|
Aviation
Weather Services provide forecast (TAF - Terminal Aerodrome
Forecast) and current condition reports (METAR - an abbreviation
for "Routine Aviation Weather Observation" in French)
in an encoded format. It's a good skill for any pilot to have
to be able to decode METARs and TAFs.
The
key below provides a comprehensive overview of METAR and TAF
abbreviations
|
KEY to AERODROME FORECAST (TAF) and
AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT
(METAR)
TAF KPIT 091730Z 091818 15005KT 5SM HZ FEW020 WS010/31022KT
FM1930 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015 TEMPO 2022 1/2SM +TSRA
OVC008CB
FM0100 27008KT 5SM SHRA BKN020 0VC040 PROB40 0407 1SM -RA BR
FM1015 18005KT 6SM -SHRA OVC020 BECMG 1315 P6SM NSW SKC
METAR KPIT 091955Z COR 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28L/2600FT TSRA OVC010CB
18/16 A2992 RMK SLP045 T01820159
|
Forecast |
Explanation |
Report |
TAF |
Message type: TAF-routine or TAF
AMD-amended forecast, METAR-hourly,
SPECI-special or TESTM-non-commissioned
ASOS report
|
METAR |
KPIT |
ICAO location indicator |
KPIT |
091730Z |
Issuance time: ALL times in UTC "Z",
2-digit date, 4-digit time |
091955Z |
091818 |
Valid period: 2-digit date,
2-digit beginning,
2-digit ending times |
|
|
In U.S. METAR: CORrected ob; or
AUTOmated ob for automated
report with no human intervention;
omitted when observer logs on |
COR |
15005KT |
Wind: 3 digit true-north direction,
nearest 10 degrees (or VaRiaBle);
next 2-3 digits for speed and unit,
KT (KMH or MPS); as needed,
Gust and maximum speed; 00000KT for calm;
for METAR, if direction varies
60 degrees or more, Variability appended,
e.g. 180V260
|
22015G25KT |
5SM |
Prevailing visibility: in U.S., Statute
Miles & fractions; above 6 miles in TAF
Plus6SM. (Or, 4-digit minimum visibility
in meters and as required, lowest value
with direction)
|
3/4SM |
|
Runway Visual Range: R; 2-digit runway designator
Left, Center, or Right as needed;
"/"; Minus or Plus in U.S,
4-digit value, FeeT in U.S.
(usually meters elsewhere);
4-digit value Varialbility 4-digit value
(and tendency Down, Up or No change)
|
R28L/2600FT |
HZ |
Significant present, forecast and
recent weather: see table
(below) |
TSRA |
FEW020 |
Cloud amount, height and type: SKy
Clear 0/8, FEW >0/8-2/8,
SCaTtered 3/8-4/8, BroKeN 5/8-7/8,
OVerCast 8/8; 3-digit height in hundreds of ft;
Towering CUmulus or CumulonimBus in
METAR; in TAF, only CB.
Vertical Visibility for obscured sky and
height "VV004". More than 1 layer may be reported
or forecast. In automated METAR reports only, CLeaR
for "clear below 12,000 feet"
|
OVC010CB |
|
Temperature: degrees Celsius; first 2 digits,
temperature "/" last 2 digits, dew-point temperature;
Minus for below zero, e.g., M06 |
18/16 |
|
Altimeter setting: indicator and 4 digits; in U.S.,
A-inches and hundredths; (Q-hectoPascals, e.g. Q1013) |
A2992 |
WS010/31022KT |
In U.S. TAF, non-convective low-level
(<=2,000 ft)Wind Shear; 3-digit height (hundreds of ft);
"/", 3-digit wind direction and 2-3 digit wind speed
above the indicated height, and unit, KT
|
|
|
In METAR, ReMarK indicator
& remarks. For example:Sea-Level Pressure in
hectoPascals & tenths, as shown: 1004.5 hPa;
Temp/dew-point in tenths �C, as shown:
temp 18.2�C, dew-point 15.9�C
|
RMK
SLP045
T01820159 |
FM1930 |
FroM and 2-digit hour and 2-digit
minute beginning time: indicates significant change.
Each FM starts on a new line, indented 5 spaces. |
|
TEMPO 2022 |
TEMPOrary: changes expected for < 1 hour and in
total, < half of 2-digit hour beginning and
2-digit hour ending time period |
|
PROB40 0407 |
PROBability and 2-digit percent (30 or 40): probable
condition during 2-digit hour beginning and
2-digit hour ending time period |
|
BECMG 1315 |
BECoMinG: change expected during 2-digit
hour beginning and 2-digit hour ending
time period |
|
Table of Significant Present, Forecast and Recent Weather
-
Grouped in categories and used in the order listed below; or as needed
in TAF, No Significant Weather.
QUALIFIER
Intensity or Proximity
- Light "no sign" Moderate + Heavy
VC Vicinity: but not at aerodrome;
in U.S. METAR, between 5 and 10SM of the point(s) of observation;
in U.S. TAF, 5 to 10SM from center of runway complex
(elsewhere within 8000m)
Descriptor
MI Shallow BC Patches PR Partial TS Thunderstorm
BL Blowing SH Showers DR Drifting FZ Freezing
WEATHER PHENOMENA
Precipitation
DZ Drizzle RA Rain SN Snow SG Snow grains
IC Ice crystals PL Ice pellets GR Hail GS Small hail/snow pellets
UP Unknown precipitation in automated observations
Obscuration
BR Mist(>= 5/8SM) FG Fog(< 5/8SM) FU Smoke VA Volcanic Ash
SA Sand HZ Haze PY Spray DU Widespread dust
Other
SQ Squall SS Sandstorm DS Duststorm PO Well developed
FC Funnel cloud +FC tornado/waterspout dust/sand whirls
-
Explanations in parentheses "( )" indicate different
worldwide practices.
-
Ceiling is not specified; defined as the lowest
broken or overcast layer, or the vertical visibility.
-
NWS TAFs exclude turbulence, icing &
temperature forecasts; NWS METARs exclude trend fcsts
-
Although not used in US, Ceiling And
Visibility OK replaces visibility, weather and clouds
if: visibility >=10km; no cloud below 5000 ft (1500m) or below
the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater and
no CB; and no precipitation, TS, DS, SS, MIFG, DRDU, DRSA, or
DRSN.
|
|
|
© 2024 Dauntless Aviation • 4950C York Road 110, Buckingham, PA, 18912, USA •
Contact Us •
Privacy Policy / Terms / Conditions
|
|