7-1-28 Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

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: 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) | ¾SM

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 Variability 4-digit value (and tendency Down, Up or No change) | R28L/2600FT

HZ | Significant present, forecast and recent weather: see table (on back) | 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” | OVC 010CB

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

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

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

FM091930 | FroM: 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 | TEMPOrary: 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 | PROBability 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 | BECoMinG: 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, No Significant Weather.

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.