Current Weather

Question 1

What is the scheduled time interval for a new METAR?

Answer 1

1 hour

Question 2

What criteria will trigger a special report (SPECI) before the next METAR is due?

Answer 2

Wind shift 45 degrees+ with 10K+ wind
Visibility hits 3, 2, 1, lowest apch minimum
RVR hits 2400
Tornado observed
Thunderstorm begin or end
Precipitation (frozen) begin or end
Squall
Ceiling hits 3000, 2000, 1000, 500, lowest
            apch minimum

Question 3

Read: METAR KJAX 021455 AUTO 21015G30 3SM FU BKN030 25/23 3001

Answer 3

1 4 5 5 Zulu weather at Jacksonville winds 2 1 0 at 1 5, gusts to 3 0. 3 miles visibility with smoke. Ceiling broken 3 thousand. Temperature 2 5, dew point 2 3, altimeter 3 0 0 1.

Question 4

What countries/regional areas have the ICAO beginning letters K, C, M, T, P

Answer 4

K - USA, C - Canada, M - Mexico or Western Caribbean, T - Eastern Caribbean, P - Pacific

Question 5

What are the following obscuration codes?

DZ, RA, SN, GS

Answer 5

DZ - Drizzle, RA - Rain

SN - Snow, GS - Small Hail,

Question 6

What are the following obscuration codes?

GR, IC, PL, SG

Answer 6

GR - Hail, IC - Ice Crystals

PL - Ice Pellets, SG - Snow Grains

Question 7

What are the following obscuration codes?

FG, HZ, BR, FU, VA

Answer 7

FG - Fog, HZ - Haze, BR - Mist

FU - Smoke, VA - Volcanic Ash

Question 8

What do CLR, FEW, SCT, BKN, & OVC mean?

Answer 8

They are sky cover reports.
CLR - Clear  no clouds
FEW - some to 2/8 of sky
SCT - 3/8 to 4/8 of sky
BKN - 5/8 to 7/8 of sky
OVC - 8/8 of sky

Question 9

What constitutes a ceiling?

Answer 9

Cloud layer reported as BKN or OVC

Question 10

What scale are temperature and dew point reported in?

Answer 10

Centigrade