1. Weather Effects on Aircraft
Wind
Rain
Lightning
Turbulence/Air Pockets
Volcano Eruption Aftermath
Cloud cover
Cold temperature
Hot temperature

2. Wind Speed Ways to compensate for some wind
Wind does not prevent most takeoffs or landings
Wind of too much speed can preclude landing and taking off
Pilots/land crew careful not to meet/exceed limitations of aircraft

3. Rain Rain, by itself, is usually not an issue
Rain combined with other things that are nasty (wind, tornados, etc.) can create a problem
Thunderstorms and anything more advanced than that (tropical depressions, tropical storms, hurricanes, etc.) are typically avoided by aircraft

4. Lightning
Planes go around or fly above thunderstorms when possible, and by a rather high margin so as to remain completely clear of the storm
Some planes are less susceptible due to the makeup of their outer skin (metal versus composite materials)
Regardless, lightning striking planes is never good
Lightning strikes can be mitigated by safety features on craft but they are not impervious

5. Volcanic Eruptions/Planes
While an eruption of a volcano is more of a natural disaster than weather, the weather spreads and moves the ash once it’s in the air
Ash is terrible for planes’ engines and instruments
Can block airflow through the ducts of the plane and it can cake on the metal parts
Like thunderstorms, the usual method is to stay far away

6. Cloud Cover
Cloud cover or not, planes are almost always flown via their instruments, not line of sight, etc.
It is the instruments that detect other planes, the path that should be taken and whether the plane is on course to its destination
Smaller planes and such and those at lower altitude must be much more careful due to less advanced instruments
Turbulence can be an issue in clouds

7. Cold Temperature
Cold weather is one of the most tested things when it comes to preparing a plane for market
Cold air is common when flying, especially at high altitudes and during the winter
Ice/snow buildup on the plane itself is the larger concern – not temperature
The engines of the plane create a great amount of heat

8. Hot Temperatures Heat is not usually an issue, but it can be
Massive heatwaves in areas like California and Arizona can make it too hot to land or take off
Planes adapt to cold a lot better than heat
Excessive heat is a problem because lift is reduced when the air is thinner
This makes it much more dangerous to take off or land a plane
The “tipping point” is often about 104 degrees.
118 degrees or higher is an absolutely “no”

9. References
Davies, A. (2016). Here's Why Extreme Cold Is Disastrous For Air Travel. Business Insider. Retrieved 15 December 2016, from
Davies, A. (2016). Why Volcanic Ash Is So Terrible for Airplanes. WIRED. Retrieved 15 December 2016, from
Hope, A. (2016). It's So Hot Some Planes Can't Fly—Here's Why. CNT. Retrieved 15 December 2016, from
Marder, J. (2016). Airplane Turbulence: Is It Dangerous?. PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 15 December 2016, from
Turner, T. (2016). Aviation Safety - On A Mission: Best Practices On Thunderstorm Avoidance. Aviationsafetymagazine.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016, from