Metar, Tafor
Metar, Tafor
Aircrew
! ! !
! ! Quick Reference
! ! ! ! !
RAJ
! ! ! ! ! ! METAR
Reports are generated once an hour or half- hour, but if conditions change significantly, a report
known as a special (SPECI) may be issued
In addition, a short period forecast called a TREND may be added at the end of the METAR covering
likely changes in weather conditions in the 2 hours following the observation.
The complement to METARs, reporting forecast weather rather than current weather, are TAFs.
Note that there may be minor differences between countries using the international codes as there
are between those using the North American conventions.
The 2 examples which follow illustrate the primary differences between the 2 METAR variations.
METAR LBBG 041600Z 12012MPS 090V150 1400 R04/P1500N R22/P1500U +SN BKN022
OVC050 M04/M07 Q1020 NOSIG 8849//91=
Some locations will report the runway using 3 characters (e.g. 25L)
- DEPTH OF DEPOSIT
Eight Figure Group
! 00 = less than 1mm
! 01 = 1mm etc 1st two digits Runway designator
! to
! 90 = 90mm 3rd digit Runway deposits
! 91 = not used
! 92 = 10cm 4th digit Extent of runway contamination
! 93 = 15cm
! 94 = 20cm 5th and 6th digits Depth of deposit
! 95 = 25cm
! 96 = 30cm 7th and 8th digits Friction coefficient or braking action
! 97 = 35cm
! 98 = 40cm or more
! 99 = RWYs non-operational due to - DEPTH OF DEPOSIT
snow, slush, ice, but depth not reported.
! ! 00 = less than
// = depth of deposit operationally not significant 1mm
or measurable.
! 01 = 1mm etc
! to
- FRICTION COEFFICIENT OR BRAKING ACTION (7 AND 8 DIGITS)
! 90 = 90mm
! 28 = friction coefficient 0.28 ! 91 = not used
! 38 = friction coefficient 0.38 ! 92 = 10cm
! ! ! or ! 93 = 15cm
! 91 = Braking action: Poor ! 94 = 20cm
! 92 = Braking action: Medium/Poor! 95 = 25cm
! 93 = Braking action: Medium ! 96 = 30cm
! 94 = Braking action: Medium/Good ! 97 = 35cm
! 95 = Braking action: Good ! 98 = 40cm or more
! 99 = Figures unreliable ! 99 = RWYs non-operational due to snow, slush, ice, but dep
! ! // = depth
// = Braking action not reported (e.g. RWY of deposit operationally
not operational; aerodrome not significant
closed; etc.) or measura
- FRICTION COEFFICIENT OR BRAKING ACTION (7 AND 8 DIGITS)
Note: If contamination conditions cease! to exist, the abbreviation CLRD is used, e.g.
28 = friction coefficient 0.28
! 38 = friction coefficient 0.38
24CLRD93 = Rwy 24 cleared; Braking action: Medium/Good
88CLRD95 = All rwys cleared; Braking Action: Good
! ! ! North American METAR codes
METAR KTTN 051853Z 04011KT 1/2SM VCTS SN FZFG BKN003 OVC010 M02/M02 A3006 RMK
AO2 TSB40 SLP176 P0002 T10171017
Note that what follows are not part of standard observations outside of the United States and can
vary significantly.
- A02 ....................... The station is automated with a precipitation discriminator (rain/snow) sensor.
! ! ! A01 is a Stations without a rain/snow sensor.
! ! ! A02A denotes an automated observation augmented by a human observer.
- TSB40 ................... Thunderstorm began at 40 minutes past the hour at 18:40 Zulu.
- SLP176 ................. Sea Level Pressure is 1.017.6 hPa (30.05 inHg). (SLP034... 1003,4 miliibars).
- P0002 .................... 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) of liquid-equivalent precipitation accumulated during the
! ! ! last hour.
- T10171017 ............. Breakdown of the Tº and dew point in 8 digits separated into 2 groups of 4.
! The last 4 digits "1017" indicate the dew point ...... - 1.7 °C.
In Canada, RMK is followed by a description of the cloud layers and opacities, in eighths (oktas). For
example, CU5 would indicate a cumulus layer with 5⁄8 opacity.
METAR Weather/Obscuration Table
Figure 1. Weather/Obscuration Table
Figure 1. Weather/Obscuration Table
Phenomenon Qualifiers
Phenomenon Qualifiers
Element 1: Intensity Element 2: Proximity Element 3: Description
Element 1: Intensity Element 2: Proximity Element 3: Description
- Light VC In the vicinity BC Patches
- Light VC In the vicinity BC Patches
none Moderate none On station BL Blowing
none Moderate none On station BL Blowing
++ Heavy
Heavy
DR Low Drifting
DR Low Drifting
Note: + can also mean FZ Freezing
Note: + can also mean FZ Freezing
a well-developed dust storm, MI Shallow
a well-developed dust storm, MI Shallow
sandstorm, whirl, dust devil, PR Partial (covering
sandstorm, whirl, dust devil, PR Partial (covering
tornado, or waterspout part of the sky)
tornado, or waterspout part of the sky)
SH Shower(s)
SH Shower(s)
TS
TS Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
Types
TypesofofWeather
WeatherPhenomenon
Phenomenon
Element
Element4:4:Precipitation
Precipitation Element
Element5:5: Obscuration
Obscuration Element
Element 6: 6: Other
Other
DZ
DZ Drizzle
Drizzle BR
BR Mist,
Mist,vis.
vis.≥≥5/8SM
5/8SM DS
DS Dust
Dust Storm
Storm
GR
GR Hail, diam. ≥ 5mm (.25")
Hail, diam. ≥ 5mm (.25") (or ≥ 1000m)
(or ≥ 1000m) FC
FC Funnel cloud(s)
Funnel cloud(s)
GS
GS Small Hail / Snow Pellets, DU Widespread
Small Hail / Snow Pellets, DU Widespread Dust Dust e.g., tornado
e.g., tornado
diam.
diam.<<5mm
5mm(.25")
(.25") FG
FG Fog,
Fog,vis.
vis.<<5/8SM
5/8SM or
or waterspout
waterspout
IC
IC Ice Crystals
Ice Crystals (or ≥ 1000m)
(or ≥ 1000m) PO Well-developed
PO Well-developed
PL
PL Ice Pellets
Ice Pellets FU Smoke
FU Smoke dust/sand
dust/sand whirls
whirls
RA
RA Rain
Rain HZ
HZ Haze
Haze SQ
SQ Squalls
Squalls
SG
SG Snow Grains
Snow Grains PY Spray
PY Spray SS Sandstorm
SS Sandstorm
SN
SN Snow
Snow SA
SA Sand
Sand
UP
UP Unknown
UnknownPrecipitation
Precipitation VA
VA Volcanic
VolcanicAsh
Ash
(Automated
(Automatedonly)
only)
11
11
Figure 2. Remarks Decode Table
A01 – Reported by automated PRESRR / PRESFR – PRESsure Rising Rapidly /
observation equipment that PRESsure Falling Rapidly
CANNOT distinguish between rain
PSR – Packed Snow on Runway
and snow
RAB20SNB20E55 – RAin and SNow Began at 20
A02 – Reported by automated
minutes past the hour, Ended at 55 min past
observation equipment that CAN
distinguish between rain and snow RCR01 – Runway Condition Reading – values 00
to 25; higher values better for flight ops
ACC W – AltoCumulus Castellanus
clouds West RCRNR – RCR-equipped, but No Report; or Base
Operations closed
ACSL SW-S – AltoCumulus Standing
Lenticular clouds SouthWest through RSC – Runway Surface Condition as determined
South by Airfield or Operations Manager
CB W MOV E – CumulonimBus clouds RVRNO – RVR-equipped, but NO report
West MOVing East
SFC VIS 2 1/2 – SurFaCe VISibility is 2 ½ statute
CBMAM DSNT S – CumulonimBus miles; remarked when (lower) tower visibility is
MAMmatus clouds to the DiStaNT reported in METAR body
South
SLP015 – Sea Level Pressure is 1001.5 millibars
CCSL OVR MT E – CirroCumulus
TCU OHD – Towering CUmulus clouds OverHeaD
Standing Lenticular clouds OVeR
MounTain(s) to the East TCU W – Towering CUmulus clouds to the West
CONS LTGCA – CONtinuouS (more TSB05E30 – ThunderStorm Began at 05 minutes
than 6 flashes per minute) past the hour and Ended at 30 min past
LighTninG, Cloud to Air
TWR VIS 1 – ToWeR VISibility is 1 statute mile;
FROPA – due to FROntal Passage remarked when (lower) surface visibility is
reported in METAR body
FRQ – FReQuent (1-6 flashes per
minute for lightning) VIRGA – VIRGA at the station; precipitation
observed but not reaching the ground
IR – Ice on Runway
VIRGA DSNT NE – VIRGA to the DiStaNT
LSR – Loose Snow on Runway
NorthEast
LTGCA – LighTninG, Cloud to Air
VIRGA SW – VIRGA to the SouthWest
LTGCC – LighTninG, Cloud to Cloud
VIS 1V2 – VISibility is Variable between 1 and 2
LTGCG – LighTninG, Cloud to Ground miles
LTGIC – LighTninG, In-Cloud VIS 2 RWY 11 – VISibility is 2 statute miles at
RunWaY 11
OCNL – OCcassioNaL (less than 1
flash per minute for lightning) VIS N 2 – VISibility in the Northern sector is 2
statute miles
PK WND 28045/1955 – PeaK WiND
280 at 45 knots occurred at 1955Z WR – Wet Runway
PK WND 34050/38 – PeaK WiND 340 WSHFT45 – Wind SHiFT at 45 minutes past the
at 50 knots occurred at 38 minutes hour
past the hour
!
17
! ! ! ! ! ! ! TAF
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a weather forecast at an airport or military base for a specific
period (usually 24 hours).
AMD (Amended Aerodrome Forecast) is issued because the previous version is no longer
representative of the current or expected weather. The amended TAF supersedes the previous TAF.
COR (Corrected Aerodrome Forecast) is a TAF that has been corrected. When a corrected TAF is
issued, disregard previous TAFs.
TAF
KSTL 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 WS010/18025KT
TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR
FM 1600 16010KT P6SM NSW SKC
BECMG 2224 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020 PROB40 0006 2SM TSRA OVC008CB
BECMG 0608 21015KT P6SM NSW SCT040
DAY/TIME KSTL example, 05 is the day of the month and 1130Z is the UTC time of issuance.
051212 indicates that the forecast is valid from 1200Z on the 5th day of the month to 1200Z on the
6th.
TEMPO represents a temporary condition. In this example, TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR reads,
“Temporary condition between 1300Z and 1600Z of
1 1/2 statute mile visibility in mist.” Only the temporary changing conditions are included in TEMPO
groups.
FM means “from” and indicates a rapid weather change where all data groups in the previous line are
superseded. In this example, FM 1600 reads, “From 1600Z ... ”
BECMG means “becoming” or a “gradual change” in meteorological conditions and becomes the
predominant group by the end time listed.
In this example, BECMG 2224 reads “Becoming from 2200Z to 2400Z.”
PROB40 represents a 40% probability or chance of conditions occurring along with associated
weather conditions (wind, visibility, sky conditions).
In this example, PROB40 0006 2SM TSRA 0VCOO8CB reads, “40% chance between 0000Z and
0600Z of visibility 2 statute miles in moderate thunderstorms, 800 overcast cumulonimbus clouds.”
CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK). CAVOK is used when there is no significant weather, the visibility
is 10 km or greater, and the ceilings are greater than 5,000 ft.
Forecast visibility in statute miles up to 6 SM, beyond which P6SM is used to indicate forecast
visibility greater than 6 statute miles.
NSW (no significant weather) is used to indicate that the weather or obscuration listed in the previous
group is no longer expected to occur. Absence of a weather or obscuration group means that no
weather or obscuration is expected during the forecast period.
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 WS010/18040KT QNH2960INS
BECMG 1314 16010KT 3200 -SHRA OVC020 QNH2959INS
TEMPO 1416 21015G30KT 1600 TSRA BKN008CB OVC020
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304 QNH2958INS
BECMG 1819 31012G22KT 9999 NSW SCT040 WSCONDS 520004 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS T08/18Z M01/11Z
WIND SHEAR group is included if non-convective low-level winds (up to 2,000 feet).
WS indicates forecast WS and is followed by a 3 digit height in hundreds of feet AGL, a slant
TAF
character, ”/,” and forecast wind at the height indicated.
WS010/18040KT reads, “forecast WS at 1,000 feet; wind at 1,000 feet is from 180º at 40 knots.”
Icing
The remark WSCONDS is used How todo
indicate the potential
I determine for icing
forecast WS when there is not enough information
conditions?
available to reliably predict the height, direction and speed of the wind shear. WSCONDS is normally
used beyond the first 6 hoursTAF of the TAF.
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 QNH2960INS
! !! ! BECMG
FORECAST 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304 QNH2958INS
ICING CONDITIONS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS T08/18Z M01/11Z
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000IfBR forecasted,
FEW030the icing group will be prefixed by the number 6, and follows
QNH2960INS
the cloud
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304 group. To decode,
QNH follow
2958INS these instructions:
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999
SKC QNH 2950INS T08/18Z1.M01/11Z Find the icing designator “6” following the cloud group (620304).
2. The next digit gives icing type and intensity (620304). See Figure 3.
If forecasted, the icing group 3.willThe
be next
prefixed
threebydigits
the number
give the6,base
andof
follows the layer
the icing cloudin
group.
hundreds of feet
To decode, follow these instructions:
(620304).
1. Find the icing designator “6” following the cloud group (620304).
4. The last digit provides the icing layer depth in thousands of feet
2. The next digit gives icing type and intensity (620304). See Figure 3.
(620304), so add this value to the base height to determine the top limit
3. The next three digits give the base of the icing layer in hundreds of feet (620304).
4. The last digit provides theoficing
the icing
layer conditions.
depth in thousands of feet (620304), so add this value to the
base height to determine the top limit of the icing conditions.
In the above example, the icing forecast will read, “light rime icing (in
cloud)
In the above example, the icing fromwill
forecast 3,000 to 7,000
read, feet.”icing (in cloud) from 3,000 to 7,000 feet.”
“light rime
9 9000 ft 27
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 QNH2960INS
! BECMG
! 1819 31012G22KT
FORECAST 9999 NSW SCT040
TURBULENCE 520004 QNH2952INS
CONDITIONS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS T08/18Z M01/11Z
TAF
If forecasted,
KBLV 051212 14005KT the turbulence
8000 BR FEW030 code will be prefixed by the number 5, and
QNH2960INS
will follow
BECMG 1819 the cloud
31012G22KT 9999orNSW
icingSCT040
group. 520004
To decode, follow these
QNH2952INS BECMGinstructions:
2021 30008KT
9999 SKC1.QNH2950INS
Look for the turbulence designator “5” that follows the cloud or icing
T08/18Z M01/11Z
group (520004).
If forecasted, the turbulence code will be prefixed by the number 5, and will follow the cloud or icing
group. 2. The next digit will determine the intensity (520004). See Figure 4.
To decode, 3. follow
The next
thesethree digits will determine the base limit of the turbulence
instructions:
1. Looklayer
for theinTURB
hundreds of feet“5”
designator AGLthat (520004).
follows the cloud or icing group (520004).
2. The 4.
nextThe last digit will determine the(520004).
digit will determine the intensity turbulence layer depth in thousands of
3. The next 3 digits determine the base limit of the TURB layer in hundreds of feet AGL (520004).
4. The feet (520004),
last digit so add
will determine thethis
TURBvalue to the
layer base
depth height to of
in thousands determine the top
feet (520004), so add this
limit of the turbulence conditions.
value to the base height to determine the top limit of the turbulence conditions.
In the
In the above abovethe
example, example, the forecast
turbulence turbulence forecast
will read, will read,
“occasional “occasional
moderate turbulence in clear air
moderate turbulence in clear air from the surface to 4,000 feet.”
from the surface to 4,000 feet.”
28
TEMPERATURE CONVERSION
Degrees Fahrenheit to Degrees Celsius
ºF ºF ºF ºF
From To ºC From To ºC From To ºC From To ºC
128.3 130.0 54 83.3 85.0 29 38.3 40.0 04 -4.8 -3.1 M20
126.5 128.2 53 81.5 83.2 28 36.3 38.2 03 -6.6 -4.9 M21
124.7 126.4 52 79.7 81.4 27 34.7 36.2 02 -8.4 -6.7 M22
122.9 124.6 51 77.9 79.6 26 32.9 34.6 01 -10.2 -8.5 M23
121.1 122.8 50 76.1 77.8 25 32.0 32.8 00 -12.0 -10.3 M24
119.3 121.0 49 74.3 76.0 24 31.2 31.9 M00 -13.8 -12.1 M25
117.5 119.2 48 72.5 74.2 23 29.4 31.1 M01 -15.6 -13.9 M26
115.7 117.4 47 70.7 72.4 22 27.6 29.3 M02 -17.4 -15.7 M27
113.9 115.6 46 68.9 70.6 21 25.8 27.5 M03 -19.2 -17.5 M28
112.1 113.8 45 67.1 68.8 20 24.0 25.7 M04 -21.0 -19.3 M29
110.3 112.0 44 65.3 67.0 19 22.2 23.9 M05 -22.8 -21.1 M30
108.5 110.2 43 63.5 65.2 18 20.4 22.1 M06 -24.6 -22.9 M31
106.7 108.4 42 61.7 63.4 17 18.6 20.3 M07 -26.4 -24.7 M32
104.9 106.6 41 59.9 61.6 16 16.8 18.5 M08 -28.2 -26.5 M33
103.1 104.8 40 58.1 59.8 15 15.0 16.7 M09 -30.0 -28.3 M34
101.3 103.0 39 56.3 58.0 14 13.2 14.9 M10 -31.8 -30.1 M35
99.5 101.2 38 54.5 56.2 13 11.4 13.1 M11 -33.6 -31.9 M36
97.7 99.4 37 52.7 54.4 12 9.6 11.3 M12 -35.4 -33.7 M37
95.9 97.6 36 50.9 52.6 11 7.8 9.5 M13 -37.2 -35.5 M38
94.1 95.8 35 49.1 50.8 10 6.0 7.7 M14 -39.0 -37.3 M39
92.3 94.0 34 47.3 49.0 09 4.2 5.9 M15 -40.8 -39.1 M40
90.5 92.2 33 45.5 47.2 08 2.4 4.1 M16 -42.6 -40.9 M41
88.7 90.4 32 43.7 45.4 07 0.6 2.3 M17 -44.4 -42.7 M42
86.9 88.6 31 41.9 43.6 06 -1.2 +0.5 M18 -46.2 -44.5 M43
85.1 86.8 30 40.1 41.8 05 -3.0 -1.3 M19 -48.0 -46.5 M44
32
REPORTABLE VISIBILITY CONVERSION
Statute Miles (SM) to Meters (m)
33