Speak with ATC. Air traffic control can provide the location, tops, and intensity of storm cells. They can also provide vectors around a storm if asked. VFR pilots should always use flight following on cross country trips, especially at night and during inclement weather, which establishes radar contact with ATC and will allow the pilot to monitor communications of other flights in the area. This is almost as good as filing a flight plan, and definitely gets ATC's help.
Check in with Flight Watch. Periodically, pilots should temporarily leave ATC and check in with Flight Watch on channel 122.0 and get the latest from the flight weather advisory service. This is also where a pilot can give and receive pi-reps (pilot reports) of specific conditions being encountered by pilots in the area.
Listen to ATIS. The automated terminal information service is broadcast from larger airports and can be heard from 60 nautical miles out. A pilot should check the ATIS while en route and especially before descent to landing begins and before requesting approach or landing clearances. ATIS information will provide airport specific winds, visibility, clouds and ceiling, active runways, departure clearance requirements, temp/dew point, altimeter, all coded by an alpha identifier such as alpha or bravo.
Listen to HIWAS. Hazardous in-flight weather advisory services are broadcast from VOR's that have an H next to the frequency. Information includes, but is not limited to, Convective SIGMETS, SIGMETS, Urgent Pilot Reports and AIRMETS. Two-way voice communications are not available over VOR's which provide HIWAS.
