PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

PRACTICAL
METEOROLOGY
NOTES

(FOR TRAINING ONLY)

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

CONTENTS

SR PAGE
NO TOPIC NO

1 METE0ROLOGICAL REPORTY 3

2 AERODROME WEATHER – METAR/SPECI DECODE 5

3 AERODROME FORECAST – TAF DECODE 15

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AND UPPER WIND &

4 TEMPERATURE CHARTS 21

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

1. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS
Introduction

Aircraft operate through the medium of atmosphere. It is, therefore, utmost important to understand the
characteristics of the atmosphere thoroughly. Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and its condition
or state, ie weather. A major cause of aviation accidents is either disregard or ignorance of the
meteorological applications.

In every airline there is a flight dispatch section whose responsibility it is to collect meteorological reports
and compile them in a briefing folder for each flight. Pilots report to the flight dispatch for briefing usually
one hour before the flight. Primary method of meteorology briefing is ‘Self-briefing’. Pilots collect briefing
folder and are expected to study the various reports contained therein. It is essential that every pilot can
understand and decode each and every document of the folder. Generally the met briefing documents issued
are:
 Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs)
 Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
 Significant Weather Chart
 Wind and Temperature Chart
 Satellite Weather Pictures

METAR/SPECI and TAF Codes

METAR and TAF codes are used for transmitting information between ground centers and from ground to
aircraft.

METAR is a routine met aerodrome report and is related to ‘actual’ conditions prevailing at the time of
observation. METARs are produced every half hourly at major airfields. SPECI is a special report issued in the
time period between two successive METAR reports whenever situation deteriorates or improves to specified
degrees. Layout of METAR and SPECI reports is same.

TAF is a terminal aerodrome forecast and contains an assessment of conditions, which are likely to exist
during the period of forecast.

METAR/SPECI and TAF messages use plain English characters and no other symbols are used. Therefore, it is
possible to transmit the messages using electronic means including internet.

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

Significant Weather and Upper Winds and Temperature (WINTEMP) Charts

These are fixed time prognosis (forecast) charts produced either by World Area Forecast Center (WAFC) or
Regional Area Forecast Centre (RAFC). There are two WAFCs, one at Kansas (Washington DC) and the other at
Bracknell (London). RAFCs are at various prominent places in the world. India Met Dept (IMD) is akin to RAFC.
Apart from significant weather, tropopause level, maximum wind and zero degree isotherm are also depicted
in these charts. In the WINTEMP charts, forecast winds at various levels are pictorially shown at intersections
of parallels and meridians. Temperatures at those levels are also shown at the same places.

Satellite Pictures

Weather satellites orbiting around the globe give a ‘birds eye-view’ of cloud cover in different areas. Cyclonic
circulations can also be identified fro the pattern of clouds.

Various meteorological reports are covered in the succeeding pages.

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

2. AERODROME WEATHER REPORT - METAR AND SPECI DECODE

METAR or IDENTIFICATION GROUPS

SPECI METAR - Aviation routine weather report code name
SPECI - Aviation special weather report code name

COR COR – Code word used as appropriate

CCCC ICAO four-letter location indicator

YYGGgg In individual messages, day of the month and time of observation in hours
and minutes UTC

Z Indicator of UTC
NIL NIL - Code word used as appropriate

AUTO Fully automated observation indicator

ddd SURFACE WIND >

Mean wind direction in degrees
true rounded off to nearest 10
degrees (VRB = V AR IAB LE
when ff < 3kt)

ff Mean wind speed (10-minute 00000 = calm P199KMH (P99KT, P49

G mean or since discontinuity) MPS) mean ff or fm fm
Indicator of G ust - if necessary = 200 KMH (100 KT,
fm fm 50 MPS) or more
Maximum wind speed (gust) -if
necessary

KMH or KT or MPS Wind speed units used

Followed when there is a variation in wind direction of 60˚ or more but less than 180˚ and wind speed
> 3 KT by group below:

dn dn dn Extreme direction of wind

V
dx dx dx Indicator of V - variability Other extreme direction of

wind (measured clockwise)

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

PREVAILING VISIBILITY

WW Prevailing visibility in metres or lowest visibility if visibility is not the same

and fluctuating and the prevailing visibility less than 5000m.
9999 = 10 km or more

Followed when visibility is not the same and minimum visibility is not prevailing and visibility < 1 500
m or visibility < 50% of prevailing and less than 5000m by the group below:

Vn Vn Vn Vn Lowest visibility

NDV Abbreviation for no directional variations.

Followed by

Vn Vn Vn Vn Lowest visibility

Dv General direction of lowest visibility or most operationally significant if

minimum visibility observed in more than one direction.

RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (RVR) WHERE REQUIRED, UP TO FOUR ACTIVE RUNWAYS

R Indicator of RVR

DR DR Runway designator - for parallel runways may have LL, L, C, R or RR

appended (L = left; C = centre; R = right)

VR VR VR VR RVR (10-minute mean) at the touchdown zone P2000 = more than 2 000 m,
M0050 = less than 50 m

i RVR tendency indicator over past 10 minutes. U = upward; D = downward;

N = no distinct change. Omitted if possible to determine

Replaced when there are significant variations in RVR by the group below:

R Indicator of RVR

DRDR Runway designator - for parallel runways may have LL, L C, R or RR

VR VR VR VR RVR in metres (one-minute mean minimum value during last 10 minutes)

V Indicator of significant V ariation

VR VR VR VR RVR in metres (one-minute mean maximum value during last 10 minutes)

i RVR tendency indicator

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

Note:
25 m STEP if RVR < 400 m 50 m
STEP if 400 < RVR < 800 m 100 m
STEP if RVR > 800 m

PRESENT OR SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS

QUALIFIER WEATHER PHENOMENA

Intensity of Descriptor Precipitation Obscuration Other
Proximity 2 3 4 5
1

Light Moderate (no MI Shallow BC DZ Drizzle RA BR Mist FG Fog PO Dust/sand

qualifier) whirls (dust devils)
+ Heavy or well- Patches Rain FU Smoke VA SQ Squalls
developed in the case PR Partial SN Snow SG Volcanic FC Funnel
of PO and FC (covering part of DU ash cloud(s) (tornado
VC In the vicinity the aerodrome) Snow grains
IC Ice crystals Widespread dust or waterspout)
DR Low drifting BL (diamond dust) SA Sand HZ SS Sandstorm
Blowing PL Ice pellets GR Haze DS Dust storm
SH Shower(s) TS Hail
Thunderstorm GS Small hail
FZ Freezing (super and/or snow pellets
cooled) UP Unknown
Precipitation

Replaced when significant weather phenomenon forecast to end by:

NSW Nil Significant Weather

NOTES: 1. The w'w' groups are constructed by considering columns 1 to 5 in the table above in
sequence, that is intensity, followed by description, followed by weather phenomena. An example
could be: + SHRA (heavy shower(s) of rain).
2. A precipitation combination has dominant type first.
3. DR (low drifting) less than two metres above ground, BL (blowing) two metres or more above
ground.
4. GR is used when hailstone diameter is 5 mm or more. When less than 5 mm, GS is used.
5. BR - visibility at least 1 000 m but not more than 5 000 m. FG - visibility less than 1 000 m.
6. VC - between approximately 8 km and 16 km from the aerodrome reference point.

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CLOUDS*

Ns Ns Ns Cloud amount: FEW - ( 1 -

2 oktas) SCT - Scatteres ( 3 - 4
oktas) BKN - Broken (5 - 7
oktas) OVC – Overcast (8 oktas)

hs hs hs Height of base of clouds in units of 30 m (100 ft)

(CC) Cloud type - only CB (cumulonimbus) or TCU (towering cumulus) indicated or

/// if it cannot be observed by automatic system

Replaced when sky is obscured and information on vertical visibility is available by the group below:

VV Indicator of Vertical Visibility

hs hs hs Vertical visibility in units of 30 m (100 ft) /// = vertical visibility unavailable

Replaced when there are no such clouds, no restriction on vertical visibility and CAVOK is not
appropriate by:

NSC N i l s ignificant C loud

Replaced when automatic system is used and no cloud detected by:

NCD No C loud Detected

* Clouds of operational significance (i.e. below 1 500 m (5000 ft) or below the highest m inimum sector
altitude, whichever is greater, and CB or TCU)

CAVOK

Ceiling And Visibility OK . Replaces visibility RVR, present weather and cloud if:
(1) Visibility is 10 km or more

(2) No cumulonimbus, towering cumulus and no other cloud below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below
the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, and

(3) No significant present weather (see table w'w' at the end of this sequence)

TEMP AND DEW POINT

T’T' Temperature in whole degrees Celsius (if below 0˚C preceded by M )

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TEMP AND DEW POINT

T'd T'd Dew-point temperature in whole degrees Celsius (if below 0˚C preceded by M )

PRESSURE
Q
Indicator of Q NH in hectopascals. If Q = A then QNH is in inches
PH PH PH PH QNH rounded down to the whole nearest hectopascal or to tenths and
hundredths of an inch , depending on indicator

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

RECENT WEATHER

RE Indicator of RE cent weather

w'w' RE cent weather since previous report (intensity NOT to be reported)

WIND SHEAR

WS Wind Shear

R RUNW AY

DR DR Runway designator - for parallel runways, may have LL, L, C, R or RR

appended (L = left; C = centre; R = right)

Replaced when all runways are affected by wind shear by: WS ALL RWY

STATE OF THE RUNWAY **

RDRDR Indicator of runway

ER Runway deposits

CR Extent of runway contamination

eReR Depth of deposit

BRBR Friction coefficient/breaking action

** State of the runway to be provided by appropriate

airport authority

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TREND FORECAST
TWO HOURS FROM TIME OF OBSERVATION

CHANGE INDICATORS

N l l or NOSIG BECMG BEC oming, used where changes are expected to reach or
pass through specified values at a regular or irregular rate

TEMPO TEMPO rary fluctuations of less than one hour and in aggregate
less than half the period indicated by GGGe Ge

NOSIG NO SIG NIFICANT CHANGE

CHANGE AND TIME

TT Can be AT or FM = FROM or TL = TILL

GGgg Associated time group in hours and minutes UTC

FORECAST WIND

ddd Forecast mean wind direction in degrees true, 00000 = calm

rounded to nearest 10 degrees (VRB = V AR IAB LE)

ff Forecast mean wind speed

G Indicator of Gust

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TREND FORECAST

fm f m
Forecast maximum wind speed (gust)
KMH or KT or M
PS Wind speed units
FORECAST VISIBBILITY

WW Forecast prevailing visibility in metres 9999 = 10 km or more

FORECAST WEATTHER

w'w' Forecast significant weather (see table w'w' at the e nd of this sequence)

Replaced when
significant weather ends by:
NSW Nil Significant Weather

FORECAST CLOUDS OF OPERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OR VERTICAL VISIBILITY

Ns Ns Ns Forecast cloud amount

hs hs hs Forecast height of base of cloud

(CC) Cloud type - only CB

Replaced when
sky expected to be obscured and vertical visibility forecasts are undertaken by:
VV Indicator of Vertical Visibility

hs hs hs Vertical visibility in units of 30 m (100 ft)

Replaced when highest minimum

no cumulonimbus, towering cumulus and no other cloud below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or n
sector altitude, whichever is greater, are forecast and CAVOK is not appropriate by:
NSC N il Significant Cloud

RMK

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Example of METAR Decode

METAR EGLL 291020Z AUTO 31015G27KT 280V350 3200 1200SW R27R/1100 +SHRA FEW005 BKN025
SCT010CB 10/03 Q0995 RETS WS RWY24 BECMG FM 1100 23035G50KT TEMPO FM 0630 TL 0830 3000
SHRA

CODE ELEMENT EXAMPLE DECODE NOTES

1. Identification
METAR or SPEC! METAR METAR METAR — Meteorological Airfield Report,
SPECI — selected special (not from UK
civil aerodromes)
Location indicator EGLL London Heathrow Station four-letter indicator
Date/Time 291020Z 'ten twenty Zulu on Usually omitted when METARS are
the 29th' presented in bulletin.

AUTO A fully automated AUTO Metars will only be disseminated

report with no when an aerodrome is closed or at H24
human aerodromes, where the accredited met.
intervention Observer is on duty break overnight.
Users are reminded that reports of
visibility, present weather and cloud from
automated systems should be treated
with caution due to the limitations of the
sensors themselves and the spatial area
sampled by the sensors.
2. Winds
Wind 31015G27KT 'three one zero Max only given if >= 10KT greater than the
direction/spe degrees, fifteen
ed knots, max twenty mean.
seven knots' VRB = variable. OOOOOKT = calm.
Extreme 280V350 'varying between Variation given in clockwise direction,
direction two eight zero and but only when mean speed is greater
variance three five zero than 3 KT.
degrees'
3. Visibility
Prevailing 3200 'three tll0usand 0000 = 'less than 50 meters' 9999 =
two hundred 'ten kilometers or more'. No direction
visibility meters' is required.
Minimum 1200SW 'Twelve hundred The minimum visibility is also included
visibility (in meters to the south- alongside the prevailing Visibility when the
addition to tile west' visibility in one direction, which is not tile
prevailing prevailing visibility, is less than 1500
Visibility if meters or less than 50% of the prevailing
required) visibility. A direction is also added as one of
the eight points of the compass.
4. RVR R27R/llOO 'RVR, runway two RVR tendency (U = increasing; 0 =
seven right, one decreasing; N = no change; not reported in
thousand one UK at present) may be added after figure
hundred meters' e.g. R27R/llOOD. PI500 = more than 1500
m; M0050 = less than 50 m. Significant
variations — example: R24/0950V1 100, i.e.
varying between two values.

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CODE ELEMENT EXAMPLE DECODE NOTES

5. Present Weather
+SHRA 'heavy rain showers' + = Heavy
6. Clouds
FEW005 BKN025 'few at five hundred SKC=Sky clear (0 oktas), FEW='few' (1-2 oktas),
SCTOI0CB feet, scattered SCT='Scattered' (3-4 oktas), BKN = 'Broken' (5-7
cumulonimbus at one oktas), OVC='Overcast'. There are only two cloud
thousand feet, broken types reported; TCU=towering cumulus and
two
at thousand five CB=cumulonimbu5. W///='state of sky
hundred feet' (cloud base not discernable): Figures in lieu cf
obscured'
give
'III' vertical visibility in hundreds of feet. Up to
three, but occasionally more, cloud groups may
reported. Cloud heights are given in feet above
be
airfield height
7. Temperature and Dew point
10/03 'temperature ten
degrees Celsius, dew M indicates a negative value
point three degrees
Celsius'
8QNH
Q0995 'nine nine five' Q indicates the sea level pressure millibars. If the
letter A is used QNH is in inches and hundredths.
9. Recent
er
RETS 'recent thunderstorm' RE = Recent, weather codes given above. Up to
three groups may be present.

CODE ELEMENT EXAMPLE DECODE NOTES

10. Wind Shear

WS RWY24 'wind shear runway
two four'

11. Trend
BECMG FMll00 'becoming from BECMG=Becoming, TEMPO=Temporarily,
23035G50KT 1100, 230 degrees 35 NOSIG=No sig change, NSW=No sig weather,
TEMPO FM0630 KT , max 50 KT, AT=At, FM=From, TL=Until, NSC=No sig
TL 0830 3000 temporarily from cloud,
SHRA 0630 until 0830, Any of the wind forecast, visibility, weather
3000 meters, or cloud groups may be used, and CAVOK.
Moderate rain Multiple groups may be present.
shower's

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Examples of Decoded METAR in Plain Language

Example-1
SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR EGLY 24015KT 200V280 8000 -RA FEW010 BKN025 OVC080 18/15 Q0983
TEMPO 3000 RA BKN008 OVC020=

Decode of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the month / in plain language:

EGLY: Surface wind: mean 240 deg true, 15 kt; varying between 200 and 280 deg; prevailing vis 8 km; light
rain; cloud; 1-2 oktas base 1000 ft , 5-7 oktas 2500 ft, 8 oktas 8000 ft; temperature + 18 °C, dew point
+lS°C; QNH 983 mb; Trend: temporarily 3000 m in moderate rain with 5-7 oktas 800 ft, 8 oktas 2000 ft.

Example-2
SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR EGPZ 30025G37KT 270V360 6000 1200NE +SHSN SCT005
BKN010CB 03/M01 Q0999 RETS BECMG AT1300 NSW SCT015 BKN100=

Decode of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the month / in plain language:

EGPZ: Surface wind: mean 300 deg true, 25 kt; maximum 37 kt, varying between 270 and 360 deg;
prevailing vis 6 km, minimum vis 1200 m (to north-east); heavy shower of snow, Cloud; 3-4 oktas base 500
ft : 5-7 oktas CB base 1000 ft, temperature +3°C, dew point -1°C; QNH 999 mb; Thunderstorm since the
previous report; Trend: improving at 1300 Zulu to 10 km or more, nil weather, 3-4 oktas 1500 rt, 5-7
oktas 10,000 ft.

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3. AERODROME FORECAST - TAF DECODE

IDENTIFICATION GROUPS

TAF or TAF Code names for Aerodrome Forecast,

AMD or TAF Amended Aerodrome Forecast and Corrected
COR Aerodrome Forecast, respectively
Cccc ICAO four-letter location indicator

YYGGgg Date and time of issue of forecast in UTC

Z Indicator of UTC

NIL Indicator of missing forecast

Y1 Y1 G1 G1 /Y2 Y2 G2 G2 Y1 Y1 day of month, period of validity beginning G1 G1 in

hours UTC and Y2 Y2 day of month, period of validity
ending G2 G2 in hours UTC

CNL Indicator of cancelled forecast

FORECAST SURFACE WIND - Same as in METAR

FORECAST PREVAILING VISIBILITY - Same as in METAR

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER – Notations are similar to those in METAR

FORECAST CLOUD AMOUNT AND HEIGHT* - Notations are similar to those in METAR

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FORECAST CLOUD AMOUNT AND HEIGHT*

BKN - B roK eN (5-7 oktas)

OVC - OV erC ast (8 oktas)

hs hs hs Height of base of cloud in units of 30 m (100 ft)

(cc) Cloud type - only CB (cumulonimbus) is indicated

Replaced when sky is expected to be obscured and information on vertical visibility is available by:

W Indicator of V ertical V isibility

hs hs hs Vertical visibility in units of 30 m (100 ft)

Replaced when no cumulonimbus , towering cumulus and no other cloud below 1500 m (5000 ft) or
below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, are forecast and CAVOK and SKC are
not appropriate by:

NSC N il S ignificant C loud

* Clouds of operational significance (i.e. below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below highest minimum sector
altitude, whichever is greater, and CB or TCU)

CAVOK – Same as in METAR

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN FORECAST CONDITIONS INDICATED BY:

PROBABILITY

PROB PROB ability

C2C2 Only 30 or 40 used, indicating 30% or 40%

TIME
YYGG/Ye Ye Ge Ge Beginning YYGG and end Ye Ye Ge Ge of forecast period in day of month and hours UTC

Probability is used to indicate the probability of occurrence of:

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SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN FORECAST CONDITIONS INDICATED BY:

(a) an alternative element or

elements (b) temporary
fluctuations
CHANGE

TTTTT Type of significant change:

BECMG BEC oM inG , used where changes are expected to reach or

pass through specified values at a regular or irregular rate

TEMPO TEMPO rary fluctuations of less than one hour and in

aggregate less than half the period indicated by YYGG/Ye Ye Ge Ge

TIME

YYGG/Ye Ye Ge Ge Beginning YYGG and end Ye Ye Ge Ge of forecast period in day on month

and hours UTC
OR

If one set of weather conditions is expected to change more or less completely to a

different set of conditions, thus indicating the beginning of another self-contained part
of the forecast, by:
TTYYGGgg
This takes the form FM YYGGgg where FM is the abbreviation for F roM and YYGGgg is the day
of month and time in hours and minutes UTC. All forecast conditions before this group are
superseded by conditions indicated after the group.

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EXAMPLE OF
TAF DECODE

CODE ELEMENT EXAMPLE DECODE NOTES

1 Report type
TAF 'TAF' Name for a Terminal
Aerodrome Forecast
2 Location
EGSS 'London Station four-letter lCAO
3 Date/Time of ORIGIN Stansted' indicator
1 130500Z 'For the 13th at oh, Usually
five, hundred, Zulu'
omitted
4 Validity time
130716 'Valid from oh, seven, UTC (Greenwich Mean
hundred, to, sixteen,
hundred, on the 13th' Time)
5 Wind
31015G25KT 'Three one zero VRB = Variable; OOOOOKT =
degrees fifteen, max
twenty five knots' calm
6 Prevailing visibility or CAVOK*
8000 'Eight 9999 = 10 km or more; 0000 =
less than 50 meters
kilometers'
7 Significant weather
-SHRA 'Light rain See present weather table on
METAR page fo r details;
showers' NSW = No significant weather
8 Cloud
FEW005 'Few at 500 f e e t , SKC = sky clear; FEW = 1-2
SCT010 SCT018CB scattered at one oktas; SCT = 3-4 oktas; BKN =
BKN025 thousand f e e t , 5-7 oktas; OVC = 8 oktas; 'jjI' =
scattered state of sky obscured (figures
cumulonimbus at one after 'j/I' will give forecast
thousand eight vertical visibility in hundred of
hundred feet. feet) NSC = no significant cloud
Broken at two (none below 5,000 feet and no
thousand five CB) CB will be the only cloud
hundred feet' type specified

Cloud heights are given in feet above airfield height.

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

CODE ELEMENT EXAMPLE DECODE NOTES

9 Significant changes
Probability PROB30 '30% Normally only 30% or 40%
probability will be used.
probability'

Time 1416 'from fourteen

hundred to sixteen
hundred,'
or Indicates beginning
and end time of
forecast period in
Universal Time
Coordinated (UTC) or
Zulu time (Z)
Change indicator BECMG 1416 'becoming from
fourteen hundred to
sixteen hundred'
or FM 1400 'from fourteen
hundred' followed by
Also TEMPO = temporarily may be used
Met. groups TSRA BKN010CB Thunderstorm with Met. group follows
rain, broken indicating a change in some
cumulonimbus at one or all of the elements
thousand feet' forecast in the first part of the
TAF
"'CAVOK will replace visibility and cloud groups

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Example-UK1: 18-hr TAF

FTUK31 EGGY 102200 EGLL 110624 13010KT 9000 BKN010 BECMG 0608 SCT015 BKN020
PROB30 TEMPO 0816 17025G40KT 4000 TSRA SCT010 BKN015CB BECMG 1821 3000 BR SKC=
Decode
Eighteen-hour TAF issued at 2200 Zulu on the 10th. London Heathrow valid from oh six
hundred to midnight the next day. Wind one three zero degrees ten knots. Nine
kilometers visibility. Broken at one thousand feet. Becoming from oh six hundred to oh
eight hundred, scattered at one thousand five hundred feet, broken at two thousand
feet. Prob t h i r t y , temporarily oh eight hundred to sixteen hundred, wind one
seven zero degrees twenty five knots, g u s t i n g to forty knots. Four thousand meters
Visibility. Thunderstorm with rain. Scattered at one thousand feet. Broken
cumulonimbus at one thousand five hundred feet. Becoming from eighteen hundred to
twenty one hundred, three thousand meters visibility, mist, sky clear.

Example-UK2: 9 hour TAF

FCUK33 EGGY 300900 EGGW 301019 23010KT 9999 SCT010 BKN018 BECMG 1114 6000 -RA
BKN012 TEMPO 1418 2000 DZ OVC004 FM1800 30020G30KT 9999 -SHRA BKN015CB=
Decode

Nine-hour TAF issued at 0900 Zulu on the 30th. Luton valid from ten hundred to nineteen
hundred Zulu on the 30th. Wind two three zero degrees ten knots. Ten kilometers or more
visibility, Scattered at one thousand feet. Broken at one thousand eight hundred feet. Becoming
from eleven hundred to fourteen hundred, six kilometers, light rain. Broken at one thousand two
hundred feet. Temporarily fourteen hundred to eighteen hundred. Two thousand meters
Visibility. Moderate drizzle, Overcast four hundred feet. From eighteen hundred, three zero
degrees twenty knots gusting to thirty knots. Ten kilometers or more visibility, Light rain
showers. Broken CB one thousand five hundred feet.

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4. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AND UPPER WIND & TEMPERATURE CHARTS

SYMBOLOGY

SYMBOLS FOR SIGNIFICANT WEATHER

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3 ABBREVIATIONS USED TO DESCRIBE CLOUDS

3.1 TYPE

CI = Cirrus AS = Altostratus ST = Stratus

CC = Cirrocumulus NS = Nimbostratus CU = Cumulus

CS = Cirrostratus SC = Stratocumulus CB = Cumulonimbus

AC = Altocumulus

3.2 AMOUNT

Clouds

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

except

CB
SKC = sky clear (0/8ths)
FEW = few (1/8th to
2/8ths) SCT = scattered
(3/8th to 4/8ths) BKN =
broken (5/8ths to
7/8ths) OVC = overcast
(8/8ths)

CBonly:

ISOL = individual CBs (isolated)

OCNL = well separated CBs (occasional)
FRQ = CBs with little or no separation (frequent)
EMBD = CBs embedded in layers of other clouds or concealed by haze (embedded)
3.3 HEIGHTS
Heights are indicated on SWH and SWM in flight levels (FL), top over base.
When XXX is used, tops or bases are outside the layer of the atmosphere to which the chart
applies.
In SWL (low level) significant weather charts:
a. Heights are indicated as altitudes above mean sea level;
b. The abbreviation SFC is used to indicate ground level.
4 DEPICTING OF LINES AND SYSTEMS ON SPECIFIC CHARTS
4.1 SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS (HIGH AND MEDIUM)

Scalloped line = demarcation of areas of significant weather

Heavy broken line = delineation of area of CAT

Heavy solid line = position of jet stream axis with indication of wind direction, speed
in kt or
interrupted by wind km/h and height in flight levels. The vertical extent of the jet stream
is
arrow and flight indicated (in flight levels) below the flight level, e.g. FL270
accompanied by
level +20/-30 indicates that the height of the jet extends from FL240 to
FL290.

Figures on arrows = speed in kt or km/h of movement of frontal system

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

Flight levels inside = =

small rectangles I 340
height in flight levels of tropopause at spot
locations; e.g., .
Low and High points of the tropopause topography are indicated
by the letters L or H respectively inside a pentagon with the height
in flight levels.

4.2 ARROWS AND FEATHERS

Arrows indicate direction. Number of pennants and/or feathers correspond to speed.

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Appendix 1

Example of Significant Weather Chart

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Appendix 2

Example of Significant Weather Chart

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

APPENDIX 3

UPPER WIND AND TEMPERATURE CHART

ARROWS, FEATHERS AND PENNANTS (MERCATOR PROJECTION)

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

APPENDIX 4

UPPER WIND AND TEMPERATURE CHART

ARROWS, FEATHERS AND PENNANTS (POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION)

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 PRACTICAL METEREOLOGY NOTES

Appendix 5

Example of a Weather Satellite Picture

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