METAR

Question 1

METAR KABC 121755Z

Answer 1

TYPE OF REPORT METAR: hourly (scheduled) report; SPECI: special (unscheduled) report. METAR
STATION IDENTIFIER Four alphabetic characters; ICAO location identifier. KABC
DATE/TIME All dates and times in UTC using a 24-hour clock; two-digit date and four-digit time;
always appended with Z to indicate UTC. 121755Z

Question 2

AUTO 21016G24KT 180V240 1SM

Answer 2

REPORT MODIFIER Fully automated report, no human intervention; removed when observer signed-on. AUTO
WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED Direction in tens of degrees from true north (first three digits); next two digits: speed in whole knots; as needed Gusts (character) followed by maximum observed speed; always
appended with KT to indicate knots; 00000KT for calm; if direction varies by 60° or more a Variable wind direction group is reported. 21016G24KT 180V240
VISIBILITY Prevailing visibility in statute miles and fractions (space between whole miles and
fractions); always appended with SM to indicate statute miles; values <1/4 reported asM1/4. 1SM

Question 3

R11/P6000FT

Answer 3

RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE 10-minute RVR value in hundreds of feet; reported if prevailing visibility is £ one mile or RVR £ 6000 feet; always appended with FT to indicate feet; value prefixed with M or P to
indicate value is lower or higher than the reportable RVR value . R11/P6000FT

Question 4

-RA BR BKN015 OVC025 06/04 A2990
light (-),
RA: liquid precipitation that does not freeze;
BR: mist;
BKN (broken);
OVC (overcast); followed by 3-digit height in hundreds of feet; or vertical visibility (VV) followed by height for indefinite ceiling.
TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT Each is reported in whole degrees Celsius using two digits; values are separated by a
solidus; sub-zero values are prefixed with an M (minus).
ALTIMETER Altimeter always prefixed with an A indicating inches of mercury; reported using four
digits: tens, units, tenths, and hundredths. A2990

Answer 4

WEATHER PHENOMENA
light (-),
RA: liquid precipitation that does not freeze;
BR: mist;
BKN (broken);
OVC (overcast); followed by 3-digit height in hundreds of feet; or vertical visibility (VV) followed by height for indefinite ceiling.
TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT Each is reported in whole degrees Celsius using two digits; values are separated by a
solidus; sub-zero values are prefixed with an M (minus).
ALTIMETER Altimeter always prefixed with an A indicating inches of mercury; reported using four
digits: tens, units, tenths, and hundredths. A2990

Question 5

WEATHER PHENOMENA 
RA 
SN
UP
(-)
(no sign)
(+)
FG
FZFG 
BR
HZ
SQ
FC
TS
GR 
GS
FZRA
VA

Answer 5

WEATHER PHENOMENA 
RA: liquid precipitation that does not freeze; 
SN: frozen precipitation other than hail; 
UP: precipitation of unknown type; 
Intensity prefixed to precipitation: 
light (-), 
moderate (no sign), 
heavy (+); 
FG: fog}; 
FZFG: freezing fog (temperature below 0°C); 
BR: mist;
HZ: haze; 
SQ: squall; maximum of three groups reported; augmented by observer: 
FC (funnel cloud/tornado/waterspout); 
TS (thunderstorm); 
GR (hail); GS (small hail; <1/4 inch);
FZRA (intensity; freezing rain); 
VA (volcanic ash).

Question 6

SKY CONDITION
  CLR
  FEW
  SCT
  BKN
  OVC

Answer 6

SKY CONDITION Cloud amount and height:
CLR (no clouds detected below 12000 feet);
FEW (few);
SCT (scattered);
BKN (broken);
OVC (overcast); followed by 3-digit height in hundreds of
feet; or vertical visibility (VV) followed by height for indefinite ceiling. BKN015 OVC025

Question 7

TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT

M

Answer 7

TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT Each is reported in whole degrees Celsius using two digits; values are separated by a
solidus; sub-zero values are prefixed with an M (minus). 06/04

Question 8

ALTIMETER Altimeter always prefixed with ___

Answer 8

ALTIMETER Altimeter always prefixed with an A indicating inches of mercury; reported using four
digits: tens, units, tenths, and hundredths. A2990

Question 9

RMK
TORNADIC ACTIVITY

AO2

PK WND

WSHFT

Answer 9

REMARKS IDENTIFIER: RMK RMK
TORNADIC ACTIVITY: Augmented; report should include TORNADO, FUNNEL CLOUD, or WATERSPOUT, time begin/end, location, movement;
e.g., TORNADO B25 N MOVE.
TYPE OF AUTOMATED STATION: AO2; automated station with precipitation discriminator. AO2
PEAK WIND: PK WND dddff(f)/(hh)mm; direction in tens of degrees, speed in whole knots, and time.
PK WND 20032/25
WIND SHIFT: WSHFT (hh)mm WSHFT 1715

Question 10

VIS

VIS vvvvv [LOC]

TSB(hh)mmE(hh)mm

VIRGA

CIG

Answer 10

VARIABLE PREVAILING VISIBILITY: VIS vnvnvnvnvnVvxvxvxvxvx; reported if prevailing visibility is < 3 miles and variable. VIS 3/4V1 1/2

VISIBILITY AT SECOND LOCATION: VIS vvvvv [LOC]; reported if different than the reported prevailing visibility in body of report. VIS 3/4 RWY11

LIGHTNING: [FREQ] LTG [LOC]; when detected the frequency and location is reported, e.g., FRQ LTG NE.

BEGINNING AND ENDING OF PRECIPITATION AND THUNDERSTORMS: w’w’B(hh)mmE(hh)mm; TSB(hh)mmE(hh)mm RAB07

VIRGA: Augmented; precipitation not reaching the ground, e.g., VIRGA.
VARIABLE CEILING HEIGHT: CIG hnhnhnVhxhxhx; reported if ceiling in body of report is < 3000 feet and variable. CIG 013V017

Question 11

CIG hhh [LOC]

PRESRR or PRESFR

SLPppp

Prrrr;

Answer 11

CEILING HEIGHT AT SECOND LOCATION: CIG hhh [LOC]; Ceiling height reported if secondary ceilometer site is different than the ceiling height in the body of the report. CIG 017 RWY11

PRESSURE RISING OR FALLING RAPIDLY: PRESRR or PRESFR; pressure rising or falling rapidly at time of observation. PRESFR

SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE: SLPppp; tens, units, and tenths of SLP in hPa. SLP125

HOURLY PRECIPITATION AMOUNT: Prrrr; in .01 inches since last METAR; a trace is P0000. P0003