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METAR/TAF The International Weather Code

METAR/TAF The International Weather Code. By Bob Jackson, MIC, ZSE CWSU. A ‘ METAR’ is a ‘surface’ weather observation. ‘ TAF’ is a T erminal A viation F orecast. Order of Information in METAR:. What - Type of product Where - Station Name Who - Used if automated

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METAR/TAF The International Weather Code

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  1. METAR/TAFThe International Weather Code By Bob Jackson, MIC, ZSE CWSU

  2. A ‘METAR’ is a ‘surface’ weather observation

  3. ‘TAF’ is a Terminal Aviation Forecast

  4. Order of Information in METAR: • What - Type of product • Where - Station Name • Who - Used if automated • When - Date and Time of METAR • Wind - Given in Degrees ‘true North’ • Weather - Present weather • Remarks - Additional comments as needed

  5. Order of Information in METAR: What Clr Metar or Speci Sky Temp Dp Where When Wind Vis Wx Alt Remarks Up to 3 cloud layers A2992 RMK SLP132 19/06 3/4SM TSRA KSEA 20015KT METAR OVC010CB 101955Z

  6. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132 = WHAT - Report name/type • METAR = Hourly Observation • Speci = Special Observation

  7. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132 = WHERE - Four Letter station ID. • 48 States begin with ‘K’ • Alaskan stations begin with ‘PA’ • Hawiian stations begin with ‘PH’

  8. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132 = WHO - Not used if Human Obs. • A01 - For AWOS Observation • A02 - For ASOS Observation

  9. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132 = WHEN - Date and Time the of OBS was taken in UCT.

  10. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WHEN - Date and Time the of OBS was taken in UCT. • Date of OBS

  11. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132 = WHEN - Date and Time the of OBS was taken in UCT. • Date of OBS • Hour of the day

  12. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WHEN - Date and Time the of OBS was taken in UCT. • Date of OBS • Hour of the day • Minute

  13. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WIND

  14. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WIND • First 3 digits = Direction in True North

  15. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WIND - • First 3 digits = Direction in True North • 4th & 5th digits = Wind Speed

  16. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WIND - • First 3 digits = Direction in True North • 4th & 5th digits = Wind Speed • ‘G’indicates gusts and speed.

  17. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WIND - • First 3 digits = Direction in True North • 4th & 5th digits = Wind Speed • ‘G’indicates gusts. • KT = Speed given in Knots

  18. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992RMK SLP132= WEATHER

  19. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SMTSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMKSLP132= WEATHER • Visibility

  20. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= WEATHER • Visibility • Present Weather

  21. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992RMK SLP132= WEATHER • Visibility • Present Weather • Sky cover (Clouds)

  22. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06A2992 RMK SLP132= WEATHER • Visibility • Present Weather • Sky cover (Clouds) • Temp/DP

  23. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992RMK SLP132= WEATHER • Visibility • Present Weather • Sky cover (Clouds) • Temp/DP • Altimeter

  24. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SMTSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= VISIBILITY • Reported in Statute Miles (SM) and fractions up to 6 miles

  25. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM -TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Given in Intensity ( -, ‘ ‘ , +) • Descriptor (SH, TS, FZ, etc) • Precip type (DZ, RA, SN) • Obscuration (FG, BR FU, etc) • Other (dust, funnel cloud) Present Weather

  26. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height

  27. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height • Coverage(FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC)

  28. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height • Coverage (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) • Height - Given in feet AGL

  29. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height • Coverage (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) • Height - Given in feet AGL • Type - IF convective clouds present

  30. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height • Coverage (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) • Height - Given in feet AGL • Type - IF convective clouds present CB = Cumulonimbus

  31. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= Clouds and Cloud Height • Coverage (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) • Height - Given in feet AGL • Type - IF convective clouds present CB = Cumulonimbus TCU = Towering Cu

  32. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA BR BKN000 OVC010CB19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= • If the sky is PARTIALLY obscured, then a surface based cloud (Fog) height is given as “000”. • In example, the first layer is a surface based obscuration due to rain and fog.

  33. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA VV04 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= • If the sky is Totally Obscuredthen, VV = Vertical Vibility in 100s of feet. • In this example: VV004= The sky is obscured, and the Vertical Visibility is 400 ft.

  34. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06A2992 RMK SLP132= Temperature/Dew Point • Given in degrees Celsius • If preceded by ‘M’ then is minus ( <0)

  35. A Simple Temperature Conversion: • F = (2 * C) + 30 • Example: • 10C = 2*10 =20 + 30 F = 50

  36. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 2015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132= • A = Inches of Mercury • Q = Hectopascals (Millibars) Altimeter Setting

  37. METAR KSEA A02 101955Z 2015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB 19/06 A2992 RMK SLP132VIS N2 WSHIFT 30 FROPA= • REMARKS- significant items not included in the main body of the METAR. • SLP = Sea Level Pressure in Millibars • Visibility to the North is 2 miles. • The wind shifted at 30 min past the hour because of a frontal passage.

  38. Order of Information in METAR: Clr Sky Temp Dp What Where When Wind Vis Wx Alt Remarks Up to 3 cloud layers

  39. ‘TAF’ is a Terminal Aviation Forecast

  40. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010 BKN030 TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WHAT - TAF

  41. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010 BKN030 TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WHAT - TAF • WHERE - Same as METAR

  42. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010 BKN030 TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WHAT - TAF • WHERE - Same as METAR • WHEN - Date/time of beginning/ending

  43. TAF KSEA 101919Z20015KT P6SM SCT010 BKN030 TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WIND - Same as METAR

  44. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010 BKN030 TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • VISIBILITY - ‘Somewhat’ the same as METAR • Forecast up to 6 miles. • If more than 6 miles then ‘P’ (plus) is added. • WIND - Same as METAR

  45. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010BKN030TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SMTSRAOVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WEATHER - Same as METAR

  46. TAF KSEA 101919Z 20015KT P6SM SCT010BKN030TEMPO 20015G25KT 3/4SM TSRA OVC010CB BCMG 0304 VRB05 SCT040 BKN100= • WEATHER - Same as METAR • CLOUDS - Same as METAR

  47. Significant Weather Changes • FMnn = Change expected at that time • PROBnn= Probability of occurrance • TEMPO = Expected change for less than 1hr and less then 1/2 of the period. • BECMG = Condition change at the time indicated

  48. Amendments are made as needed.

  49. This is notThe End

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