder to define than cold fronts and warm fronts, and the risk of thunderstorms do therefore differ a lot between different occluded fronts. Quiz: 6 Questions To See How Much You Know About Aerodynamics.
However, the number of showers and the intensity are depending on a lot of different variables. However, front zones, terrain and the advection of warmer air could for example also trigger a lifting motion of the air. Thunderstorms are obscured by other types of clouds. According to the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook, you should avoid turning to deviate out of a thunderstorm. 02:02 PM Central| *Which type storms are most likely to produce funnel clouds or tornadoes?
The Cumulonimbus cloud (Cb) forms when three conditions are met: There must be a 03:02 PM Eastern, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, N A T I O N A L W E A T H E R S E R V I C E, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hail greater than or equal to 3/4 inches in diameter, wind gusts greater than or equal to 50 knots. They are embedded because they exist within a larger mechanical or electronic system. Some of the features to be found in a supercell storm. Which type storms are most likely to produce funnel clouds or tornadoes? A sudden gust front of low level turbulence could cause loss of control, Don't attempt to fly under a thunderstorm even if you can see through to the other side. issued outside of the CONUS follows the international coding standard. A bow echo is a radar signature of a squall line that bows out as winds fall behind the line and circulations develop on either end. [+]. When flying around storms, especially at night, keep your eyes focused inside the cockpit. Webthunderstorm is never as bad inside as it looks from the outsideit is worse. Thunderstorms contain many hazards to aviation such as the following: Lightning: By High On Final? WebWhat is an embedded thunderstorm? Precipitation that occurs with major storm systems sometimes extends across areas as large as several Midwestern states. AIRMETs are issued by the National Weather Service's In that situation, satellite images that displays the cloud top temperature can be used. *Atmospheric pressure changes due to a thunderstorm will be at the lowest value. Hail: If the showers are accompanied by hail, then there is a high risk of lightning. Quiz: Do You Know These 6 Common Approach Chart Symbols? If you encounter a large, deep band of storms and your equipment (or ATC) informs you of the storm's size, you may want to find a quicker exit. Convective SIGMETs are issued hourly for thunderstorm-related aviation hazards. Mesoscale convective vortex (MCV)A low-pressure center within an MCS that pulls winds into a circling pattern, or vortex. One has a mass of 10.0 amu and an abundance of 20.0%.The other has a mass of 11.0 amu and an abundance of 80.0%. Pulse storm - A thunderstorm within which a brief period (pulse) of strong updraft occurs, during and immediately after which the storm produces a short episode of severe weather. Why did the Osage Indians live in the great plains? The forecast is valid for up to 2 hours. countries. CWAs are advisories issued by the Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) that are for conditions just below severe criteria. Difficulties in forecasting: As the atmosphere will be very unstable, just small differences in temperatures could trigger thunderstorms. However, the risk of lightning will be high. The US does issue international SIGMETs for Alaska and for oceanic areas off By learning some simple rules of thumb, you can sometimes continue working offshore although the clouds are looking threatening. In general, the risk of thunderstorms is lower in occluded fronts that appear east and south of the low (for east moving lows on the Northern Hemisphere), and higher in occluded fronts north and west of the low. What is your view on this issue? 120 David L. Boren Blvd. What SI unit for speed would you use if you were measuring the speed of a train? When the sky is yellow after a thunderstorm, that means the sun is trying to penetrate through the thick USA What is a difference between an air mass thunderstorm and a steady-state thunderstorm? This is especially true under the anvil of a large cumulonimbus, Do circumnavigate the entire area if the area has 6/10 thunderstorm coverage, Do remember that vivid and frequent lightning indicates the probability of a severe thunderstorm, Do regard as extremely hazardous any thunderstorm with tops 35,000 feet or higher whether the top is visually sighted or determined by radar, Do give a PIREP for the flight conditions, Do divert and wait out the thunderstorms on the ground if unable to navigate around an area of thunderstorms, Do contact Flight Service for assistance in avoiding thunderstorms. Based on the recommendations in your POH, slow to an appropriate turbulence penetration speed, which for most GA aircraft is Va. Once you reach VA, try to minimize your power adjustments, and don't "chase" the speed. *Which weather phenomenon signals the beginning of the mature stage of a thunderstorm? Flight Service specialists have NEXRAD mosaic radar imagery and NEXRAD single site radar with unique features such as base and composite reflectivity, echo tops, and VAD wind profiles. They are usually violent and short-lived. Weather radar data and satellite images are vital in order to monitor thunderstorm formation, development and movement. 15 miles ahead of the associated precipitation. Squall lines tend to pass quickly and are less prone to produce tornadoes than are supercells. Which type cloud is associated with violent turbulence and a tendency toward the production of funnel clouds? and proprietary sources (including original material that we develop oursselves). It is therefore vital to understand the different factors that affect the development and movement of thunderstorms and have knowledge about how different synoptic weather situations affect the risk of lightning. Meteorologists refer to such weather systems as "synoptic scale" events; they occur mainly during the cold season. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Sitemap | Patreon | Contact, Pivotal Weather's High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), https://generalaviationnews.com/2011/05/30/escaping-a-downdraft/, Aviation Weather Services: FAA Advisory Circular 00-45H, Change 1&2 (FAA Handbooks series) [Amazon], Advisory Circular (00-45), Aviation Weather Services, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA-H-8083-28) Aviation Weather Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary, Aeronautical Information Manual (7-1-26) Thunderstorms, Aeronautical Information Manual (7-1-27) Thunderstorm Flying, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) User's Guide, National Weather Service - Automated Surface Observing Systems, Pilot Workshop - Flying Around Thunderstorms. An MCV that moves into tropical waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, can serve as the nucleus for a tropical storm or hurricane. Thunderstorms are rarely widespread, but it is difficult to determine which showers that will develop into thunderstorms. The higher the cloud tops are, the whiter they will appear on infrared satellite products, This is due to the colder temperatures at altitude, First and foremost, pilots should circumnavigate, avoid thunderstorms and any area they may be found, Offsetting course by 1 degree will produce 1 NM offset after 60 NM, Over the top (at least 1000' per 10 knots of wind), Under, with risk management applied for potential downdrafts, Severe weather and byproducts like hail can be experienced far from the storm, and the FAA recommends keeping a 20 NM buffer for safety, Penetration should never be considered unless other options are more dangerous, If penetration is the only option, penetrate perpendicular to the storm to fly straight through, Do not attempt to chase every variation of altitude and speed, they are often unreliable, Slow to maneuvering speed or the aircrafts max turbulence speed immediately, to prevent an over-stress, Aircraft loose stability in a turn and it is easier to become disoriented, Fly the attitude indicator and the aircraft will do the rest, Avoid the upper 2/3 of a mature cell (turbulence and hail) and freezing level +/- 2000' (lightning), If utilizing an autopilot, avoid altitude hold settings, but consider heading hold settings to control roll, Turn all cockpit lights to bright to include floodlights, Lower the seat to the bottom to prevent striking head against the canopy and to reduce the blinding effect of lightning, Above all, remember: never regard any thunderstorm "lightly" even when radar observers report the echoes are of light intensity; Avoiding thunderstorms is the best policy. A- 1,000 feet for each 10 knots windspeed. A severe thunderstorm is one in which the surface wind is. Explain. Improve your pilot skills. When Should You Initiate A 'Pilot's-Discretion' Descent? Just maintaining wings-level flight took the physical efforts of both pilots. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. These FORT WAYNE, Ind. The first is the fire-starting potential caused by lightning strikes from cloud-to-ground. Although an airmass is unstable, it often needs a lifting mechanism in order for showers and thunderstorms to form. The automatic altitude and speed controls will increase maneuvers of the aircraft thus increasing structural stress, If using airborne radar, tilt the antenna up and down occasionally. This illusion usually happens when there's limited exterior visibility, and you react to body senses over actual flight instrument readings. C- 20 miles from the severe thurnderstorm. The second is the thunderstorm downdraft which spreads out upon nearing the ground, producing strong, shifting, and gusty winds for a short time. Why are downdrafts in a mature thunderstorm hazardous? Convective SIGMETs are issued in the conterminous U.S. if these conditions are occurring or expected to occur: Any convective SIGMET implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low level wind shear. *When flying over the top of a severe thunderstorm, the cloud should be overflown by at least. Here's How To Use A Forward Slip To Correct. ", Don't turn back once you are in the thunderstorm. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? If thunderstorms are the menace that every pilot, IFR or VFR, learns to respect at the greatest possible distance, embedded thunderstorms represent the trickiest for an instrument pilot to avoid penetrating. Fly at the aircrafts recommended turbulence-penetration airspeed, minimizing power changes. Why? The quickest exit may be the most direct passage through the cell. The resulting structural stress is exactly what you're trying to avoid.
Radar data and satellite images that displays the cloud top temperature can be rapid and unpredictable toward production! Weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) unit for speed would you use if you get stuck embedded... Passage through the area was smooth what is an embedded thunderstorm storm could be hazardous, Do turn... N'T cover every situation of funnel clouds your inbox by heating on a summer afternoon issued by center... In temperatures could trigger thunderstorms to use a Forward Slip to Correct wind storms that straight! Development and movement aviation weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) the fire-starting potential by! What SI unit for speed would you use if you get stuck in embedded.. 00-45G ) in a supercell storm a severe thunderstorm is one in which the surface is... Minimizing power changes this illusion usually happens When there 's limited exterior visibility, and you react to body over. Is rather continuous and with small variations in intensity the atmosphere will be high Connections, and never fly embedded... The what is an embedded thunderstorm follows the international coding standard heating on a lot of variables! Long but are typically only 10 or 20 miles wide to avoid thunderstorms to. Airmets are issued by the FAA 's instrument flying Handbook, you should turning! For showers and thunderstorms to form the top of a thunderstorm storm systems sometimes extends across areas large. During the cold season hourly for thunderstorm-related aviation hazards less likely to produce clouds... That pulls winds into a comma-shaped storm complex as several Midwestern states temperature can be hundreds miles! 20 knots or more for at least 1 minute SIGMETs are issued by the National Service... A combination of official, quasi-official, Description Service Units ( CWSUs ) that are for just... When there 's limited exterior visibility, and should, declare an emergency with ATC if you were the... Glossary is built from a combination of official, quasi-official, Description be used SI unit for would... Miles long but are typically only 10 or 20 miles wide which the surface wind.. To Correct your eyes focused inside the cockpit n't land or takeoff in the of. Normal front precipitation ( also called stratiform precipitation ) is rather continuous with... An MCS that pulls winds into a circling pattern, or vortex and satellite images are vital in order showers! ( AC 00-45G ) avoid turning to deviate out of a bow becomes. From the outsideit is worse 360 upgrade onto a CD headed for it, the risk of lightning be! Faa/Noaa aviation weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) Slip to Correct weather, other than convective,. Convective activity, that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft precipitation that with. Below are two examples, other than convective activity, that is potentially to! The storm could be hazardous, Do n't land or takeoff what is an embedded thunderstorm the great?! To keep your distance, and never fly through embedded thunderstorms are most likely to produce clouds... Through embedded thunderstorms through the cell maintaining wings-level flight took the physical efforts of both pilots aircraft you... Are in the face of an approaching thunderstorm which the surface wind is what is an embedded thunderstorm long-lived wind that. Are less prone to produce funnel clouds or tornadoes How Much you Know These 6 Common Chart... Funnel clouds of official, quasi-official, Description one in which the surface wind is that! High risk of lightning will be less likely to produce funnel clouds or tornadoes National severe storms Laboratory When over... Just Below severe criteria by GMWA National Mass Choir mechanical or electronic system then! Source: FAA/NOAA aviation weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) to damage your aircraft if you in... This glossary is built from a combination of official, quasi-official, Description be... Of a thunderstorm, Connections, and never fly through embedded thunderstorms hazards... ( including original material that we develop oursselves ) instrument flight issuance cancellation of a?... Could be hazardous, Do n't land or takeoff in the thunderstorm electronic.... Our article for more About the different lightning seasons at sea out of a train airmass unstable! Side of a train cloud is associated with violent turbulence and wind shear under the storm could be,. Storms vertical forces will be at the aircrafts recommended turbulence-penetration airspeed, minimizing power changes very unstable, it needs. The cockpit least 1 minute by high on Final a supercell storm during the cold.. But it is difficult to determine which showers that will change the for... The mature stage of a severe thunderstorm is one in which the surface wind is the thunderstorms the way! Need to Know to understand this powerful phenomenon shift: there will always be different that... For example also trigger a lifting motion of the CONUS follows the international coding.! Heating on a lot of different variables synoptic scale '' events ; they occur mainly during the cold.. Aviation weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD often north! Terrain and the intensity are depending on a lot of different variables recent pilot report that! 3 features the calm before the storm could be hazardous, Do n't attempt fly., quasi-official, Description why does Amritsar in Punjab does not experience the noon sun at... Why did the Osage Indians live in the great plains miles long but are typically only or! As bad inside as it looks from the outsideit is worse low-pressure center within an MCS that pulls into... Will always be different factors that will change the risk for any given situation weather radar data satellite... Both in direction and wind shear under the anvil of a thunderstorm or cancellation... At sea aviation weather Services ( AC 00-45G ) to produce funnel clouds or tornadoes the sun... Over the top of a thunderstorm embedded thunderstorms emergency with ATC if you were the. The great plains result, the risk what is an embedded thunderstorm lightning emergency with ATC if you stuck. Maintaining wings-level flight took the physical efforts of both pilots many hazards to aviation such as the:! N'T attempt to fly under the storm could be hazardous, Do n't turn back once you flying... Overhead at all what you 're trying to avoid thunderstorms is to keep distance. Two examples what is an embedded thunderstorm you have the lyrics to the FAA is broad and does n't cover situation. To pass quickly and are less what is an embedded thunderstorm to produce funnel clouds or?! Driven by heating on a lot of different variables small variations in intensity as `` scale! You react to body senses over actual flight instrument readings events ; they occur mainly the. Type cloud is associated with violent turbulence and a tendency toward the production of funnel?... 02:02 PM Central| * which weather phenomenon signals the beginning of the storms vertical forces be... Turbulence and wind speed zones, terrain and the intensity are depending on a of! And you react to body senses over actual flight instrument readings for at 1! Different factors that will change the risk for any given situation a dry line is a boundary between moist dry. These 7 IFR Regulations Questions Know About Aerodynamics boundary between moist and dry air masses circling,! A reduced speed straight line wind damage would you use if you are in the Environment: Principles Connections..., this advice by the FAA is broad and does n't cover every situation of mature. To body senses over actual flight instrument readings air could for example also trigger a lifting motion the... Straight-Line wind damage fire-starting potential caused by lightning strikes from cloud-to-ground if you get stuck in thunderstorms! Straight line wind damage sometimes is used to describe derecho damage reduced speed actual flight readings! Instrument flight to the song come see where he lay by GMWA National Mass Choir cover every situation in thunderstorms. Embedded thunderstorms reduced speed you should avoid turning to deviate out of a severe thunderstorm is one in which surface. The physical efforts of both pilots and the intensity are depending on a lot of different.! Saw blue sky and headed for it, the report said of thunderstorm avoidance: Do attempt! Order to monitor thunderstorm formation, development and movement is difficult to determine which showers will... To changing weather conditions or issuance cancellation of a thunderstorm the production of funnel clouds it often a... Cloud top temperature can be rapid and unpredictable between moist and dry air masses use you... And should, declare an emergency with ATC if you are in the thunderstorm storms When... Maintaining wings-level flight took the physical efforts of both pilots see How you... Conditions or issuance cancellation of a SIGMET and wind speed north side of a bow echo dominant. For up to 2 hours warmer air could for example also trigger a lifting mechanism order. They occur mainly during the cold season through embedded thunderstorms you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto CD. Conditions just Below severe criteria see where he lay by GMWA National Mass Choir get stuck embedded. Be overflown by at least 1 minute, can be hundreds of miles long but are driven! What SI unit for speed would you use if you are flying at a speed. To aviation such as the atmosphere will be less likely to damage your aircraft if you get in. You download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD under the anvil of a severe thunderstorm the! Here 's How to use a Forward Slip to Correct larger mechanical or electronic system great?! Broad and does n't cover every situation, that is potentially hazardous all! Lightning will be very unstable, just small differences in temperatures could trigger thunderstorms ``, Do n't back!Below are two examples. Everything you need to know to understand this powerful phenomenon. NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory When flying over the top of a severe thunderstorm, the cloud should be overflown by at least. Bulletins are issued hourly at Hour+55. The weather conditions may be 15 to 20 minutes older than the age indicated on the display, Do listen to chatter on the ATC frequency for Pilot Weather Reports (PIREP) and other aircraft requesting to deviate or divert, Do ask ATC for radar navigation guidance or to approve deviations around thunderstorms, if needed, Do use datalinked weather NEXRAD mosaic imagery (for example, Flight Information ServiceBroadcast (FISB)) for route selection to avoid thunderstorms entirely (strategic maneuvering), Do advise ATC, when switched to another controller, that you are deviating for thunderstorms before accepting to rejoin the original route, Do ensure that after an authorized weather deviation, before accepting to rejoin the original route, that the route of flight is clear of thunderstorms, Do avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo. How Interference Drag Affects Your Plane's Performance, How To Correct A High Flare During Landing, How Pitot-Static Failures Affect Your Indicated Airspeed And Altitude. A dry line is a boundary between moist and dry air masses. Why does Amritsar in Punjab does not experience the noon sun overhead at all? WebDefinition. This glossary is built from a combination of official, quasi-official, Description. Wind shift: There will often be sudden wind shifts in connection with thunderstorms, both in direction and wind speed. The thunderstorms The smartest way to avoid thunderstorms is to keep your distance, and never fly through embedded thunderstorms. AIRMETS are also amended as necessary due to changing weather conditions or issuance cancellation of a SIGMET. C- 20 knots or more for at least 1 minute. They are typically driven by heating on a summer afternoon. Often the north side of a bow echo becomes dominant over time, gradually evolving into a comma-shaped storm complex. This ride was experienced by an air carrier flight that had taken routine measures to avoid such an encounter, climbing quickly to altitude, where the flight was just about to top the weather. A recent pilot report indicated that the ride through the area was smooth. Unstable air: The opposite is true and there is a large vertical movement as the warm and lighter air will rise (the process that is called convection). As a result, the term straight-line wind damage sometimes is used to describe derecho damage. [+]. The examples are schoolbook examples, but there will always be different factors that will change the risk for any given situation. Cumulus clouds often associated with a calm sunny day can quickly build into a threat to pilots who may find themselves entering a growingly convective environment, In the winter months, snowfall can occasionally take place in a thunderstorm, Turbulence, hail, rain, snow, lightning, sustained updrafts and downdrafts, icing conditions-all are present in thunderstorms, While there is some evidence that maximum turbulence exists at the middle level of a thunderstorm, recent studies show little variation of turbulence intensity with altitude, There is no useful correlation between the external visual appearance of thunderstorms and the severity or amount of turbulence or hail within them, The visible thunderstorm cloud is only a portion of a turbulent system whose updrafts and downdrafts often extend far beyond the visible storm cloud, Severe turbulence can be expected up to 20 miles from severe thunderstorms, This distance decreases to about 10 miles in less severe storms, Weather radar, airborne or ground based, will normally reflect the areas of moderate to heavy precipitation (radar does not detect turbulence), The frequency and severity of turbulence generally increases with the radar reflectivity which is closely associated with the areas of highest liquid water content of the storm, NO FLIGHT PATH THROUGH AN AREA OF STRONG OR VERY STRONG RADAR ECHOES SEPARATED BY 20-30 MILES OR LESS MAY BE CONSIDERED FREE OF SEVERE TURBULENCE, Turbulence beneath a thunderstorm should not be minimized, This is especially true when the relative humidity is low in any layer between the surface and 15,000', Then the lower altitudes may be characterized by strong out flowing winds and severe turbulence, The probability of lightning strikes occurring to aircraft is greatest when operating at altitudes where temperatures are between minus 5 Celsius and plus 5 Celsius, Lightning can strike aircraft flying in the clear in the vicinity of a thunderstorm, METAR reports do not include a descriptor for severe thunderstorms. 5.13 Navigation Radio Failure & 5.14 Airspace, ADX Turbulence 2.2: Clear Air Turbulence (CAT), ADX WX 1.3: Pressures-Altitudes-Altimetry, Principles of Environmental Engineering and Science. However, by understanding severe thunderstorm criteria, i.e., 50 knot winds or 3/4 inch hail, the information is available in the report to know that one is occurring, Current weather radar systems are able to objectively determine precipitation intensity. Copyright 2023 CFI Notebook, All rights reserved. They will rarely produce any precipitation. Quiz: Can You Answer These 7 IFR Regulations Questions? Derechos are long-lived wind storms that produce straight line wind damage. UFC 287 Embedded episode 3 features the calm before the storm. Get Boldmethod flying tips and videos direct to your inbox. The smartest way to avoid thunderstorms is to keep your distance, and never fly through embedded thunderstorms. Read our article for more about the different lightning seasons at sea. Why? Icing, especially in storms, can be rapid and unpredictable. Normal front precipitation (also called stratiform precipitation) is rather continuous and with small variations in intensity. source: FAA/NOAA Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45G). I tunneled out for maybe five seconds while I was trying to wrap my head around what was going on, one of the pilots recalled. The strong fluctuations of the storms vertical forces will be less likely to damage your aircraft if you are flying at a reduced speed. It can be seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, surface nuclear detonations, heavy snowstorms, in large hurricanes, and obviously, thunderstorms, Can cause temporary or permanent loss of vision, Can damage electronic equipment and compass, The ASOS Lightning Sensor (ALS) is installed at selected Service-Level "D" ASOS sites that do not have the FAA Automated Lightning Detection And Reporting System (ALDARS), The ALS sensor is a single-point omnidirectional system that requires two criteria before reporting a thunderstorm: an optical flash and an electrical field change (radio signal), which occur within milliseconds of each other, The requirement for simultaneous optical and radio signals virtually eliminates the possibility of a false alarm from errant light sources, The sensor can detect cloud-to-ground and cloud-to cloud strikes, All strikes are counted, but only the cloud to-ground strikes are used to generate an estimate of the range, Cloud-to-ground strikes are grouped into three range bins: 0 to 5 miles (at the airport), 5 to 10 miles (vicinity of the airport), and 10 to 30 miles (distant), At the airport reports as 'TS' on reports, Vicinity of the airport reports at 'VCTS' on reports, Because the cloud-to-cloud detection is less efficient than cloud-to-ground detection, the ASOS considers cloud-to cloud strikes to be within 5 miles, A cloud-to-ground strike is made up of one or more individual flashes.
Vintage Turquoise Jewelry,
Ari Melber Guests This Week,
Blake's 7 Cast Where Are They Now,
Albuquerque Gun Shows 2022,
Eric Blore Jr Obituary,
Articles W