Narrative:

After arriving at mci, we were preparing to continue to mdw. We were informed by clearance delivery of a 'ground stop' to chicago. We would receive an update at XA00. When we received our update, we were informed that the ground stop was canceled. We boarded the aircraft and were ready quickly. I had release, but I was still waiting for a WX packet. I informed operations agent as well as called inside on the radio. When I received the WX, I examined it for our destination, alternates, etc. Although the last hour metar was down for mdw, the forecast was good for our ETA and beyond. I signed a release, we pushed back, deiced and departed for mdw. During departure, I received a call. When I called back to mci, dispatch requested we return to mci. They informed me they did not want us to continue to mdw with the current ATIS reporting below minimums. We informed ATC of our intentions and they cleared us to mci. I informed our flight attendants and passenger as well. The total airborne time was about 20 mins. After returning to the gate at mci, I spoke to dispatch on the telephone. The ATIS was now reporting WX above minimums and close to the forecast I was given earlier, which also was above minimums. I was dispatched to mdw. We refueled, departed, and we subsequently landed at mdw. Dispatch informed me they were concerned as to the need to have a current ATIS and/or metar report indicating current WX at a destination above minimums before dispatching a flight -- even if the forecasts for the ETA are indicating above minimums at the ETA. As of this writing, I was unable to find any reference in our fom indicating a requirement for the ATIS at a destination be above minimums at the time of departure in order to dispatch. The decision was made to go based on the WX requirements section of our fom under 'dispatch.'

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLC DIVERTS TO DEP ARPT DUE TO WX AT DEST ARPT.

Narrative: AFTER ARRIVING AT MCI, WE WERE PREPARING TO CONTINUE TO MDW. WE WERE INFORMED BY CLRNC DELIVERY OF A 'GND STOP' TO CHICAGO. WE WOULD RECEIVE AN UPDATE AT XA00. WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR UPDATE, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE GND STOP WAS CANCELED. WE BOARDED THE ACFT AND WERE READY QUICKLY. I HAD RELEASE, BUT I WAS STILL WAITING FOR A WX PACKET. I INFORMED OPS AGENT AS WELL AS CALLED INSIDE ON THE RADIO. WHEN I RECEIVED THE WX, I EXAMINED IT FOR OUR DEST, ALTERNATES, ETC. ALTHOUGH THE LAST HR METAR WAS DOWN FOR MDW, THE FORECAST WAS GOOD FOR OUR ETA AND BEYOND. I SIGNED A RELEASE, WE PUSHED BACK, DEICED AND DEPARTED FOR MDW. DURING DEP, I RECEIVED A CALL. WHEN I CALLED BACK TO MCI, DISPATCH REQUESTED WE RETURN TO MCI. THEY INFORMED ME THEY DID NOT WANT US TO CONTINUE TO MDW WITH THE CURRENT ATIS RPTING BELOW MINIMUMS. WE INFORMED ATC OF OUR INTENTIONS AND THEY CLRED US TO MCI. I INFORMED OUR FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX AS WELL. THE TOTAL AIRBORNE TIME WAS ABOUT 20 MINS. AFTER RETURNING TO THE GATE AT MCI, I SPOKE TO DISPATCH ON THE TELEPHONE. THE ATIS WAS NOW RPTING WX ABOVE MINIMUMS AND CLOSE TO THE FORECAST I WAS GIVEN EARLIER, WHICH ALSO WAS ABOVE MINIMUMS. I WAS DISPATCHED TO MDW. WE REFUELED, DEPARTED, AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED AT MDW. DISPATCH INFORMED ME THEY WERE CONCERNED AS TO THE NEED TO HAVE A CURRENT ATIS AND/OR METAR RPT INDICATING CURRENT WX AT A DEST ABOVE MINIMUMS BEFORE DISPATCHING A FLT -- EVEN IF THE FORECASTS FOR THE ETA ARE INDICATING ABOVE MINIMUMS AT THE ETA. AS OF THIS WRITING, I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY REF IN OUR FOM INDICATING A REQUIREMENT FOR THE ATIS AT A DEST BE ABOVE MINIMUMS AT THE TIME OF DEP IN ORDER TO DISPATCH. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO BASED ON THE WX REQUIREMENTS SECTION OF OUR FOM UNDER 'DISPATCH.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.