Aviation Weather Decode Card

UTC Conversion Table SIGMET METAR AND SPECI

SIGMETs provide information on observed or forecast hazardous A METAR is a routine meteorological report, compiled manually, provided for a
UTC EST CST WST weather conditions. specific aerodrome.
Issue Times As required A METAR AUTO is a routine meteorological report provided by an automatic weather
0000 1000 0930 0800 Validity Four hours, reviewed after three hours or station (AWS) provided for a specific aerodrome.
when further information available. A SPECI is a METAR issued outside of the routine issue time of a METAR.
0100 1100 1030 0900 Heights Feet AMSL up to 10,000; flight levels from Issue Times METARS are issued at fixed times, hourly or half hourly
FL100 Heights Feet above aerodrome level
0200 1200 1130 1000 o
Area North and south of 30 S in Brisbane FIR and Within 8km of the aerodrome reference point.
o
0300 1300 1230 1100 west and east of 130 E in Melbourne FIR Area When the term VC is used it applies to the area between 8 and
16 km from the aerodrome reference point.
0400 1400 1330 1200 ARFOR Speed Knots
Wind
Area forecasts are forecasts for a specific region. They are intended Direction Degrees True
0500 1500 1430 1300 for use for domestic IFR and VFR flights below 10,000. Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000
Issue Times Various depending on area. Daylight hours Above 9999 metres – in kilometres, eg 20KM
0600 1600 1530 1400
forecast published as early as practical in the Visibility Visibililty variation shown by adding the direction eg 2000NE –
0700 1700 1630 1500 morning. visibility variation not reported in METAR AUTO.
Validity Routinely 12 hours but may vary. CAVOK and 9999 may be used
0800 1800 1730 1600 Heights Feet AMSL Type CB, TCU
Cloud
Area Defined areas as specified on the Planning Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC
0900 1900 1830 1700 Chart Australia (PCA) Temperature Degrees Celcius
Speed Knots
1000 2000 1930 1800 Wind
Direction Degrees True ATIS and Take-off and Landing Reports
1100 2100 2030 1900 Type AS, AC, NS, SC, ST, TCU,CB
Cloud ATIS is a continuous plain language broadcast of the current conditions of an
Amount SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC aerodrome. It is broadcast on a discrete frequency.
1200 2200 2130 2000 Temperature Degrees Celcius Take-off and landing reports are available at locations where CA/GRS or UNICOM is
1300 2300 2230 2100 provided.
TAF and TTF Issue Times Continuously during operating hours
1400 0000 2330 2200 A TAF is an aerodrome forecast provided for a specific aerodrome, Heights Feet above aerodrome level
presented in code. Area Within 8km of the aerodrome reference point.
1500 0100 0030 2300 A TTF is a forecast, valid for two hours, attached to the end of a Altimeter Setting Hectopascals
METAR or SPECI stating any significant changes from those Temperature Degrees Celcius
1600 0200 0130 0000 described. While the TTF is valid it supersedes the aerodrome TAF. Cloud if Type CB, TCU
1700 0300 0230 0100 Issue Times Major aerodromes 00, 06, 12, 18 Z significant or
Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC
Validity 12, 18 or 24 hours depending on location. below 5,000 feet
1800 0400 0330 0200 Heights Feet above aerodrome level Speed Knots
Wind
Area Within 5 NM of the aerodrome reference. Direction Degrees Magnetic
1900 0500 0430 0300 Speed Knots Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000
Wind
Direction Degrees True Visibility Above 9999 metres – Greater than 10 KM
2000 0600 0530 0400
Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000 CAVOK may be used
2100 0700 0630 0500 Visibility Above 9999 metres – in kilometres, eg 20KM When Cumulonimbus cloud (CB) is included in meteorological information this implies that there
CAVOK and 9999 may be used may be associated thunderstorms and the occurrence of severe icing, turbulence and hail.
2200 0800 0730 0600 Type CB
Cloud Version 1.1 17th January 2010 © Steve Griffin
Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC
2300 0900 0830 0700 http://www.brisbanehotairballooning.com.au
Temperature Degrees Celcius
Aviation Weather Decode Card
//* Weather is clear or current DS Dust storm AUTO meteorological report SH Shower
weather is not detectable DU Dust MI Shallow SIG Significant
///* Cloud is detected, no CB / TCU DZ Drizzle MOD Moderate SIGMET Significnat meteorological
identified information
EMBD Embedded MOV Moving
- Light SKC Sky Clear
FC Funnel Cloud MS Minus
(Blank Moderate (when included before a SN Snow
space) weather phenomenon) FCST Forecast MTW Mountain waves
SPECI Aerodrome special meteorological
+ Heavy FEW Few (1 -2 oktas) NC No change
report
9999 Visibility 10 km or greater FG Fog (visibility less than 1000 metres) NCD No cloud detected (METAR AUTO SQ Squall
ABT About FIR Flight information region Only)
SS Sandstorm
NDV No directional variation available
AC Altocumulus FL Flight level ST Stratus
(METAR AUTO only)
AGL Above ground level FM From NM Nautical miles STNR Stationary
AIP Aeronautical Information Package FRQ Frequent NOSIG No significant change T Temperature in degrees celcius
AIREP Air report – from aircraft in flight FU Smoke NOTAM Notice to airmen TAF Aerodrome forecast
AMD Amended FZ Freezing NS Nimbostratus TC Tropical cyclone
AMSL Above mean sea level FZL Freezing level NSC No significant cloud TCU Towering cumulus
ARFOR Area forecast G Gusts NSW No significnat weather TEMPO Temporarily (30 – 60 minutes
AS Altostratus GOOD Visibility greater than 10km over the OBSC Obscured duration)
ATIS Automatic terminal information entire forecast area TIL Until
OCNL Occasional
service GR Hail (5mm or more) TL Till
OVC Overcast (8 oktas)
ATS Air traffic services GS Hail (smaller than 5 mm) TREND Trend forecast
PIREP Pilot report
AWIB Automatic weather information HVY Heavy TS Thunderstorm
service PL Ice pellets
HZ Haze TURB Turbulence
AWS Automatic weather station PO Dust devils
IC Ice crystals UTC Coordinated universal time
BC Patches PR Partially covered with fog
ICAO International Civil Aviation V Variations from mean wind
BECMG Becoming Organisation PROB Probability
direction
BKN Broken (5-7 oktas) ICE Icing PROV Provisional VA Volcanic Ash
BL Blowing IFR Instrument flight rules PS Plus VC Vicinity of aerodrome (within 10
BR Mist IMC Instrument meteorological QNH Altimeter sub-scale setting NM)
BWR Basic weather report conditions RA Rain VFR Visual flight rules
INTER Intermittently (less than 30 minutes VMC Visual meteorological conditions
CAT Clear air turbulence RE Recent
duration)
CAVOK Cloud and visibility OK RMK Remark VRB Variable
ISOL Isolated
CB Cumulonimbus RVR Runway visual range WKN Weakening
KM Kilometres
CLD Cloud SA Sand WDSPR Widespread
KT Knots
CNL Cancelled SC Stratocumulus WS Windshear
LYR Layer
COR Corrected SCT Scattered (3-4 oktas) WX Weather
M Metres
CU Cumulus SEV Severe Z Coordinated universal time
METAR Aerodrome routine meteorological
DP Dew point temperature report SFC Surface
DR Drifting METAR Automatic aerodrome SG Snow grains