Meteorology

METAR CYXX 131700Z 00000KT 20SM FEW050 SCT150 SCT250 15/11 A3012 RMK SC2AC2CI0 FU SLP201= METAR CYXX 131800Z 17002KT 20SM FEW040 FEW250 17/10 A3012 RMK SC1CI0 FU CU ASOCTD SLP201= METAR CYXX 131900Z 23002KT 20SM FEW025 FEW040 FEW150 19/10 A3012 RMK CU1CU1AC1 FU SLP198= TAF CYXX 131738Z 131818 22006KT P6SM SCT020 SCT040 SCT120 TEMPO 1901 1SM FU BKN020 FM0100Z 24005KT P6SM SCT050 SCT100 TEMPO 0103 4SM FU BKN050 BKN100 PROB30 0103 2SM FU FM0300Z 23004KT P6SM BKN040 BKN090 TEMPO 0305 5SM -RA FU PROB40 0307 2SM FU FM0700Z VRB03KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 0718 2SM FU PROB40 0718 1SM FU RMK NXT FCST BY 00Z=

Todays Agenda

Weather observations at major aerodromes

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) AIM MET 3.15 Introduction Sample METARs Decoding the groups:

Report Type Station Indicators Date/Time Report Modifier Wind Prevailing Visibility Runway Visual Range (RVR) Present Weather Sky Conditions Temperature and Dewpoint Altimeter Setting Recent Weather Wind Shear Remarks

Observations at Major Aerodromes Wind Information

Measured by a single three-cup anemometer on a 10 m mast with direct

reading dials in the local weather observation office and/or ATS units. Wind direction and speed observations are averaged over 2 min with variation in the past 10 min except where ATC units are using the Operational Information Display System. The Operational Information Display System provides continuously updated information to ATC units, including met info as follows:
MEAN WIND -Average wind for the last 2 min RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (RVR) -Average for the last 1 min ALTIMITER SETTING -Current

Wind information will be issued as follows:

ATIS broadcast, Landing Information, Taxi Information, AWOS

broadcast, LWIS Broadcast, take-off and landing clearance and pilot request are issued as MEAN WIND.

Cloud Information
Information about cloud base height is obtained by use of laser

ceilometers, ceiling projectors, ceiling balloons, pilot reports and observer estimation. Observations are provided to the local ATS units in the form of routine and special reports. Ceiling is the lesser of the height at which cumulative layers of cloud or smoke aloft obscure 5/8 or more of the sky, or the vertical extent of the visibility as viewed through a surface based obscuring condition such as smoke or fog (vertical visibility).

Temperature Information
Temperature is read every hour from a mercury thermometer located in

a ventilated screen (Stevenson Screen). Some locations have a remote readout of this information in the weather observation office or ATS unit.

Runway Visual Range (RVR) Information

RVR observations are obtained by transmissometers and forward-

scatter sensors. RVR observations are representative of runway touchdown and midpoint visibilities averaged over 1 min and based on the light setting in use. Where RVR is accessible to the weather observer, RVR will be included in METARs and SPECIs when it is 6000 or less for the runway in use and/or the visibility is 1SM or less.

Stevenson Screen

Transmissometer

Forward-scatter sensor

Introduction to METARs

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) MET 3.15

An international code that describes the actual weather

conditions at a specified location and time as observed from the ground. Very detailed description can be found in the Manual of Surface Weather Observations (MANOBS). Normally taken and disseminated on the hour. National variations to the international code may be filed with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Sample METARs

METAR CYYJ 080000Z 13007KT 30SM FEW040TCU SCT045CB BKN079 BKN230 17/11 A2989 RMK TCU2CB2AC2CI1 SLP123= SPECI CYYJ 080029Z 12007KT 30SM -SHRA FEW035CB SCT040TCU BKN090 BKN230 RMK CB2TCU2AC2CI2= METAR CYRV 080000Z AUTO 26019KT 9SM CLR 25/04 A2974 RMK SLP051=

Decoding the METAR groups: Report Type:

The code name METAR or SPECI is given first.

Station Indicator:
Canadian weather reporting stations are assigned 4 letter ICAO indicators commencing with C and followed by W, Y, or Z Stations are normally located within 1.6NM (3km) of the geometric centre of the runway complex. Aviation weather reporting sites are listed in the CFS.

Date/Time of Observation
The date (day of month) and time (UTC) of the observation is included in all reports. The official time of the observation (on the hour) is used for all METAR reports that do not deviate from the official time by more than 10 minutes. In SPECI reports the time refers to the time of occurrence (hours and minutes) of the change(s) which required the issue of the report.

Report Modifier:
May contain two possible codes: AUTO or CCA. Both codes may appear simultaneously: AUTO CCA. AUTO will be used to indicate data collected by an AWOS. Should a human observer augment the AWOS, additional information will be added to the remarks group. CCA is used to indicate corrected reports. The second correction will be indicated with CCB etc.

Wind:
Reports 2-min mean wind direction and speed along with gusts. Wind direction is always three digits in degrees true rounded to the nearest 10 degrees (last digit is always a 0) Wind speeds are two digits (3 only if required) in Knots. Calm wind is coded as 00000KT.

Wind (cont):
Wind gust information will be included if gusts exceed the average wind speed by 5KT or more in the 10 minute period preceding the observation AND the peak gust reaches a maximum of 15KT or more. G indicates gusts and the peak gust is reported using two or three digits as required. Variations in direction are only included if during the 10 minute period preceding the observation, the direction varies by 60 degrees or more and the mean speed exceeds 3 knots. The two extreme directions are encoded in a clockwise order. Example: METAR CYCG 091200Z 30015G25KT 260V340

Prevailing Visibility:
Visibility is the greatest distance at which objects of suitable dimensions can be seen and identified. Prevailing visibility is maximum visibility common to sectors comprising of or more of the horizon circle. Visibility is reported from eye-level (1.8m AGL).

Prevailing Visibility (cont):

Visibility is reported in statute miles (SM) and fractions up to 3SM then whole miles. Note: visibility from ocean stations is reported in nautical miles (NM). No maximum visibility for human observations. Lower sector visibilities which are half or less of the prevailing visibility are reported in the remarks group.

Runway Visual Range (RVR)

RVR of the touchdown zone of up to 4 available landing runways is reported as a 10 minute average, based on the operational runway light settings at the time of the report. Included when prevailing visibility is 1SM or less, and/or the RVR is 6000 or less. R is the group indicator followed by the runway designator. RVR is reported in hundreds of feet. M preceding the lowest measurable value or P preceding the highest, indicates the value is beyond the instrument range.

Runway Visual Range (cont):

RVR trend is then reported if there is a distinct upward or downward trend from the first to second 5 minute part-period such that the RVR changes by 300 or more (encoded as /U or /D). If no distinct change is observed, it will be encoded with /N. Trend field left blank if trend isnt possible to determine. Variations in RVR may be reported for up to two runways. Variations may be reported as max and min values when the 1 minute mean varies by at least 20% (and by 150) from the 10-minute mean taken in the 10 minutes preceding the observation.

EX: R06L/1000V2400FT/U

Present Weather
Comprised of weather phenomena which may be one or more forms of precipitation, obscuration or other phenomena. Weather phenomena may be preceded by one or two qualifiers, one which describes intensity or proximity, the other describes the phenomena in some other manner. Present weather is coded in accordance with the WMO Code, Table 4678 See MET 3.15

Sky Conditions
This group reports the sky condition for layers aloft. Vertical visibility is reported in hundreds of feet when the sky is obscured. Cloud layers are reported based on the summation of the layer amounts as observed from the surface up, reported as a height above the station elevation (AGL) in increments of 100 feet to a height of 10 000, and thereafter in increments of 1 000. Layer amount is the amount in eights (octas) of the whole sky (celestial dome) that is observed to be covered (not necessarily concealed) by a layer aloft or concealed by a surfaced based layer (fog, mist etc.).

Sky Conditions (cont.)

Summation amount at any level is the amount in octas of the whole sky that is covered by layers at and below that level. Summation cannot exceed eight octas. Layer opacity represents the portion of the whole sky that is observed to be concealed (hidden, rendered invisible) by the layer. Layer opacity is reported in octas. No layer can exceed eight octas, nor can the total of the opacities for all layers exceed eight octas. If a layer does not conceal any part of the sky, opacity is zero. Opacity is reported in the RMK section of the METAR. Layer amounts are reported in octas of sky coverage: SKC - No Cloud Present FEW - >0 to 2/8 summation amount SCT - 3/8 to 4/8 summation amount BKN - 5/8 to <8/8 summation amount OVC - 8/8 summation amount CLR - Clear below 10 000 as interpreted by an autostation (AWOS)

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

OCTA

METAR CYXX 131900Z 23002KT 20SM SCT025 BKN040 OVC060 19/10 A3012 RMK CU4CU2AC1 FU SLP198

High level Cirrostratus overcast cloud layer displaying very little opacity. Eight octas sky coverage with two octas of opacity.

Recent Weather
This group reports recent weather of operational significance. The group indicator RE is followed, without a space, by the appropriate abbreviation(s) for weather observed during the period since the last scheduled report (METAR), but not observed at the time of observation. May be included in METARs and SPECIs. The following may be reported as recent weather phenomena: Freezing precipitation Moderate or heavy drizzle, rain or snow Moderate or heavy ice pellets, hail or snow pellets Moderate or heavy blowing snow Sandstorm or dust storm Tornado or waterspout or funnel cloud Thunderstorm Volcanic Ash

The same phenomenon is only reported as present weather and recent weather if it was of greater intensity during the period since the last routine report.

Wind Shear
This group contains reports of low level wind shear (LLWS) within 1600 AGL along the takeoff or approach path of the designated runway. If the existence of wind shear applies to all runways, WS all RWY is used.

Remarks
Remarks will appear in reports from Canada, prefaced by RMK Remarks will include, where observed, layer type and opacity in eighths of sky concealed by clouds and/or obscuring phenomena, general weather remarks, and sea level pressure as required. Sea level pressure (SLP) will always be the last field of the METAR report. SLP022 converts to 1002.2 hPa, SLP994 converts to 999.4 hPa Abbreviations for cloud types: CI Cirrus NS Nimbostratus CS Cirrostratus ST - Stratus CC Cirrocumulus SF Stratus Fractus AS Altostratus SC - Stratocumulus AC Altocumulus ACC Altocumulus Castellanus CU Cumulus CUFRA Cumulus Fractus TCU Towering Cumulus CB - Cumulonimbus

Whats Missing?

METAR CWYM 151600Z AUTO ///// M03/ A2969 RMK SLP095= METAR CWZZ 151700Z AUTO 21007KT 0SM 01/ A2952 RMK SLP024=

METAR CYRB 151500Z 02018KT 3/4SM R35/5000FT -SN OVC015 M03/M05 A2961 RMK SN4ST4 SLP033= METAR CYRB 151600Z 02024KT 3/4SM R35/6000FT -SN DRSN BKN016 OVC030 M04/M07 A2961 RMK SN3ST3SC2 SLP035= METAR CYRB 151700Z 02029KT 1SM R35/6000FT -SN DRSN BKN017 OVC030 M05/M08 A2962 RMK SN2ST4SC2 SLP038= SPECI CYRB 151720Z 02027KT 1SM R35/6000FT BLSN SCT020 BKN030 OVC230 RMK BLSN2ST2SC1CI0= TAF CYRB 151740Z 151818 02025KT 1SM BLSN BKN007 TEMPO 1823 4SM -SN SCT005 BKN030 FM2300Z 33020KT 6SM BLSN BKN015 TEMPO 2307 1SM -SN BLSN BKN008 FM0700Z 22028KT 1/2SM -SN BLSN VV002 TEMPO 0715 2SM BLSN OVC010 FM1500Z 24018KT 4SM -SN BKN010 TEMPO 1518 1SM BLSN OVC004 RMK NXT FCST BY 00Z=