Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR)

Aerodrome forecasts for international airports and regional aerodromes in The routine METeorological Aerodrome Report METAR is an internationally
Germany are issued in the TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) code format. For standardised, coded bulletin for summarising the meteorological conditions at
flight preparation, TAFs serve as the internationally standardised aeronautical aerodromes.
meteorological forecast needed to decide on the meteorological usability of an
aerodrome as destination or alternate aerodrome during a certain time period. In Germany, METARs are published on a half-hourly basis for the observation
Depending on the terms agreed with the respective aerodrome in Germany, times 20 and 50 minutes after the hour. METARs consist of predefined code
short- or long-term TAFs are provided. groups for reporting meteorological parameters. The contents and order of these
have been defined and adopted as standard by the International Civil Aviation
TAF Validity period Created Organization (ICAO). Due to the ongoing automation of weather observation
Long-term TAF 24 or 30 hrs every 6 hrs and reporting services for aviation, the previously common METARs are being
replaced gradually by AutoMETARs. With the introduction of these, certain code
Short-term TAF 9 hrs every 3 hrs groups are changing. Details and the changed information can be found in the
tables below.
TAFs are quality-controlled, monitored forecasts that are created based on con-
tinuous weather observation. They are only produced if a sufficient number of 1. Product name 2. ICAO location 3. Day and time 4. Report 5. Surface
„METAR [COR]“ Indicator of observation identifier „NIL„ wind
observation data of satisfying quality is available. As part of the monitoring, or „AUTO“
a TAF already issued is corrected (COR, if the change becomes known before 6. Significant 7. Prevailing 8. Minimum 9. Runway visual 10. Present
the beginning of the TAF validity period) or amended (AMD, if the validity has directional visibility visibility range (RVR) weather
variations
started) as soon as at least one meteorological parameter has been observed or is
expected to exceed or not reach the threshold value. If continuous monitoring is 11. Clouds of 12. Substitution 13. Air 14. Air pressure 15. Supplementary
operational group CAVOK * temperature / information **
not possible, for example when no observation data are available, the TAF must significance dew point
be cancelled (CNL). Elements appearing in italics are optional.
* CAVOK replaces groups 7, 8, 10 and 11.
1. Product name 2. Change 3. ICAO location 4. Date and time of ** If the aerodrome is a military airfield, the weather report is additionally displayed by means of colour states.
„TAF“ parameter „COR“ indicator forecast
or „AMD“ For more details see the Manual on the Directive on aeronautical meteorologi-
5. Report identifier 6. Date and period 7. Forecast identifier 8. Surface wind
cal services ‘Handbuch Flugwetterdienste – Band Obs Wettermeldungen für die
„NIL“ of validity „CNL“ Luftfahrt’, which is available at www.dwd.de/obs.

9. Horizontal 10. Significant 11. Clouds of 12. Expected

visibility at ground weather * operational significant
level * significance * changes TREND landing weather forecasts
Elements appearing in italics are optional. * CAVOK replaces groups 9, 10 and 11.
TREND landing weather forecasts for the international airports in Germany are
© S. Bork, DWD
prepared by Frankfurt Aeronautical Meteorological Centre or one of the MET
© M. Wieczorrek, DWD
© world-of-aviation.de © world-of-aviation.de
Comments regarding the interpretation of TAFs
Advisory Centres in Hamburg, Berlin, Essen and Munich.

METAR / TREND / TAF

• Light precipitation (except freezing precipitation) or haze/mist will not be included in the description of
expected weather conditions unless they lead to a reduced visibility of ≤ 5 km.
• Visibility changes (change groups BECMG or TEMPO) are only forecast if the threshold values 150, 350, A TREND forecast is published as supplementary information to the current
600, 800, 1500, 3000 or 5000 m are reached, exceeded or not reached.
Meteorological reports and forecasts for aviation meteorological aerodrome report. It is valid for the next two hours and, togeth-
• Only clouds with cloud base of < 5000 ft AGL or below the highest minimum sector altitude are forecast. er with the meteorological aerodrome report, informs about the meteorological
Clouds of operational significance, such as TCU and CB, are always reported.
conditions expected for landing at the aerodrome in question.
• Changes in the main cloud base (change groups BECMG or TEMPO) are only forecast if the threshold
TRENDs provide a concise description in code form of significant changes in one

DWD, 3nd edition, 10 / 2022

values 100, 200, 500, 1000 or 1500 ft are reached, exceeded or not reached.
Deutscher Wetterdienst
• Changes in the cloud amount above 1500 ft are not forecast. or several weather elements, such as surface wind, horizontal visibility at ground
Kundenservice Luftfahrt / Aviation Customer Services
• VFR pilots should bear in mind that, in accordance with ICAO thresholds for visibility and ceiling, TAFs Frankfurter Strasse 135 level, present weather, cloud cover. TREND forecasts issued by the Bundeswehr
may only be used to a limited extent as basis for planning a VFR flight. TAFs are oriented to the needs of 63067 Offenbach Go to www.dwd.de to access
IFR flights, which is why they should be interpreted with awareness of these limitations. our pages on
Geoinformation Service for military airfields are prepared using the so-called
GERMANY
Tel.: +49 (69)8062 / 2695 ‘colour state’ code, which is based on the main cloud base and visibility at
E-mail: luftfahrt@dwd.de ground level as references.
Product name ICAO location indicator Observation time Wind Visibility Weather Cloud Temp./dew point QNH Further information TREND Clouds of operational significance Change group (TAF) Temperature forecast
(TAF, reported in only a few countries)
METAR EDDF 061150Z 23008KT 4000 -DZ BKN008 03/02 Q1008 RESN NOSIG BKN008 BKN Cloud cover FEW (few) = 1/8–2/8 FM040800 FM from TX25/1612Z TX Forecast maximum
008 Cloud base at 800 ft SCT (scattered) = 3/8–4/8 (indicates new forecast temperature
Product name ICAO location indicator Issue time Validity period Wind Visibility Weather Cloud Change group (indicated in hft AGL) BKN (broken) = 5/8–7/8 section) 25 25 degrees Celsius
OVC (overcast) = 8/8 04 Day of the month 16 Day of the month
TAF EDDF 031100Z 0312/0418 27005KT 1500 BR BKN005 BECMG 0317/0319 0300 FZFG VV001
0800 Beginning of change 12Z Time of the forecast
SCT030CB CB Cloud type NSC Nil significant cloud (hour / minutes UTC) (12 UTC)
Product name Surface wind Present or forecast weather CB = Cumulonimbus • No clouds below 5000 ft or below
METAR METAR 23008KT 230 Wind direction TCU = Towering cumulus the highest minimum sector altitude BECMG BECMG Becoming TN15/1706Z TN Forecast minimum
Intensity / Descriptor Precipitation Obscuration Other /// In the case of a fully automated • No CB 0317/0319 (indicates a change in the temperature
(Meteorological Aerodrome (true north) BKN///CB
Distance • No TCU weather conditions)
Routine Report) 08 Wind speed report
KT Knots (MPS for m/s) Intensity MI3 Shallow DZ Drizzle BR Mist PO3 Dust or 03 Day of the month
sand whirls 17 Beginning of change Colour state (only military airfields)
TAF TAF - Light period (hour UTC)
VRB03KT VRB Varying wind direction VV003 VV Vertical visibility NCD No significant cloud detected Classification of a military meteorological report
(Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) 03 Day of the month takes place using a colour code. Colour level 1
003 Vertical visibility = 300 ft (in fully automated reports)
05020G35KT G35 Gusts up to 35 kt 19 End of change period
(indicated in hft AGL) refers to the METAR, colour level 2 is the TAF.
Moderate BC Patches RA Rain FG Fog SQ Squalls (hour UTC)
00000KT 00000 Calm VV/// /// Vertical visibility not determinable
(no symbol)
ICAO location indicator 030V100 V Indicator letter for TEMPO TEMPO Temporarily BLU+

EDDF Location indicator for Frankfurt

varying conditions CAVOK TREND (METAR) 1216/1222 (indicates a temporary
030V100 Two extreme wind direc- + Heavy PR3 Partially SN Snow FU Smoke FC1 Funnel cloud/ change in the weather 20000
tornado CAVOK Conditions: NOSIG NO SIGnificant changes conditions) BLU
tions, varying between
• Prevailing visibility of at least expected 12 Day of the month
Date/time group ≥ 60° and < 180°
10 km and no minimum visibility 16 Beginning of change 2500
061150Z 06 Day of the month • No clouds observed or detected period (hour UTC) WHT
11 Hour Example: Wind varies between 30° and 100°.
VC Vicinity of the DR Low drifting
3
SG Snow grains
3
VA Volcanic ash
3
SS Sandstorm below 5000 ft or below the highest BECMG Becoming 12 Day of the month
50 Minutes minimum sector height 22 End of change 1500
Visibility aerodrome GRN
Z UTC identifier • No CB/TCU (Describes the change to new weather conditions) period (hour UTC)
4000 4000 Horizontal visibility at • No weather phenomenon
TEMPO Temporarily BECMG and TEMPO only introduce changing groups when 700
Validity period (TAF) ground level in m BL Blowing PL Ice pellets DU3 Widespread DS3 Duststorm (cf. table ‘Present or forecast YLO
predefined thresholds are reached, exceeded or not
dust weather’) reached.
0312/0418 03 Day of the month 9999 9999 Visibility ≥ 10000 m (Describes temporary differences from the current weather
conditions) 300
12 Beginning of 6000 1200S 6000 Prevailing visibility, AMB
validity period of forecast here: 6000 m BECMG 0950 Time (hour / minutes UTC) PROB (TAF)

Ceiling (ft) →
(hour UTC) 1200S Minimum visibility* at SH Shower GR Hail SA Sand FM0950 200
RED
ground level including Air temperature / dew point FM FM = from PROB30 PROB Code for probability
04 Day of the month direction (using the eight TL = till TEMPO forecast
18 End of main compass points) 03/02 03 Air temperature in °C AT = at 0305/0308 30 Probability of occurrence 0,8 1,6 3,7 5,0 8,0
validity period of forecast Example: Lowest visibili- TS Thunderstorm GS Hoar frost / HZ Haze 02 Dew point in °C BKN002 in per cent (30 or 40)
(hour UTC) small hail / Fig. 1: Colour statesvisibility
Horizontal for military
(km) airfi
→ elds
ty is 1200 m in southern NSW No significant weather phenomena 03 Day of the month
snow pellets 01/M02 01 Air temperature + 1 °C Ceiling ≥ 20000 ft and
direction. 05 Beginning of forecast
Example: M02 Dew point - 2 °C Colour state, only military airfields BLU+ Blue+ horizontal visibility ≥ 8000 m
* Minimum horizontal visibility at ground level is reported period (hour UTC)
30 hours, beginning at 12 UTC on the 3rd of the 03 Day of the month
when, depending on the direction, there is a significant FZ Freezing UP2 Unknown
month and ending at 18 UTC the following day difference compared to prevailing visibility. In case of 08 End of forecast period Ceiling ≥ 2500 ft and
automated reports, the direction is not indicated.
precipitation Air pressure Supplementary information (METAR) (hour UTC) BLU Blue+ horizontal visibility ≥ 8000 m

Q1008 Q Indicator for QNH in hPa RESN RE Recent significant weather

Other codes Runway visual range (RVR) 1008 QNH = 1008 Ceiling ≥ 1500 ft and
since last observation, but
BKN002 Cloud base (5/8–7/8) at WHT White horizontal visibility ≥ 5000 m
COR Corrected METAR / R27L/1200U Unless otherwise marked, the elements are indicated in manually as well as automatically generated weather reports and in the TAF. (generally rounded down) not valid at observation time
corrected TAF 1
Not included in a fully automated report SN Moderate snowfall 200 ft
R27L Runway thresholds: Only in fully automated reports A2992 A Indicator for QNH in inches (indicated in hft AGL) Ceiling ≥ 700 ft and
(changed before beginning
2

Parallel runways are indicated by 3

Only in TAF 2992 QNH = 29.92 inches GRN Green horizontal visibility ≥ 3700 m
of validity period of forecast)
L for left, C for centre and R for right. WS R27 WS Wind shear between ground
AMD Amended TAF Example: (R=Runway) 27 left and 1600 ft AGL Ceiling ≥ 300 ft and
(changed during validity period R27 Runway 27 The code PROB for probability forecasts is always linked YLO Yellow horizontal visibility ≥ 1600 m
of forecast) 1200 Runway visual range (RVR) in m ALL RWY Wind shear affects all with a TEMPO group (change in forecast). The code word
RVR values above the highest measurable runways TEMPO appears between the PROB and the time group.
Ceiling ≥ 200 ft and
value and below the lowest measurable
NIL AMB Amber horizontal visibility ≥ 800 m
No METAR / value are marked with P and M respec-
no TAF compiled tively. BLU Colour state
Examples: P2000 for RVR > 2000 m, (only military airfields) Ceiling ≥ 200 ft and
AUTO Automatically generated RED RED horizontal visibility< 800 m
M0050 for RVR < 50 m
METAR NOSIG TREND
U Change trend during the past 10 minutes Airfield not usable for other
CNL TAF has been cancelled. BLACK BLACK reasons than cloud cover /
U=upward, D=downward, RMK Remarks section for national
N=no distinct tendency visibility
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