Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

FIG 7-1-22

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Front)

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Front)

TAF

KPIT 091730Z 0918/1024 15005KT 5SM HZ FEW020 WS010/31022KT

FM091930 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015

TEMPO 0920/0922 1/2SM +TSRA OVC008CB

FM100100 27008KT 5SM SHRA BKN020 OVC040

PROB30 1004/1007 1SM -RA BR

FM101015 18005KT 6SM -SHRA OVC020

BECMG 1013/1015 P6SM NSW SKC

NOTE : Users are cautioned to confirm DATE and TIME of the TAF. For example FM 10 0000 is 0000Z on the 10th . Do not confuse with 1000Z!

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

0918/1024

Valid period, either 24 hours or 30 hours. The first two digits of EACH four digit number indicate the date of the valid period, the final two digits indicate the time (valid from 18Z on the 9 th to 24Z on the 10 th ).

In U.S. METAR: COR rected ob; or AUTO mated 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 V a R ia B le); next 2-3 digits for speed and unit, KT (KMH or MPS); as needed, G ust and maximum speed; 00000KT for calm; for METAR, if direction varies 60 degrees or more, V ariability appended, e.g., 180 V 260

22015G25KT

5SM

Prevailing visibility; in U.S., S tatute M iles & fractions; above 6 miles in TAF P lus6 SM . (Or, 4-digit minimum visibility in meters and as required, lowest value with direction)

¾SM

Runway Visual Range: R ; 2-digit runway designator L eft, C enter, or R ight as needed; “ / ”, Minus or Plus in U.S., 4-digit value, F ee T in U.S., (usually meters elsewhere); 4-digit value V ariability 4-digit value (and tendency D own, U p or N o change)

R28L/2600FT

HZ

Significant present, forecast and recent weather: see table (on back)

TSRA

FEW020

Cloud amount, height and type: Sk y C lear 0/8, FEW >0/8-2/8, Sc a T tered 3/8-4/8, B ro K e N 5/8-7/8, Ov er C ast 8/8; 3-digit height in hundreds of ft; T owering Cu mulus or C umulonim B us in METAR ; in TAF , only CB . V ertical V isibility for obscured sky and height “VV004”. More than 1 layer may be reported or forecast. In automated METAR reports only, Cl ea R for “clear below 12,000 feet”

OVC 010CB

Temperature: degrees Celsius; first 2 digits, temperature “ / ” last 2 digits, dew-point temperature; M inus 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) W ind S hear; 3-digit height (hundreds of ft); “ / ”; 3-digit wind direction and 2-3 digit wind speed above the indicated height, and unit, KT

FIG 7-1-23

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Back)

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Back)

In METAR , R e M ar K indicator & remarks. For example: S ea- L evel P ressure in hectoPascals & tenths, as shown: 1004.5 hPa; T emp/dew-point in tenths °C, as shown: temp. 18.2°C, dew-point 15.9°C

RMK SLP045 T01820159

FM091930

F ro M : changes are expected at: 2-digit date, 2-digit hour, and 2-digit minute beginning time: indicates significant change. Each FM starts on a new line, indented 5 spaces

TEMPO 0920/0922

TEMPO rary: changes expected for <1 hour and in total, < half of the period between the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour beginning, and 2-digit date and 2-digit hour ending time

PROB30 1004/1007

PROB ability and 2-digit percent (30 or 40): probable condition in the period between the 2-digit date & 2-digit hour beginning time, and the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour ending time

BECMG 1013/1015

BEC o M in G : change expected in the period between the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour beginning time, and the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour ending time

Table of Significant Present, Forecast and Recent Weather - Grouped in categories and used in the order listed below; or as needed in TAF, N o S ignificant W eather.

Qualifiers

Intensity or Proximity

“-” = Light

No sign = Moderate

“+” = Heavy

“VC” = Vicinity, but not at aerodrome. In the US METAR, 5 to 10 SM from the point of observation. In the US TAF, 5 to 10 SM from the center of the runway complex. Elsewhere, within 8000m.

Descriptor

BC – Patches

BL – Blowing

DR – Drifting

FZ – Freezing

MI – Shallow

PR – Partial

SH – Showers

TS – Thunderstorm

Weather Phenomena

Precipitation

DZ – Drizzle

GR – Hail

GS – Small Hail/Snow Pellets

IC – Ice Crystals

PL – Ice Pellets

RA – Rain

SG – Snow Grains

SN – Snow

UP – Unknown Precipitation in automated observations

Obscuration

BR – Mist (≥5/8SM)

DU – Widespread Dust

FG – Fog (<5/8SM)

FU – Smoke

HZ – Haze

PY – Spray

SA – Sand

VA – Volcanic Ash

Other

DS – Dust Storm

FC – Funnel Cloud

+FC – Tornado or Waterspout

PO – Well developed dust or sand whirls

SQ – Squall

SS – Sandstorm

- 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 BECMG groups and temperature forecasts, NWS TAFS do not use PROB in the first 9 hours of a TAF; NWS METARs exclude trend forecasts. US Military TAFs include Turbulence and Icing groups.