13 Aviation weather Services

Question 1

Who can you call to get a 24 hour weather brief?

Answer 1

1-800 WX BRIEF

Question 2

What is a standard brief?

Answer 2

It is a brief over everything

Question 3

What is an abbreviated brief

Answer 3

It is a shortened brief typically done right before your flight just to double check the weather

Question 4

What is an outlook brief?

Answer 4

It a briefing that can be acquired 6 hours in advance.

Question 5

What does this METAR mean?
METAR KDSM 201953Z 24015KT 3/4SM R28/2400FT +TSRA BKN008 OVC015CB 26/25 A2985
RMK TSB32RAB32

Answer 5

METAR for Des moines, 20th day of the month, time is 19:53Z, winds 240 at 15 kt, 3/4 sm of visibility, runway 28 visual range is 2400 ft, Heavy thunderstorms and rain, broken clouds at 800, remarks, Thunderstorm began at 32 min. past the hour; rain began at 32 min. past the hour

Question 6

What does this METAR mean?
METAR KDSM 121845Z 11012G18KT 15SM SKC 25/17 A3000

Answer 6

METAR for Des Moines, 12th day of the month at time 18:45Z, Winds 110 at 12 gusting to 18 kt, 15 sm visibility, sky condition is clear, temperature 25, dewpoint 17, altimeter 30.00

Question 7

What is MI

Answer 7

Shalllow

Question 8

What is BC

Answer 8

Patches

Question 9

What is DR

Answer 9

low drifting

Question 10

What is BL

Answer 10

Blowing

Question 11

What is SH

Answer 11

Showers

Question 12

What is TS

Answer 12

Thunderstorms

Question 13

What is FZ

Answer 13

Freezing

Question 14

What is PR

Answer 14

Partial

Question 15

What is DZ

Answer 15

Drizzle

Question 16

What is RA

Answer 16

Rain

Question 17

What is SN

Answer 17

Snow

Question 18

What is SG

Answer 18

Snow grains

Question 19

What is IC

Answer 19

Ice crystals

Question 20

What is PL

Answer 20

Ice pellets

Question 21

What is GR

Answer 21

Hail

Question 22

What is GS

Answer 22

small hail or snow pellets

Question 23

What is UP

Answer 23

Unknown precipitation

Question 24

What is BR

Answer 24

Mist

Question 25

What is FG

Answer 25

Fog

Question 26

What is FU

Answer 26

Smoke

Question 27

What is DU

Answer 27

Dust

Question 28

What is SA

Answer 28

Sand

Question 29

What is HZ

Answer 29

Haze

Question 30

What is PY

Answer 30

Spray

Question 31

What is VA

Answer 31

Volcanic Ash

Question 32

What is PO

Answer 32

Dust/sand whirls

Question 33

What is SQ

Answer 33

Squalls

Question 34

What is FC

Answer 34

Funnel cloud

Question 35

What is +FC

Answer 35

Tornado or waterspout

Question 36

What is SS

Answer 36

Sandstorms

Question 37

What is DS

Answer 37

Dust storms

Question 38

What does SKC, CLR, FEW mean?

Answer 38

clear, or less than 1/8 coverage

Question 39

What does FEW mean?

Answer 39

Few clouds, or 1/8-2/8 coverage

Question 40

What does SCT mean?

Answer 40

Scattered clouds, or 3/8-4/8 coverage

Question 41

What does BKN mean?

Answer 41

Broken clouds, or 5/8-7/8 coverage

Question 42

What does OVC mean?

Answer 42

Overcast clouds, or 8/8 coverage

Question 43

What is an AIRMET?

Answer 43

It is an in-flight weather observation that happens every 6 hours. It is for all, but it is hazardous for light aircraft. Includes icing, moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds 30kts or greater, ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility less than 3 sm, mountain obscuration.

Question 44

What is a SIGMET?

Answer 44

It is an inflight weather observation, hazardous to all aircrafts, every 4 hours. Includes severe icing and severe turbulance.

Question 45

What is a SIERRA AIRMET?

Answer 45

IFR conditions and mountain obscuration

Question 46

What is a TANGO AIRMET?

Answer 46

Turbulence and wind related stuff

Question 47

What is a ZULU AIRMET?

Answer 47

Icing and freezing levels

Question 48

What is a convective SIGMET?

Answer 48

It is an inflight weather observation, hazardous to flight. updates 55 minutes past the hour, valid for 2 hours. It includes severe thunderstorms with winds grater than 50 kts, hail bigger than 3/4 diameter, tornados