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FIG 7

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Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report
(METAR) (Back)

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation

Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Back)

In

METAR

, ReMarK indicator & remarks. For example: Sea- Level

Pressure in hectoPascals & tenths, as shown: 1004.5 hPa; Temp/dew-
point in tenths

C, as shown: temp. 18.2

C, dew-point 15.9

RMK SLP045
T01820159

FM091930

FroM: changes are expected at: 2-digit date, 2-digit hour, and 2-digit
minute beginning time: indicates significant change. Each FM starts on
new line, indented 5 spaces

TEMPO
0920/0922

TEMPOrary: changes expected for <1 hour and in total, < half of the
period between the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour beginning, and
2-digit
date and 2-digit hour ending time

PROB30
1004/1007

PROBability and 2-digit percent (30 or 40): probable condition in the
period between  the 2-digit date & 2-digit hour beginning time, and
the
2-digit date and 2-digit hour ending time

BECMG
1013/1015

BECoMinG: change expected in the period between the 2-digit date and
2-digit hour beginning time, and the 2-digit date and 2-digit hour
ending
time

Table of Significant Present, Forecast and Recent Weather - Grouped in
categories and
used in the order listed below; or as needed in TAF, No Significant
Weather.

Qualifiers
Intensity or Proximity
-"

 = Light

No sign

 = Moderate

"+"

 = Heavy

"VC"

 = Vicinity, but not at aerodrome. In the US METAR, 5 to 10 SM from the
point of observation. In the US

TAF, 5 to 10 SM from the center of the runway complex. Elsewhere,
within 8000m.

Descriptor
BC

 - Patches

BL

 - Blowing

DR

 - Drifting

FZ

 - Freezing

MI

 - Shallow

PR

 - Partial

SH

 - Showers

TS

 - Thunderstorm

Weather Phenomena
Precipitation
DZ

 - Drizzle

GR

 - Hail

GS

 - Small Hail/Snow Pellets

IC

 - Ice Crystals

PL

 - Ice Pellets

RA

 - Rain

SG

 - Snow Grains

SN

 - Snow

UP

 - Unknown Precipitation in automated observations

Obscuration
BR

 - Mist (>=5/8SM)

DU

 - Widespread Dust

FG

 - Fog (<5/8SM)

FU

 - Smoke

HZ

 - Haze

PY

 - Spray

SA

 - Sand

VA

 - Volcanic Ash

Other
DS

 - Dust Storm

FC

 - Funnel Cloud

+FC

 - Tornado or Waterspout

PO

 - Well developed dust or sand whirls

SQ

 - Squall

SS

 - Sandstorm

- Explanations in parentheses "()" indicate different worldwide
practices.
- Ceiling is not specified; defined as the lowest broken or overcast
layer, or the vertical visibility.
- NWS TAFs exclude BECMG groups and temperature forecasts, NWS TAFS do
not use PROB in the first 9
hours of a TAF; NWS METARs exclude trend forecasts. US Military TAFs
include Turbulence and Icing groups.

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Meteorology