AVIATION WEATHER PRODUCTS

METAR/SPECI

Bureau of Meteorology Weather Services Aviation

VIS METAR or SPECI Location Date/ Time AUTO Wind

RVR

WX

Cloud TEMP/ DEW PT QNH Supplementary Information Remarks

CAVOK

Indicates elements which may or may not be included

METAR YPPH 221130Z 28012KT 8000 -RA FEW005 OVC110 27/22 Q0999 RERA RMK RF00.6/003.4

METAR/SPECI
A METAR is a routine report of meteorological conditions at an aerodrome. A SPECI is a special report of meteorological conditions, issued when one or more elements meet specified criteria significant to aviation. SPECI is also used to identify reports of observations recorded ten minutes following an improvement (in visibility, weather or cloud) to above SPECI conditions.

Location
SPECI YSCB 171515Z AUTO 22015G25KT 9000NDV // NCD 13/09 Q1003 RMK RF00.8/003.0 The location is indicated by either the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) location indicator or another approved abbreviation.

Date/Time
The day of month and the time of the report is given in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) using six figures followed by the letter Z. The first two digits are the day of the month; the following 4 digits are the time in hours and minutes, e.g. 291741Z (time of report is 1741 on the 29th of the month UTC).

AUTO
The abbreviation AUTO will be included when the report contains only automated observations.

Surface Wind
The wind direction is given in degrees true, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees. A variable wind direction is given as VRB. The wind speed, given in knots (KT), is the mean value over the sampling period which is normally ten minutes. The maximum wind speed during the sampling period is reported when it exceeds the mean speed by 10 knots or more. It is indicated by the letter G which is followed by the gust value, e.g. a wind direction of 280, with a mean speed of 20 knots and a maximum gust of 31 knots, is given as 28020G31KT. At selected aerodromes, an additional wind variation field may also be included when the wind direction varies by 60 degrees or more in a ten minute period. It lies after the main wind group and shows the range of observed wind directions e.g. 360V090.

Visibility
The horizontal visibility is given in metres up to 9000 metres; with 9999 being used to indicate a visibility of 10 kilometres or greater. When the visibility is estimated manually (i.e. by an observer), two groups may be reported when the visibility is not the same in different directions. In these cases, the higher visibility will be given first, followed by the minimum visibility and its direction (using one of the eight points of the compass) from the observing station e.g. 9000 2000N. When visibility is given by an automated sensor (in fully AUTOmated reports), only one group will be reported, and any variation in visibility that may exist will not be given.

Runway Visual Range (RVR)

RVR will be reported from aerodromes with RVR instrumentation whenever the RVR or the visibility are less than 1500 metres. It will be reported in the format RDD[n]/[n1] V1V1V1V1 [V n2V2V2V2V2]i (the elements in brackets are included only when applicable). CODE R DD n / n1 DESCRIPTION A fixed indicator, denoting that RVR information follows Designates runway threshold for which RVR is being reported Parallel runways will be distinguished by the letter L, C or R indicating the left, centre or right runway, respectively A fixed separator n1 will be given as P when either the RVR is either greater than the maximum value which can be assessed by the system (in which case VVVV will report this value), or when the RVR is greater than 2000 metres (in which case VVVV will be reported as 2000) Gives the last 10-minute average RVR value except when the RVR has varied significantly during the sampling period, in which case it gives the minimum one-minute average value during this period (and is followed by V V2V2V2V2). A fixed indicator, included only when RVR has varied significantly during the sampling period. n2 will be given as M when either the RVR is either less than the minimum value which can be assessed by the system (in which case VVVV will report this value); or when the RVR is less than 50 metres (in which case VVVV will be reported as 0050). Gives the maximum one-minute average value during the sampling period. Is only included when the RVR has varied significantly during this period. Gives any distinct tendency of the RVR over the sampling period either U (upward), D (downward) or N (nil).

Code MI BC PR DR BL SH FZ TS

Weather Descriptor shallow patches partial drifting blowing showers freezing thunderstorm

V1V1V1V1

V n2

V2V2V2V2 i

Code DZ RA GR SN SG DU SA SS DS GS PL FG BR FU HZ PO SQ FC VA IC

Weather Phenomena drizzle rain hail snow snow grains dust sand sandstorm duststorm small hail/snow pellets ice pellets fog mist smoke haze dust devil squall funnel cloud volcanic ash ice crystals

Weather
Weather phenomena are reported using the codes listed in the table on the left. Intensity is indicated for precipitation, duststorms, sandstorms and funnel clouds by appending: the prefix - for light, e.g. -DZ the prefix + for heavy, e.g. +RA no prefix for moderate, e.g. SHRA When precipitation is reported with TS, the intensity indicator refers to the precipitation, e.g. -TSRA = thunderstorm with light rain. One or more codes may be grouped, e.g. +TSGR, -TSRASN An observation may provide an indication of weather in the vicinity of the aerodrome, i.e. between 8 and 16KM of the aerodrome reference point. In these cases, the weather code is prefixed with the abbreviation VC (vicinity), e.g. VCTS.

Cloud
Cloud information is reported from the lowest to the highest layers in accordance with the following rules: 1st group: the lowest layer regardless of amount. 2nd group: the next layer covering more than 2 oktas of the sky. 3rd group: the next higher layer covering more than 4 oktas of the sky. Extra groups: for cumulonimbus and/or towering cumulus clouds, whenever observed and not reported in any of the above. Cloud amount is described using the codes in the table on the left.

Code FEW SCT BKN OVC NSC NCD*

Cloud Amount few (1 to 2 oktas) scattered (3 to 4 oktas) broken (5 to 7 oktas) overcast (8 oktas) nil significant cloud nil cloud detected

Cloud height is given as a three-figure group in hundreds of feet above the aerodrome elevation, e.g. cloud at 700 feet is shown as 007 . Cloud type is identified only for cumulonimbus and towering cumulus, e.g. FEW030CB, SCT045TCU. When an individual layer is composed of cumulonimbus and towering cumulus with a common base, the cloud is reported as CB only. If the sky is obscured due to, for example, bushfire smoke, human observers will report the vertical visibility (when it can be estimated) in lieu of cloud. It is reported with the prefix VV followed by the vertical visibility in hundreds of feet, e.g. the group VV003 reports an estimated vertical visibility of between 300 and 399 feet (values are rounded down to the next hundred foot increment).

* NCD is reported (in fully automated reports only) when a cloud sensor detects nil cloud.

CAVOK
The abbreviation CAVOK (Cloud and Visibility OK) is used when the following conditions are observed simultaneously: Visibility is 10 kilometres or more; No cloud below 5000 feet or below the highest 25NM minimum sector altitude, which-ever is the higher, and no cumulonimbus and no towering cumulus; and No weather of significance to aviation, i.e. none of the weather phenomena listed in the weather table.

Temperature
Air temperature and dew point values are rounded to the nearest whole degree. Negative values are indicated by M (minus) before the numeral, e.g. 34/M04

Pressure (QNH)
The QNH value is rounded down to the next whole hectopascal and is given using four figures prefixed by Q, e.g. 999.9 is given as Q0999

Supplementary Information
Supplementary information is used to report: Recent Weather significant weather observed since the last report but not at the time of observation is given after the prefix RE, e.g. RERA. Wind Shear reports of wind shear experienced on take-off or landing are given after the indicator WS, e.g. WS R16.

Remarks
The Remarks section (indicated by RMK) may contain the following: Quantitative information on past rainfall is given in millimeters in the form RFRR.R/ RRR.R or RFRR.R/RRR.R/RRR.R. The former, e.g. RF00.2/004.2, gives the rainfall recorded in the ten minutes prior to the observation time, followed by the rainfall recorded in the period since 0900 local time. The second format, e.g. RF00.2/003.0/004.2, gives the rainfall recorded in the ten minutes prior to the observation, followed by the rainfall in the sixty minutes prior to the observation, followed by the rainfall recorded in the period since 0900 local time. Information of operational significance not reported in the body of the message, for example: information about significant conditions (such as bushfires and distant thunderstorms) beyond the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome, any BKN or OVC low or middle cloud present at or above 5000 feet when CAVOK has been included in the body of the message, CLD:SKY MAY BE OBSC may be reported in fully automated reports when the ceilometer (cloud sensor) detects nil cloud and the visibility sensor estimates horizontal visibility as being less than 1000 metres

Data Not Available

Where a data group is not available, solidi will be reported in lieu of the missing group, e.g. //// for visibility, // for weather and ////// for cloud.

Element

Criterion Changes of 30 or more, the mean speed before or after the change being 20KT or more Changes of 10KT or more, the mean speed before or after the change being 30KT or more Gusts of 10KT or more above a mean speed of 15KT or more Gust exceeds the last reported gust by 10KT or more When the horizontal visibility is below the aerodromes highest alternate minimum visibility* When any of the following begins, ends, changes in intensity, or is occuring at a routine reporting time: thunderstorm hailstorm mixed snow and rain freezing precipitation drifting snow squall fog (including shallow fog, fog patches and fog at a distance) dust storm sandstorm funnel cloud moderate or heavy precipitation

SPECI Criteria
SPECI is used to identify reports of observations when conditions are below specified levels of visibility and cloud base; when certain weather phenomena are present; and when temperature, pressure or wind change by defined amounts (outlined in the table on the right). SPECI is also used to identify reports of observations recorded 10 minutes following an improvement in visibility, weather or cloud to METAR conditions.

Wind Direction Wind Speed Wind Gust Visibility Weather

Cloud Temperature Pressure Other

When there is BKN or OVC cloud below the aerodromes highest alternate minimum cloud base* When the temperature changes by 5C or more since last report When the QNH changes by 2hPa or more since last report Upon receipt of advice of the existence of wind shear The incidence of any other phenomenon likely to be significant

* Where no descent procedure is established for an aerodrome, the aerodromes alternate ceiling and visibility are 1500 feet and 8 kilometres respectively.

METAR/SPECI Example
SPECI YMML 221945Z 14004KT 0600 R16/0600D R27/0550N FG VV/// 08/08 Q1026 RMK RF000.0/001.8 REPORT SPECI YMML 221945 14004KT 0600 R16/0600D R27/0550N FG VV/// 08/08 Q1026 RMK RF00.0/001.8 EXPLANATION Special meteorological observation (for wind gust) ICAO location indicator for Melbourne Airport Time of observation is 1945 on the 22nd of the month UTC Wind is from the southeast (140 degrees True) at 4 knots Visibility is 600 metres Runway visual range on runway 16 threshold is 600 metres, and is trending down Runway visual range on runway 27 threshold is 550 metres,with niltrend Present weather is fog The sky is obscured (by fog); the vertical visibility is unknown The air temperature and the dewpoint temperature are both 8C The QNH is between 1026 and 1026.9 hectopascals Remarks section follows There has been nil rain in the last 10 minutes; 1.8 mm has fallen since 0900 local time

Airservices Australia is the official distributor of aviation forecasts, warnings and observations issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. Airservices flight briefing services are available at www.airservicesaustralia.com. Telephone contact details for elaborative briefings are contained in Airservices Aeronautical Information Publication Australia (AIP), which is available online through their website. Other brochures produced by the Bureau of Meteorologys aviation weather services program can be found at www.bom.gov.au/aviation/knowledge-centre.
Commonwealth of Australia, 20 December 2012