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Weather Report Volmet
Weather Report Volmet
Weather Report Volmet
The vertical dimension of the 130kt is shown in the example above: 90 hectofeet (9000 ft.)
above FL410 and 110 hectofeet below FL410
Widespread smoke
Freezing level
State of the sea, wave height in FT
FL 100 / 700hPa
FL 240 / 400hPa
FL 340 / 250hPa
FL 450 / 150hPa in USA and CAN only.
3.) Units
Wind speed in knots Temperature in oC are negative unless prefixed by +or PS.
4.) Spotwind / Temperature
The grid point data are shown at 5 lat / 5 long north of 45N, resp. 2,5 lat / 2,5 long south
of 45N. Wind direction is in degrees true, e.g.
57
Alternate charts
Additional authorized methods of presentation are tabular or cross-section wind forecasts.
ICAO CODES - TAF & METAR
Metar taf
Issue and valid time of AD FCST and reports are according to WMO / ICAO codes and
schedule. Reports (observation) remain valid until the issue of the next routine or special report.
Data designator
2-letter codes used to store and retrieve information in data banks:
METAR:
SA TAF 9hr:
FC
SPECI:
SP TAF 12hr or 18/24hr: FT
Aerodrome forecast - TAF
TAFs valid for 9hr are issued every 3hr, approximately 1hr before beginning of the validity.
TAFs valid for full 24hr are issued every 6hr, approximately 1hr before beginning of the validity, or
for 18/24hr, a 24hr TAFwhere the text of the FCST for the initial 6hr is omitted.
ICAO code - TAF content
AD, optional designator, data/valid
mean wind and gusts of last 10min
VIS or prevailing VIS
significant weather with intensity
clouds amount, base and type (TCU, CB)
VER VIS (sky obscured)
change groups
optional groups (s. SUPPLE. INFO below).
Amended/Cancelled TAF FC / FT AMD, CNL
The issue of an amended TAF cancels any TAF of the same type previously issued for the
same period of the validity or part thereof.
Example:
TAF AMD EBBR 111100Z 111019 CNL = (Amended TAF for EBBR issued at 11th 1100Z,
cancels the previous issued TAF valid on 11th 1000-1900Z).
Provisional TAF FC / FT
When an AD forecast required for flight planning and documentation cannot be obtained
from the MET office responsible for its issue, the MET office at the AD of departure should, if
possible, prepare a provisional forecast, usually in the TAF code.
A request for a provisional forecast can be reinforced according to ICAO Annex 3.
Retarded TAF or Metar RTD, RRA, RRB
If a MET office has difficulty in weather observation or in provision of data exchange at the
fixed time schedule, it may delay report issue.
Corrected TAF/Metar/SPECI COR
Whenever a fault is detected in an observation or report the MET office responsible for its
issue has to correct this information. Corrected TAFs/METARs /SPECIs include COR between
TAF/METAR/SPECI and the AD ICAO code.
Example FC - FT
TAF COR LSZH............
CHANGE GROUPS
Change of prevailing conditions in FC or SA. Only those weather elements which may change
are given! Change indicator PROB30/40, PROB30/40 TEMPO and FMhrmn are used in TAF only.
Change indicator -BECMG- becoming
Firm change of prevailing conditions at regular (gradual) or irregular rate, which implies
fluctuating conditions and rapid change. The transition period is given by a 4-figure time group in full
hour UTC. The first 2 figures specifying the time of earliest beginning, the last 2 the time of latest
ending.
Example TAF - FT:
NZZO 241212 VRB02KT 1800 BR SKC BECMG 0406 00000KT 0500 FG VV002 =
Temperature forecast T
Indicator T followed by degrees Celsius and time in hours UTC.
Example: TM02/12Z T01/15Z =
Turbulence
Coded 6-figure group
1st figure: Group indicator 5
2nd figure: Type of turbulence
0=
none
1=
light
2=
moderate in clear air, infrequent
3=
moderate in clear air, frequent
4=
moderate in cloud, infrequent
5=
moderate in cloud, frequent
6=
severe in clear air, infrequent
7=
severe in clear air, frequent
8=
severe in cloud, infrequent
9=
severe in cloud, frequent
X=
extreme (US AFB TAF only)
3rd to 5th figure: Height of lowest turbulence level in hundreds of feet above AD elevation.
6th figure: Thickness of turbulent layer in thousands of feet; exception: 0 = top of cloud
Example: 590200 = severe in cloud, frequent, from 2000ft up to top of cloud.
Icing
Coded 6-figure group
1st figure: Group indicator 6
2nd figure: Type of icing
0=
none
1=
light
2=
light in cloud
3=
light in precipitation
4=
moderate
5=
moderate in cloud
6=
moderate in precipitation
7=
severe
8=
severe in cloud
9=
severe in precipitation
3rd to 5th figure: Height of lowest icing level in hundreds of feet above AD elevation.
6th figure: Thickness of icing layer in thousands of feet; exception: 0 = top of cloud
Example: 660083 = moderate in precipitation, from 800 upwards in layer 3000ft thick.
AERODROME REPORT - METAR / SPECI
METAR are issued half hourly or hourly, e.g. 0920/ 0950, 1400 / 1430 or 1600 / 1700. The
dissemination is normally limited by ICAO to distances corresponding to 2hr flying time (1000 nm).
Exception: Special regional agreement, e.g. Europe, North America. For planning purpose a
report is overruled by the TREND, if available.
Example of METAR - SA:
240130 VIDP VRB03KT 3000 FU SKC 19 /11 Q1016 BECMG 1500 =
ICAO code - METAR / SPECI content
data / time, aerodrome, optional designator
mean wind and gusts of last 10 minutes
visibility or minimum visibility and direction
RVR at touchdown zone
significant weather with intensity
clouds amount, base and type (TCU, CB)
vertical visibility (sky obscured)
temperature / dew point
QNH in hPa or 1/100 of inch Hg
TREND groups (NOSIG/BECMG/TEMPO)
remark section in coded form(e.g. runway report),
In plain language (e.g. wind shear alert) or in abbreviated form in North America (Differences
from ICAO codes)
Special reports SPECI
Non-routine reports issued to the local ATS units when changes in meteorological conditions
fulfill locally agreed criteria. The dissemination is normally the same as for METAR. SPECI of most
aerodromes issuing half hourly METAR are not disseminated.
Example of SPECI - SP:
VHHH SPECI 110839 11045G60KT 040V200 1200 +RA TEMPO VRB65G130KT CYCLO =
TREND GROUPS - REMARKS
A landing forecast intended to meet domestic requirements and for short flights. The period
of validity is normally 2hr from the nominal observation time of the report to which the TREND is
appended. The TREND consists of a report indicating significant changes from the reported wind,
visibility but never RVR, significant weather and cloud conditions. If no change is to be expected
NOSIG is reported.
Example SA:
240400 OERK 00000KT CAVOK 12 / M06 Q1022 NOSIG =
When a change is expected, the TREND begins with the change indicator BECMG or TEMPO.
Example TREND - SA:
290700 OMAA 00000kt 0100 R31/150N FG VV001 12 /12 Q1028 BECMG 0800 SKC =
Remarks are indicated in plain language or in coded form e.g. runway report.
Example RMK of runway report:
090800 UMMS RRA 29008G12MPS 9999 SCT026 01/M03 Q1007 NOSIG RMK 31370228 =
Example RMK and TREND - SA:
250850 YMML 25016G28KT 9999 BKN065 11/08 Q1010 WS ALL RWY TEMPO 24025G40=
General SIGMET - WS
Warning of severe weather phenomena like:
thunderstorm (freq., embedded, obscured)
severe squall line
severe turbulence
severe icing
severe mountain waves
heavy hail
heavy dust- or sandstorms
Period of validity is usually 4 max. 6hr, provided by MET or ATS for the route of next 2hr
(1000nm) flying time.
Example of WS: EYVL VILNIUS 0906 SIGMET1 VALID 090610 / 091200 VILNIUS FIR FCST SEV
CAT LYR FL260 - FL380, NC =
AIRMET - WA
Information (wind shears, turbulence, icing, inversion) for flights below FL100 or FL150 in
mountainous areas.
Example of WA:
LSZH ZUERICH SEV TURB FL80 TO FL120 N OF ALPS STNR NC=
Tropical cyclone SIGMET - WC
Warning of cyclone, hurricane, typhoon, etc.
tropical cyclone with name and position
associated hazard at cruise levels
further outlook on the position and development
of the cyclone.
Period of validity is usually 4max. 6hr plus an outlook of maximum 12hr, provided by MET or
ATS for the whole route.
Example of WC:
RPLL MANILA 2404 SIGMET3 VALID 240430 / 241030 CYCLONE VASCO WITHIN RPLL FIR
90NMSOFMANILA TOPFL490 STNRINTST =
Remark: In the Caribbean the abbreviation CYCON indicates severe thunder stormer
hurricane condition with wind speed >33kt. It replaces the code for visibility, weather, clouds or VV.
Volcanic ash SIGMET - WV:
Warning of
volcano eruption with name and position
Period of validity is usually 4max. 6hr plus an outlook for maximum subsequent 12hr,
provided by MET or ATS for the whole route.
Example of WV:
WIII JAKARTA 1916 SIGMET3 VALID 191630 / 192100 VOLCANO ERUPTION RAKATA POS
006_30S/105_30E TOP FL510 EXTENT 350NM WSW WITH TRADEWIND INTSF =