Narrative:

Approximately 40 minutes prior to departing; I requested a new dispatch release. The release had current and legal weather minimums with a legal alternate. Approximately 5 minutes prior to departure; I called dispatch and asked if I needed current weather due to a possible delay. The dispatcher said my weather information was still good and I did not need additional weather. After the phone conversation; I attempted to get a current ATIS update through ACARS at my destination as it was a short flight. The ATIS that came up was still from the last hour and appeared to have not been updated yet. We then departed on time. As we got close to our destination; we used ACARS to pull up the current weather. I noticed that the most current weather had dropped below what possibly would have been legal to depart. The time on the weather concerned me as it showed being updated a few minutes prior to our departure. The forecast; however; had not changed. Approach informed us that the RVR; however; was still above our minimums. We continued and landed uneventfully.it is possible that at the time we requested the current destination weather when on the ground; the actual report had been taken but not disseminated. In which case; I had no way of obtaining that until a later time. I do believe the dispatcher could have been more proactive in watching and updating us on the weather as it did change within minutes of our departure. I departed believing that current weather reports and forecasts were legal for our flight. All of the data that I had in my possession was legal and I believe I made reasonable attempts to obtain additional updated information.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Captain reported he may have been dispatched with less than legal weather at destination; in part because he had some difficulty getting a current report prior to departure.

Narrative: Approximately 40 minutes prior to departing; I requested a new dispatch release. The release had current and legal weather minimums with a legal alternate. Approximately 5 minutes prior to departure; I called Dispatch and asked if I needed current weather due to a possible delay. The Dispatcher said my weather information was still good and I did not need additional weather. After the phone conversation; I attempted to get a current ATIS update through ACARS at my destination as it was a short flight. The ATIS that came up was still from the last hour and appeared to have not been updated yet. We then departed on time. As we got close to our destination; we used ACARS to pull up the current weather. I noticed that the most current weather had dropped below what possibly would have been legal to depart. The time on the weather concerned me as it showed being updated a few minutes prior to our departure. The forecast; however; had not changed. Approach informed us that the RVR; however; was still above our minimums. We continued and landed uneventfully.It is possible that at the time we requested the current destination weather when on the ground; the actual report had been taken but not disseminated. In which case; I had no way of obtaining that until a later time. I do believe the Dispatcher could have been more proactive in watching and updating us on the weather as it did change within minutes of our departure. I departed believing that current weather reports and forecasts were legal for our flight. All of the data that I had in my possession was legal and I believe I made reasonable attempts to obtain additional updated information.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.