Metar/TAFs

Question 1

METAR

Answer 1

Aviation Routine Weather Report

• refers to a scheduled observation taken between 55-59 minutes past the hour (also referred to as a routine hourly observation).

Question 2

SPECI

Answer 2

Special Report

• refers to an unscheduled observation that met a predefined criteria (such as a change from VFR to IFR) and may be taken at 00-54 minutes past the hour. When SPECI criteria are met during the hourly observation time window (55-59 minutes past the hour), no special indication is made. The new weather conditions are encoded in a standard METAR report.

Question 3

AUTO

Answer 3

AUTO refers to an automated observation with measurements taken by equipment such as the domestic Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) or Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS), or the Air Force’s Automated Meteorological Station (AMS), also known as AN/FMQ-19.

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02A SLP034

Question 4

A01

Answer 4

AO1 denotes an observation taken by equipment lacking a precipitation type discriminator (rain vs. snow).

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02A SLP034

Question 5

A02

Answer 5

AO2 denotes an observation taken by standard equipment with a full complement of sensors.

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02A SLP034

Question 6

A02A

Answer 6

AO2 denotes an observation taken by standard equipment with a full complement of sensors. A02A denotes an automated observation augmented by a human observer.

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02A SLP034

Question 7

COR

Answer 7

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO COR 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG FU BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02A SLP034 COR 1725

COR indicates a corrected observation. Disregard the previous transmission. COR 1725 means that the correction was transmitted at 1725Z.

Question 8

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034

Answer 8

The data group followed by KT (knots) is the wind.

The first three digits are the true direction to the nearest 10 degrees from which the wind is blowing. The next two digits are the sustained speed. If gusts are present, the next two or three digits following the “G” are the “gust,” the maximum wind speed in the last ten minutes.

In this example, the 25015G30KT group is the wind direction and speed. Here, the wind is blowing from 250 degrees (true) at a sustained speed of 15 knots with 30-knot gusts.

Question 9

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034

Answer 9

A wind variability group will be reported if the wind is variable by 60 degrees or more and the speed is greater than 6 knots. This remark will contain the extremes of the wind directions, separated by “V.”

In this example, 210V290 are reads, “wind direction varying between 210 and 290.”

Question 10

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034

Answer 10

In this example, 3/8SM (3/8 of a statute mile) is the prevailing visibility. Prevailing visibility is the greatest horizontal visibility observed throughout at least half the horizon circle, and is not necessarily continuous.

Sector visibility will be reported in the remarks section if it differs from the prevailing visibility and is less than 3 miles. For sector visibility format, see VIS remarks in Figure 2 on page 17.

Question 11

METAR EDDF 071320Z 22008KT 9999 SCT036 SCT090 BKN280 19/10 Q1011 NOSIG

Answer 11

At overseas locations, visibility is reported in meters, and SM is omitted. The largest reportable metric value is 9999. This value represents a visibility greater than 9000 meters (7 SM or more). To convert visibility values from meters to statute miles see Attachment 3 on page 33 or see Flight Information Handbook conversion tables.

Question 12

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034

Answer 12

Runway Visual Range (RVR) follows the visibility and begins with the letter “R.” The runway heading will follow the “R,” and in this example, “32L” represents runway 32-Left (C-Center, R-Right). The last four digits report the visibility in feet.

In this example, R32L/1000FT reads, “runway visual range for runway 32 Left is 1,000 ft.”

At overseas locations, visibility is reported in meters, and FT is omitted from the RVR group. The same RVR at an overseas location would appear as R32L/0300 and read, “runway visual range for 32 Left is 300 meters.”

Question 13

How would I decode the formats M0600FT or P6000FT or R06L2000V4000FT (not in example above)?

Answer 13

M0600FT

Reads, “RVR is less than 600 feet.” (M = less than)

P6000FT

Reads, “RVR is greater than 6,000 feet.” (P = greater than)

R06L2000V4000FT

Reads, “RVR for 6 Left is variable between 2,000 and 4,000 feet.” “V” indicates that the RVR is variable between two thresholds.

Question 14

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034

Answer 14

If a weather element (precipitation or obstruction to visibility) is observed, it will be found in the data group following the visibility. The absence of a weather element group indicates that no precipitation or obstruction to visibility is occurring at the time of the observation. In this example, “FG” represents “Fog.”

To methodically decode a weather group, look for six key elements (depending on the phenomena, one or more may be omitted). In order, these elements are: Intensity (symbol preceding the code), Proximity, Descriptor, Precipitation Description, Obscuration (other than precipitation), and Other.

For a complete table of weather group elements, see Figure 1 on page 11.