An acquaintance recently encountered severe turbulence at about 20,000
feet over eastern North Carolina after flying in westerly cross-winds
of up to 150 kt.

Due to the SW direction of the wind, he believes that this was not
mountain lee wave; I suspect it was related to the jet.

I am a simple rural physician, with good science training but an
unsophisticated knowledge of meterology and no ability to appreciate
the nuance of numerical models.

I would like to learn about how to recognize the potential for such
turbulence and avoid it, using the meteorolgy resources available on
the www. Who may I contact? What could I read?

Thanks,

DJ