Understanding Metars

[globecar]

"UNDECODED METAR KSFD 242353Z AUTO 30014KT 10SM FEW009 OVC015 23/21 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP045 T02280206 10256 20194 55008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location KSFD: The 4-character ICAO identifier is the location/station. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date and Time 242353Z: The 7-character group. The first two digits are the date of the month.The last four are time (UTC). Displayed is the 24th day at 2353 Zulu. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTO (or COR) Auto: is an automated observation of an unattended site. Cor, if present, indicates a corrected observation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wind Speed & Direction 30014KT: Wind Speed & Direction: The first 3 digits = origin to the nearest 10 degrees, referenced to true north followed by speed.Gusts are reported following the speed preceded by a G. This example is wind from 300 degrees at 14 kts. If the wind is varying between directions by 60 degrees or more with speed greater than 6 knots, a variability group will be shown containing the extremes separated by a V. In this example winds are varying between 210 and 290 degrees. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visibility 10SM: Visibility displayed in statute miles. Shown is 10 statute miles visibility. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layers of clouds FEW009 OVC015: Layers of clouds - reported in hundreds of feet AGL. Add 2 zeros to the numbers. FEW means coverage (in eighths) of >0 - 2. OVC (overcast) is 8. This report shows 1/4 coverage at 900 ft. AGL and full (overcast) at 1500 ft. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Temp /Dewpoint 23/21: Temp /Dewpoint: displayed in degrees celsius. An M in the notation indicates ?minus?or below zero. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Altimeter setting A2970: Altimeter setting: displayed in inches plus hundredths of mercury, e.g.: 29.70 inches of mercury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- RMKs RMK AO2 SLP045 T02280206: encoded or plain language data supplements. AO2 - automated observation that can distinguish types of precipitation. SLP045 (sea level pressure in millibars = 1004.5). Temp/dewpoint degrees Celsius = 022.8/020.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNDECODED TAF KOMA 211720Z 211818 29007KT P6SM BKN250 FM2100 29010KT P6SM FEW150 BKN200 BECMG 0002 VRB03KT P6SM BKN110 FM0500 35004KT P6SM OVC080 TEMPO 0610 SCT035 OVC060 FM1400 36008KT P6SM SCT090 BKN150 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location Location: KOMA (Omaha) Date/time: 21st day of mo.; forecast issued 1720, valid to 1818 UTC. Forecast valid times 211818 (24 hr period)are from 1800Z of the 21st to 1800Z of the next day, the 22nd. 29007KT P6SM BKN250 Winds: from 290 at 7kts Visibility: >6 statute miles; Clouds: Broken at 25,000 ft. FM2100, BECMG Time and type of changes expected: FM = from, indicates rapid change. New conditions at 2100Z include wind increasing to 10kts, clouds few at 15,000, broken at 20,000. BECMG = becoming (gradual change of forecast meteorological conditions) Becoming from 0002Z to 0004Z:Wind speed varying by 3kts;Visibility greater than 6 statute miles, clouds broken 11,000 ft. FM0500, TEMPO, FM1400 Time and type of changes expected: From 0500 wind from 350 at 4 kts; Visibility remains >6 statute miles; Clouds 8,000 overcast. TEMPO = temporary condition lasting less than 4 hrs. Example shown between 0600Z and 1000Z (0610) clouds scattered at 3,500, overcast at 6,000. From 1400Z wind from 360 at 8kts; Visibility >6 statute miles; clouds scattered at 9,000, broken at 15,000. Copyright Š 2004 Control Vision Corp. Privacy Policy "