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 www.wx2me.com
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| 1)
How codes are constructed |
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The
codes used in METAR and TAF aviation weather reports are
constructed by considering columns 1 to 5 in the table below
in sequence. That is, intensity (if appropriate), followed
by the descriptor (if appropriate), followed by weather
phenomena.
For
example, heavy rain shower(s) are coded as +SHRA (where
"+" denotes heavy, "SH" denotes Showers,
and "RA" denotes Rain).
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| QUALIFIER |
WEATHER PHENOMENON |
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1
Intensity or Proximity
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2
Descriptor
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3
Precipitation
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4
Obscuration
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5
Other
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- Light
Moderate (no qualifier)
+ Heavy or well developed (in the case of funnel
clouds)
VC In the vicinity |
MI Shallow
BC Patches
PR Partial
DR Low drifting
BL Blowing
SH Shower(s)
TS Thunderstorm
FZ Freezing
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DZ Drizzle
RA Rain
SN Snow
SG Snow Grains
IC Ice Crystals
PE Ice Pellets
GR Hail
GS Small Hail and/or snow pellets
UP Unknown precipitation in automated obs |
BR Mist
FG Fog
FU Smoke
VA Volcanic ash
DU Widespread dust
SA Sand
HZ Haze
PY Spray |
PO Well-devel-oped
dust/sand whirls
SQ Squalls
FC Funnel clouds(s)(tornado or waterspout)
SS Sandstorm
DS Duststorm |
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Source:
NOAA - Significant Weather: WMO code table 4678 (www.noaa.gov)
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| 2)
Reference Key for METAR/TAF Reports |
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| Key
to aerodrome forecast (TAF) and aviation routine weather report
(METAR) |
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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 |
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| Forecast |
Explanation |
Report |
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| TAF |
Message type:
TAF-routine or TAF AMD-amended forecast;
METAR-hourly |
METAR |
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| KPIT |
ICAO location indicator (4 digit) |
KPIT |
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| 091730Z |
Issuance time: ALL times in UTC
"Z", 2-digit date, 4-digit time |
091955Z |
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| 091818 |
Valid period: 2-digit date, 2-digit
beginning, 2-digit ending times |
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CORrected observation; or AUTOmated
observation for automated report with no human intervention |
COR |
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| 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 |
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| 5SM |
Prevailing visibility: Statute
Miles (SM) & fractions; above 6 miles in
TAF Plus6SM. (Or, 4-digit minimum
visibility in meters and as required, lowest value with
direction) |
3/4SM |
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Runway Visual Range: R;
2-digit runway designator Left, Center,
or Right as needed; "/"; Minus or Plus
in U.S, 4-digit value, FeeT (otherwise,
meters); 4-digit value Varialbility 4-digit value
(and tendency Down, Up or No change)
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R28L/2600FT |
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| HZ |
Significant present, forecast and recent
weather: see table (above) |
TSRA |
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| 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 |
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Temperature: degrees Celsius; first
2 digits, temperature "/" last 2 digits, dew-point temperature;
Minus for below zero, e.g., M06 |
18/16 |
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Altimeter setting: indicator and
4 digits; A-inches and hundredths; (Q-hectoPascals,
e.g. Q1013) |
A2992 |
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| WS010/31022KT |
In 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
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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 |
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| 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. |
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| TEMPO 2022 |
TEMPOrary: changes expected for
< 1 hour and in total, < half of 2-digit hour
beginning and 2-digit hour ending time period |
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| PROB40 0407 |
PROBability and 2-digit percent
(30 or 40): probable condition during 2-digit hour beginning
and 2-digit hour ending time period |
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| BECMG 1315 |
BECoMinG: change
expected during 2-digit hour beginning and 2-digit hour
ending time period |
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Source:
NOAA - Reference Key (www.noaa.gov)
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