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KEY to AERODROME FORECAST (TAF) and
AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR)
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TAF KPIT 091730Z 091818 15005KT 5SM HZ FEW020
WS010/31022KT FM1930 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015
TEMPO 2022 1/2SM +TSRA OVC008CB
FM0100 27008KT 5SM SHRA BKN020 0VC040 PROB40 0407 1SM -RA BR
FM1015 18005KT 6SM -SHRA OVC020 BECMG 1315 P6SM NSW SKC
METAR KPIT 091955Z COR 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28L/2600FT
TSRA OVC010CB 18/16 A2992 RMK SLP045 T01820159
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Forecast
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Explanation
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Report
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| TAF |
Message type: TAF-routine or TAF
AMD-amended forecast, METAR-hourly, SPECI-special or TESTM-non-commissioned
ASOS report |
METAR |
| KPIT |
ICAO location indicator |
KPIT |
| 091730Z |
Issuance time: ALL times in UTC "Z",
2-digit date, 4-digit time |
091955Z |
| 091818 |
Valid period: 2-digit date, 2-digit beginning,
2-digit ending times |
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In U.S. METAR: CORrected ob;
or AUTOmated ob for automated report with no human intervention;
omitted when observer logs on |
COR |
| 15005KT |
Wind: 3 digit true-north direction, nearest
10 degrees (or VaRiaBle); next 2-3 digits for speed
and unit, KT (KMH or MPS); as needed, Gust and maximum speed;
00000KT for calm; for METAR, if direction varies 60 degrees or more,
Variability appended, e.g. 180V260 |
22015G25KT |
| 5SM |
Prevailing visibility: in U.S., Statute
Miles & fractions; above 6 miles in TAF Plus6SM.
(Or, 4-digit minimum visibility in meters and as required, lowest value
with direction) |
3/4SM |
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Runway Visual Range: R; 2-digit runway
designator Left, Center, or Right as needed; "/";
Minus or Plus in U.S, 4-digit value, FeeT in
U.S. (usually meters elsewhere); 4-digit value Varialbility 4-digit
value (and tendency Down, Up or No change) |
R28L/2600FT |
| HZ |
Significant present, forecast and recent weather:
see table (below) |
TSRA |
| FEW020 |
Cloud amount, height and type: SKy
Clear 0/8, FEW >0/8-2/8, SCaTtered 3/8-4/8,
BroKeN 5/8-7/8, OVerCast 8/8; 3-digit
height in hundreds of ft; Towering CUmulus or CumulonimBus
in METAR; in TAF, only CB. Vertical Visibility
for obscured sky and height "VV004". More than 1 layer may be reported or
forecast. In automated METAR reports only, CLeaR for
"clear below 12,000 feet" |
OVC010CB |
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Temperature: degrees Celsius; first 2 digits,
temperature "/" last 2 digits, dew-point temperature; Minus
for below zero, e.g., M06 |
18/16 |
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Altimeter setting: indicator and 4 digits;
in U.S., A-inches and hundredths; (Q-hectoPascals, e.g. Q1013) |
A2992 |
| WS010/31022KT |
In U.S. TAF, non-convective low-level
(<=2,000 ft)Wind Shear; 3-digit height (hundreds of ft);
"/", 3-digit wind direction and 2-3 digit wind speed above the indicated
height, and unit, KT |
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In METAR, ReMarK
indicator & remarks. For example:Sea-Level Pressure
in hectoPascals & tenths, as shown: 1004.5 hPa; Temp/dew-point
in tenths °C, as shown: temp 18.2°C, dew-point 15.9°C |
RMK SLP045 T01820159 |
| FM1930 |
FroM and 2-digit hour and 2-digit
minute beginning time: indicates significant change. Each FM starts
on a new line, indented 5 spaces. |
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| TEMPO 2022 |
TEMPOrary: changes expected for <
1 hour and in total, < half of 2-digit hour beginning and 2-digit
hour ending time period |
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| PROB40 0407 |
PROBability and 2-digit percent (30
or 40): probable condition during 2-digit hour beginning and 2-digit
hour ending time period |
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| BECMG 1315 |
BECoMinG: change expected
during 2-digit hour beginning and 2-digit hour ending time
period |
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Table of Significant Present, Forecast
and Recent Weather - Grouped in categories and used in the order listed
below; or as needed in TAF, No Significant Weather.
QUALIFIER
Intensity or Proximity
- Light "no sign" Moderate + Heavy
VC Vicinity: but not at aerodrome;
in U.S. METAR, between 5 and 10SM of the point(s) of observation;
in U.S. TAF, 5 to 10SM from center of runway complex
(elsewhere within 8000m)
Descriptor
MI Shallow BC Patches PR Partial TS Thunderstorm
BL Blowing SH Showers DR Drifting FZ Freezing
WEATHER PHENOMENA
Precipitation
DZ Drizzle RA Rain SN Snow SG Snow grains
IC Ice crystals PL Ice pellets GR Hail GS Small hail/snow pellets
UP Unknown precipitation in automated observations
Obscuration
BR Mist(>= 5/8SM) FG Fog(< 5/8SM) FU Smoke VA Volcanic Ash
SA Sand HZ Haze PY Spray DU Widespread dust
Other
SQ Squall SS Sandstorm DS Duststorm PO Well developed
FC Funnel cloud +FC tornado/waterspout dust/sand whirls
Explanations in parentheses "( )" indicate different
worldwide practices. Ceiling is not specified; defined as the lowest broken
or overcast layer, or the vertical visibility. NWS TAFs exclude
turbulence, icing & temperature forecasts; NWS METARs exclude
trend fcsts Although not used in US, Ceiling And Visibility
OK replaces visibility, weather and clouds if: visibility >=10kmno
cloud below 5000 ft (1500m) or below the highest minimum sector altitude,
whichever is greater and no CB and no precipitation, TS, DS, SS, MIFG,
DRDU, DRSA, or DRSN.
TAF is
the international standard code format for terminal forecasts issued for
airports. The acronym translates to Terminal Aerodrome Forecast.
METAR
is the international standard code format for hourly surface weather observations.
The acronym roughly translates from French as Aviation Routine Weather
Report.
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