Metar codes

Metar codes are of the form:

YMML 302200Z 36023G33KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 BKN120 22/17 Q1001
INTER 2200/0100 3000 TSRA BKN010 FEW040CB FM2200 MOD/SEV TURB BLW 5000FT
This is a coded observation of the current weather, which is mainly used for aviation. Each section has a definite format.
Station ID (YMML)
A four-character ICAO station code.
Example: YMML is Melbourne, Australia.
Time of report (302200Z)
Format: ddhhmmZ
dd - day of month.
hhmm - hour and minute of report.
Z - indicates Zulu timezone, or UT.
Example 302200Z 22:00Z on the 30th of the month.
Wind speed and direction (36023G33KT)
Format: dddkkKT
  dddkkGkkKT
  dddkkKT dddVddd
  VRBkkKT
ddd - the wind direction. 90 degrees is encoded 090.
kk - the wind speed in knots.
Gkk - if the wind is gusting, the gust speed in knots is added. (as in theis example).
dddVddd - If the wind direction is variable and the wind speed is greater than 6 knots, give the direction range. e.g. 23013KT 210V250
VRBkk - If the wind speed is variable and less than 6 knots, use VRB05KT.
Example: 36023G33KT 360 degrees heading, 23 kts speed with gusts to 33 kts.
Visibility (9999)
Format: vvvvvSM
vvvvv - visibility in statute miles. Visibility in fractional miles is encoded with a space, i.e. 2 1/4SM. Automated systems with visibilities less then 1/4 of a mile is encoded
M1/4SM.
9999 - Visibility greater than maximum recorded value (e.g. 30 miles) is written as 9999
Runway visual range (N/A)
Format: Rdd/vvvvFT
Rdd/vvvvVvvvvFT
dd - the runway identifier. e.g. R02, or possibly R02L if the left runway is reported.
vvvvFT - the reported visual range in feet.
vvvvVvvvvFT - a range of visual ranges for that runway.
M - The actual value is less than the reported value.
P - The actual value is more than the reported value.
Examples: R26L/2400FT -- Runway 26 Left has a range of 2400 ft.
R08/0400V0800FT -- Runway 08 has a visual range between 400 and 800 feet.
Current weather (N/A)
Intensity Description Precipitation Obscuration Other
-  Light MI Shallow DZ Drizzle BR Mist PO Well developed dust / san
   Moderate PR Partial RA Rain FG Fog SQ Squalls
+  Heavy BC Patches SN Snow FU Smoke FC Funnel clouds inc tornado
VC Vicinity DR Low drifting SG Snow grains   VA Volcanic ash SS Sandstorm
BL Blowing IC Ice crystals DU Widespread dust   DS Duststorm
SH Showers PL Ice pellets SA Sand
TS Thunderstorm   GR Hail HZ Haze
FZ Freezing GS Small hail PY Spray
UP Unknown
e.g. -SHRA - Light showers of rain
TSRA - Thunderstorms and rain.
Cloud cover (FEW018 SCT030 BKN120)
Format: nnnhhh
nnn - Sky condition.
    SKC (0/8)
    CLR (0/8)
    FEW (1/8, 2/8)
    SCT (3/8, 4/8)
    BKN (5/8, 6/8, 7/8)
    OVC (8/8)
    VV (8/8) - vertical visibility.
hhh - cloud height in flight level (100 feet units)
Examples:
FEW018 Few clouds at 1800 ft,
SCT030 Scattered clouds at 3000 ft,
BKN120 Broken clouds at 12,000 ft.
Temperature (22/17)
Format: tt/dd
tt - Temperature in degrees celcius.
dd - Dewpoint in degrees celcius.
M - indicates a negative temperature or dewpoint.
Example 22/17 Temperature 22 degrees C, dewpoint 17 degrees C.
Atmospheric pressure (Q1001)
Format: Qpppp
Ahhhh
Qpppp - Pressure in hPa (or mb)
 Ahhhh - Pressure in inches of Hg multiplied by 100 (29.95 inHg is encoded as A2995).
Example Q1001 is an atmospheric pressure of 1001 hPa, 1001 millibars, which is equivalent to 29.56 inHg.
Remarks (remainder of report)
Format: RMK Additional remarks may be placed in the final body of the METAR report. The format of these remarks can be any of the following.
Volcanic eruptions
Format: Plain language.
Includes: Name of the volcano, Lat and Long or the direction and distance, date and time of the erruption, size, description of an ash cloud.
Funnel cloud
Format: Type B(hh)mm LOC
Type - Type of funnel clound. Can be one of
TORNADO
FUNNEL CLOUD
WATERSPOUT
B(hh)mm - Begining time (can also specify E(hh)mm for ending time). hh is the hour of the sighting, which is removed if redundant. mm is the minute of the sighting.
LOC - Location or direction of movement.
Example, TORNADO B24 3 SW indicates a tornado sighted at 24 minutes past the hour, 3 miles SW of the station.
Type of automated station
Format: AO1 or AO2.
AO1 - station without a precipitation descriminator.
AO2 - station with a precipitation descriminator.
Peak wind
Format: PK WND dddff(f)/(hh)mm
ddd - wind direction
ff(f) - wind speed in kts
(hh)mm - time at which wind speed occurred.
Example: PK WND 32024/45 means a peak wind of 24 kts at 320 degrees occurred at 45 mins past the hour.
Wind shift
Format: WSHIFT (hh)mm [FROPA]
(hh)mm - The time the wind shift occurred.
FROPA - If the wind shift was the result of a frontal passage.
Visibility
Format: TWR VIS vvvvv
SFC VIS vvvvv
VIS lllllVuuuuu
VIS [DIR] vvvvv
VIS vvvvv [LOC]
TWR VIS - Tower visibility
SFC VIS - Surface visibility
VIS [DIR] - Sector visibility with additional direction (e.g. VIS NE 2 - 2 miles visibility in the NE).
VIS vvvvv [LOC] - Visibility at a second location.
vvvvv - Visibility in statute miles.
VIS lllllVuuuuu - Variable visibility.
Lightning
Format: Frequency LTG(type) [LOC]
Frequency can be one of:
    OCNL Occasional, less than 1 flash per min
FRQ Frequent, 1 to 6 flashes per min
CONS Continuous, more than 6 flashes per min
LTG(type) can by one of:
    CG Cloud-ground
IC In cloud
CC Cloud-cloud
CA Cloud-air
[LOC] - location, can be either a station, or VC, DSNT for vicinity or distant.
Example, FRQ LTGICCC VC, which indicates frequent in-clound and cloud-cloud ligntning in the vicinity.
Begining end ending precipitation
Format: wwB(hh)mmE(hh)mm
ww - weather phenomonon (eg RA).
(hh)mm - begining or ending time.
Thunderstorm location
Format: TS LOC (MOV DIR)
LOC - location
DIR - direction
Example, TS NW MOV NE Thunderstorms from the NW are moving to the NE.
Hailstone size
Format: GR [size]
size - size of the hailstones in inches.
Virga
Format: VIRGA (DIR)
DIR - direction.
Variable ceiling height
Format: CIG hhhVhhh
hhh - Ceiling height in feet.
Obscurations
Format: ww [nnn]hhh
ww - weather phenomenon
[nnn] - amount of obscuration, if applicable (e.g. FEW, SCT, OVC)
hhh - height of obscuration.
Examples, FG FEW000, would be fog covering up to 2/8 of the sky at ground level.
 Variable sky condition
Format: nnn(hhh) V nnn
nnn amount of obscuration (FEW, OVC etc)
hhh height of obscuration if applicable.
Siginificant cloud types
Format: type dir (mov)
Type - one of,
    CB Cumulonimbus
CBMAM Cumulonimbus mammatus
TCU Towering cumulonimbus
ACC Altocumulus castellanus
CLD Standing lenticular or rotor clouds
dir - Direction of cloud (N, NW, etc.)
mov - Movement of cloud if appropriate.
Ceiling height at second location
Format: CIG hhh [LOC]
hhh - Height of ceiling in flight level units (100 feet).
[LOC] - Location of ceiling if appropriate.
Pressure rising or falling rapidly
Format: PRESRR or PRESFR
Sea-level pressure
Format: SLPppp
ppp - pressure in hPa. If no pressure measurement is available, then NO is recorded.
Aircraft mishap
Format: ACFT MSHP [Plain language]
Snow increasing rapidly
Format: SNINCR [iiiii/ggggg]
iiiii - Increase in snow level in inches per hour.
ggggg - Snow level on the ground in inches.