Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 79; Flight Crew Total 573; Flight Crew Type 418
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Weather
We entered the high desert flying from the north to PSP. Conditions in the area were much worse than forecast and it became readily apparent that our plan of flying below the cloud deck was not going to be safe. We worked through the clouds to remain VFR while looking for a hole to climb through as we heard that other VFR aircraft had succeeded with this plan.While climbing in one such area; we inadvertently entered IMC when the climb performance of the aircraft [was unexpectedly] slowed. I activated the GFC700 autopilot to maintain wings level climbing and we exited the IMC into clear air without incident. We likely spent 30-40 seconds in the soup. We continued towards the west entering an area largely clear of any clouds and were able to maintain normal VFR without incident.Contributing positive factors: XM and ADS-B radar data presented on G1000 to assist in understanding extent of storm Use of AP to maintain control and stability of aircraft. Contributing negative factors: Over reliance on forecast and current weather reports for airports in area did not match observed conditions in area. Over reliance on reports from other VFR traffic that conditions were improving.
C182 pilot; on a VFR flight; reports encountering weather conditions enroute that are much worse than forecasted and inadvertently entering IMC. XM and ADS-B weather data was considered useful in returning to VMC in less than a minute.