NASA is ready for Wednesday’s Artemis II liftoff, but the weather will play a key role in whether the mission goes as planned. CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak highlights the main factors being monitored at Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County, Florida.
There are strict weather limits for a safe launch: no lightning nearby, winds must stay within allowable limits, and temperatures need to be favorable. The launch also must align with a precise window that takes advantage of the Earth’s motion to achieve the necessary speed, and there must be a clear, secure return corridor for splashdown in the Pacific.
Current guidance a few days out suggests mild conditions at the Cape — temperatures in the 70s and skies ranging from mostly cloudy to partly cloudy. That isn’t perfect, but it falls within acceptable parameters for launch at this point. Forecasters will continue to track developing conditions as the launch window approaches.
Beyond Florida, the national forecast shows a few notable concerns. The West remains at risk for fire activity, with critical fire danger possible again across parts of Wyoming and large swaths of the Rockies. The Pacific Northwest should expect showers, thunderstorms and mountain snow through Monday.
Across the eastern U.S., milder air is filtering in. Florida’s immediate outlook for Monday includes a few scattered showers and thunderstorms, but nothing that currently threatens a Wednesday evening liftoff.
Weather can change quickly, so mission and weather teams will keep monitoring conditions closely in the days and hours before launch. Any adjustments to the plan will be announced as more precise forecasts become available.