— About me
My name is Samuel McDowell, and I'm a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aeronautical Science with a minor in meteorology. I'm an instrument-rated private pilot currently pursuing my commercial certificate, and I serve as the lead tutor at Embry-Riddle's weather lab, where I help my fellow students with meteorology.
Tutoring is what inspired this site. Working with other pilots, I saw firsthand where weather knowledge tends to break down — and I wanted to build a learning tool that helps them through their training, prepares them for their checkrides, and, more than anything, helps them develop a genuine love for meteorology like the one I have. Aviation weather matters, and I want my peers not just to understand it, but to enjoy it and apply it to their flying.
My dream is to one day fly for NOAA — collecting the atmospheric data that deepens our understanding of Earth's climate and changing weather. As a pilot, my goal is to never stop learning, and this site reflects that: it's actively growing, and I update it regularly with new knowledge and tools.
— A note on use
CrosswindWX is for learning, not operational flight planning. Always consult official FAA and Aviation Weather Center sources for current conditions and real-world flight planning.
— Get in touch
I welcome any questions or suggestions — and I especially want to hear from pilots using the site, CFIs, and meteorologists. All feedback is genuinely appreciated.
Reach me at crosswindwx@gmail.com.
Happy flying,
Samuel McDowell