thunderstorms can often peak higher than that, 40,000 to 50,000 feet in some instances. that altitude, we're talking temperatures well below freezing. that means any of the moisture in that area will be in the form of super cooled water droplets and possibility on the wings and the very important instrument onz an airplane that impacts the travel conditions and also the speed of the airplane. this is a very typical weather pattern for this area. we're incurring monsoonal conditions. that is set to continue for the next several days. search and rescue efforts hindered by this particular weather scenario. >> derrick, i'm curious though. is this the kind of thing that pilot would have been aware of prior? could he have got smen sort of warning from air traffic control or the radar signals that the bad weather was coming? or was ut a total surprise? >> they would get briefed on the weather conditions for the first part of their journey.