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area of thick cloudiness covered all of northern Saudi Arabia and the southern
half of Iraq, including Kuwait. Pilots reported clouds solid overcast with
embedded thunderstorms from 3,000 to 35,000 feet, making combat air patrols
very difficult. The low moved very slowly toward the east leaving the above
mentioned areas under adverse conditions for the majority of the day. By
evening, the extreme western portions of Iraq began to clear as the mass of
clouds drifted eastward clearing the northern refueling areas, but leaving
southeast Iraq and Kuwait under continued cloud cover, gusty winds, rain, and
sandstorms.
	Day 41 (26 Feb 91) saw the weather improve in the northwest AOR, but the
persistent low over the Mediterranean remained entrenched. The low pressure
system discussed on day 40 remained over the northeastern AOR continuing to
bring adverse weather conditions, including fog and stratus to that area. Cloud
cover gradually decreased over north-central Saudi Arabia leaving improved
conditions for local pilots, but the cloud cover over Kuwait persisted through-
out the entire day. Bombing missions were effected by cloud cover over the
eastern half of Iraq that gradually cleared by evening.
	After five straight days of inclement weather to include thunderstorms in
the KTO, it should have gotten better, but it didn't on day 42. Cloud cover
was exclusive to the KTO and northeastern Saudi Arabia as lightning lit up the
skies. Although cloud cover wasn't extensive over the KTO, it did continuo to
cause problems. .Northern Saudi Arabia was clear during the morning hours, but
finally, by early afternoon, remnants of the low pressure system that was
previously entrenched over the eastern Mediterranean, moved into northern Saudi
Arabia. With it came cloud cover and areas of light rain along with some
moderately gusty winds.  In the local area, skies were mostly cloudy, winds were
somewhat gusty and there were a few sprinkles of rain. Through the evening
hours cloud cover grew with this final area of low pressure and a good portion
of Iraq was under mid-level ceilings causing problems for some of the final
bombing missions. High pressure finally began to push in from Africa bringing
improved conditions to the northwest AOR.
 	Day 43 (28 Feb 91) was the end of the war and the beginning of better
weather for the AOR. As a strong high pressure system. moved into northern
Saudi Arabia the final low moved through southeast Iraq and Kuwait spreading
it's cloud cover over these regions until late in the day. With the beginning
dominance of high pressure, skies cleared and winds were light. Gradually the
better weather moved into northeast Saudi Arabia as well.

	[(b)(6)],
JAMES A. COTTURONE JR., 1LT, USAF
Wing Weather Warrior

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