METEOROLOGY

MANUAL

PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE

FOR EXAMINATION PURPOSES ONLY

Please! Do not mark or damage this manual in any way

SOUTH AFRICAN

CIVIL AVIATION
AUTHORITY
 PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE

METEOROLOGY MANUAL

CONTENTS
PAGE
1. Synoptic Symbols
2. Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 1
3. Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 2
4 Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 3
5. Synoptic Weather Station Models - 1
6. Synoptic Weather Station Models - 1
7. Significant Present Weather
8. TAF - Aerodrome Forecast
9. METAR’s - Aerodrome Actuals
10. Significant Weather Symbols - 1
11. Significant Weather Symbols - 2
12. Forecast Weather Abbreviations
13. Significant Weather Chart - 1
14. Significant Weather Chart - 2
15. Significant Weather Chart - 3
16. Upper Winds and Temperatures
 Page 1

SYNOPTIC SYMBOLS

LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH CLOUD

CL LOW CLOUD CM MEDIUM CLOUD CH HIGH CLOUD

Cu Small cumulus As Thin Ci Strands, not increasing

Cu Moderate or large
As Thick or Ns Ci Dense
Cumulus
Cb Cumulonimbus Ci Dense, anvil shaped
without anvil Ac Thin at one level
from Cb
Sc formed by the Ac Thin patches at more Ci Hooked, increasing
spreading out of Cu than one level amounts
Ac In bands and in Ci and/or Cs, below 45°,
Sc Stratocumulus
increasing amounts thickening
Ac Formed from Ci and/or Cs above 45°
St Stratus thickening
spreading Cu
Ac Layered or with
Fs Fractus stratus Cs Covering entire sky
As and/or Ns
Cu and Sc with bases at
Ac Castellanus Cs Not increasing
different levels
Ac Several layers in a
Cb With anvil Cc Cirrocumulus
chaotic sky

TOTAL CLOUD COVER

HEIGHT IN FEET SKY COVERAGE HEIGHT IN FEET SKY COVERAGE
h (Rounded off) (Total amount) (Rounded off) (Total amount)

0 0 - 149 No Clouds 5 2 000 - 3 499 Five oktas

1 150 - 299 One okta or less 6 3 500 - 4 999 Six oktas

Seven oktas or more

2 300 - 599 Two oktas 7 5 000 - 6 499 but not overcast

3 600 - 999 Three oktas 8 6 500 - 7 999 Completely overcast

8 000 or more
4 1 000 - 1 999 Four oktas 9 or no clouds
Sky obscured
 Page 2

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 1

a PRESSURE TENDENCY - PREVIOUS 3 HOURS

Code Code
Number Meaning Number Meaning

0 Rising, then falling.

1 Rising, then steady.

2 Rising steadily. 3 Falling then rising,

4 Steady.
5 Falling, then rising.

6 Falling, then steady.

7 Falling steadily.

8 Rising, then falling.

PAST WEATHER

Duststorm/Sandstorm Storm of drifting snow

Fog Drizzle

Rain Snow

Shower (s) Thunderstorms

Hail

VV VISIBILITY CODE
00 to 50 = metres x 100 (e.g. 03 = 300 m)

56 to 80 = subtract 50, visibility in km (e.g. 58 = 8 km)

81 to 89 = subtract 80, then multiply by 5 and add 30

(e.g. 83 - 80 = 3 x 5 = 15 + 30 = 45 km)
 Page 3

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 2

ww PRESENT WEATHER

Smoke Haze Widespread dust in suspension

Fog, no change in
Duststorm or Sandstorm Mist
last hour
Fog, thinned Fog, thickened
Fog within sight
in last hour in last hour
Fog, sky visible, Fog, sky visible,no
Fog patches thinned in last hour change in last hour
Fog, sky visible, Drizzle, intermittent Drizzle, continuous
thickened in last hour Slight Slight
Drizzle, intermittent Drizzle, continuous Drizzle, intermittent
Moderate Moderate Heavy
Drizzle, continuous Rain, intermittent Rain, continuous
Heavy Slight Slight
Rain, intermittent Rain, continuous Rain, intermittent
Moderate Moderate Heavy
Rain, continuous Rain and drizzle, Drizzle and rain,
Heavy slight heavy
Slight drizzle, Heavy drizzle, Slight rain,
freezing freezing freezing
Heavy rain, Snow, intermittent Snow, continuous
freezing Slight Slight
Snow, intermittent Snow, continuous Snow, intermittent
Moderate Moderate Heavy
Snow, continuous Rain, shower (s) Rain, shower (s)
Heavy Slight Heavy
Showers of rain Showers of rain Snow showers
and snow - Slight and snow - Heavy Slight
Snow showers Showers of hail Showers of hail
Heavy Slight Heavy
Thunderstorm, Lightning visible, but
Ice pellets ( ) no precipitation no thunder heard
Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with
rain - Slight rain - Heavy hail - Slight
Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with
hail - Heavy snow -Slight snow - Heavy
 Page 4

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 3

SURFACE WIND

Calm 20 kt

5 kt 25 kt

10 kt 50 kt

15 kt 65 kt

ww PRESENT WEATHER

Weather during the past hour

Drizzle in the last hour
and not at the time of observation

Rain in the last hour Snow in the last hour

Rain and snow in the last hour Freezing rain or drizzle in

the last hour
Showers of rain Showers of snow
in the last hour in the last hour
Showers of hail
Fog in the last hour
in the last hour

Thunderstorm in the last hour

 Page 5

SYNOPTIC WEATHER STATION MODELS - 1

STATION 1 STATION 2

25 220 21 140
30 15
50 10
7 5
16 4
2
3

STATION 3 STATION 4

28 280
23 200
80 13
60 12
2
4 5
4

STATION 5 STATION 6

20 150 25 200
02 30 28
15 5
01 8
3
1

STATION 7 STATION 8

10 160
22 230
01 08
60 10
10
3 1
8
 Page 6

SYNOPTIC WEATHER STATION MODELS - 2

STATION 9 STATION 10

30 170 18 170

80 15 35 10

12 8
-5
9 4

STATION 11 STATION 12

15 160 31 195
40 20 ( ( 75 10

12 7 8 4
4 5

STATION 13 STATION 14

17 230
30 220
02 15
35 10
15
05 6
2

STATION 15 STATION 16

27 180 06 120
75 15 20 17
12 5 2 8
2
1
 Page 7

SIGNIFICANT PRESENT WEATHER

QUALIFIER WEATHER PHENOMENA

INTENSITY OF DESCRIPTOR PRECIPITATION OBSCURATION OTHER
PROXIMITY
1 2 3 4 5
Light MI Shallow DZ Drizzle BR Mist PO Well-developed
dust/sand whirls

MODERATE BC Patches RA Rain FG Fog SQ Squalls

(no qualifier)

DR Drifting SN Snow FU Smoke FC Funnel cloud

(tornado or
waterspout)
+ Heavy BL Blowing SG Snow grains VA Volcanic ash
[well-developed
in the case of SH Shower(s) IC Diamond dust DU Widespread SS Sandstorm
dust/sand whirls (Ice crystal) dust
(dust devils) and
funnel clouds]
TS Thunderstorm PE Ice pellets SA Sand DS Duststorm

FZ Supercooled GR Hail HZ Haze

VC In the PR Partial GS Small hail and/or

vicinity covering part of snow pellets
the aerodrome

The significant present and forecast weather 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).

 Page 8

TAF (Aerodrome Forecasts)

WESTERN CAPE
FACT 200600Z 200718 21010KT 9999 BKN035 FM0900 21020G30KT 9999 FEW035
TX28/12ZTN19/07Z=
FAGG 200600Z 200718 25015KT 5000 -RA OVC015 TEMPO 1018 2000 +RA OVC008
TX18/12ZTN14/18Z=
EASTERN CAPE
FAEL 200600Z 200718 25015G25KT 9999 SCT030 SCT040 TEMPO 0710 5000 -RA
BKN015 BKN025 BECMG 0809 240G30KT TX20/12ZTN16/18Z=
FAPE 200600Z 200718 21015KT 9000 HZ SCT010 BKN020 PROB30 TEMPO 0710 4000
-DZRA BKN008 BECMG 1113 9999 SCT015 BKN035 PROB30 TEMPO 1618
BKN015 TX26/12ZTN22/18Z=
FAUT 200600Z 200718 24008KT 9999 OVC008 TEMPO 5000 RA OVC005
TX19/12ZTN15/18Z=
KWAZULU-NATAL
FADN 200600Z 200718 04007KT CAVOK BECMG 0810 04012KT TEMPO 1518 SCT018
BECMG 1618 14012KT TX34/11ZTN27/18Z=
FAPM 200600Z 200718 03010KT 9999 FEW015 SCT025 TEMPO 1618 5000 TSRA
BKN012 SCT040CB TX32/12ZTN23/18Z=
NORTHERN CAPE
FAKM 200600Z 200718 20005KT CAVOK TX21/13ZTN14/18Z=
FAUP 200600Z 200718 20005KT CAVOK TX22/13ZTN16/18Z=
FREESTATE
FABL 200600Z 200718 350107KT CAVOK BECMG 0911 9999 SCT050 PROB40 TEMPO
1218 5000 TSRA FEW055CB TX34/13ZTN20/07Z=
NORTH WEST PROVINCE
FAMM 200600Z 200718 23010KT CAVOK TX29/12ZTN15/18Z=
FAPN 200600Z 200718 32006KT 9999 SCT040 BECMG 1618 21010KT CAVOK
TX34/12ZTN25/18Z=
GAUTENG
FAJS FAJS 200600Z 200718 06008KT CAVOK BECMG 0709 06012KT
TX31/12ZTN23/07Z=
FAWB 200600Z 200718 29010KT 9999 SCT045 BECMG 1618 23010KT CAVOK
TX33/12ZTN27/18Z=
MPUMALANGA
FAKN 200600Z 200718 06007KT 9999 SCT035 BECMG 1113 FEW035CB SCT040
TEMPO 1318 5000 TSRA BKN040 TX32/12ZTN24/18Z=
FAEO 200600Z 200718 34010KT 9999 BKN020 BECMG 1012 FEW035CB SCT040
PROB40 TEMPO 1218 5000 TSRA BKN050 TX29/12ZTN18/18Z=
 Page 9

METAR (Aerodrome Actuals)

WESTERN CAPE
FACT 200700Z 16016KT 9999 SCT030 21/11 Q1022 NOSIG=
FAGG 200700Z 00000KT 1000 VCFG FEW000 BKN025 16/15 Q1022=
FALW 200700Z AUTO 16009KT //// // ////// 21/10 Q1020=
EASTERN CAPE
FAEL 200700Z 25007KT 9999 FEW020 SCT100 21/13 Q1012=
FAPE 200700Z 30022G33KT 9999 SCT019 BKN040 19/13 Q1008 NOSIG=
FAUT 200700Z 06002KT 9999 FEW008 BKN015 19/16 Q1015=
KWAZULU-NATAL
FADN 200700Z 10010KT 9999 FEW018 27/23 Q1010 NOSIG=
FARB 200700Z 36008KT 9999 SCT025 32/21 Q1010=
NORTHERN CAPE
FAUP 200700Z 21005KT CAVOK 21/M01 Q1019=
FAKM 200700Z 27004KT 9999 FEW045 17/05 Q1021=
FREESTATE
FABL 200700Z 24005KT 200V270 9999 FEW020 17/06 Q1021 NOSIG=
FABM 200700Z 28005KT 9999 BKN012 22/16 Q1020=
NORTH WEST PROVINCE
FAMM 200700Z 21005KT 9999 FEW030 24/M00 Q1019=
FAPN 200700Z 00000KT CAVOK 31/14 Q1016=
GAUTENG
FAJS 200730Z 02008KT 350V070 CAVOK 26/M02 Q1025 NOSIG=
FALA 200730Z 06011KT 9999 BKN018 20/16 Q1023=
FAGM 200730Z 07010KT 6000BR+ BKN050 OVC020 16/15 Q1025=
MPUMALANGA
FAKN 200700Z 09006KT 9999 FEW030 27/14 Q1019=
FAEO 200700Z 33007KT 9999 BKN020 SCT100 22/13 Q1021=
LIMPOPO PROVINCE
FAPP 200700Z 35005KT 9999 FEW040 29/13 Q1017=
FAHS 200700Z AUTO 08004KT //// // ////// 29/17 Q1013=
 Page 10

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYMBOLS - 1

SYMBOLS FOR SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS

Thunderstorms Drizzle

Tropical cyclone Rain

vv Severe line squall* Snow

Moderate turbulence Shower

Severe turbulence Widespread blowing snow

Mountain waves Severe sand or dust haze

Widespread sandstorm
Slight aircraft icing
or duststorm

Moderate aircraft icing Widespread haze

Heavy aircraft icing Widespread mist

Widespread fog Widespread smoke

Hail Freezing precipitation**

* In flight documentation for flights operating up to FL 100, this symbol

refers to "line squall".

** This symbol does not refer to icing due to precipitation coming into
contact with an aircraft which is at a very low temperature.

NOTE: Height indications between which phenomena are expected,

top above base, as per chart legend.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - LOW CHARTS (BELOW FL180)

Scalloped lines = Used to demarcate significant cloud boundaries

X = position of pressure centres given in hPa

XXX
XXX = Indicates cloud base or tops which are outside the parameters
of specific SIG WX charts
 Page 11

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYMBOLS - 2

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS - SYMBOLS

Cold front at the Quasi-stationary
surface front at the surface
Cold front above Quasi-stationary front
the surface above the surface
Warm front at the Position, speed and
surface level of maximum wind
Warm front above
Convergence line
the surface
Occluded front at Intertropical
the surface convergence zone
Occluded front above
the surface Volcanic eruption

Tropopause level 270

300 Tropopause low
L
H Tropopause high Freezing level
460 0° = 090
Temperature at selected
20 Isotherm (°C) 12
points (°C)

Wind at selected points (half a barb = 5 knots,

full barb = 10 knots and a triangle 50 knots)

Zone of maximum 030

Cloud border Cloud tops
wind 005
Centre of high altitude Centre of low altitude
H of the isobaric surface L of the isobaric surface

FL 310
FL 340
The double bar denotes changes of level by 3 000 ft or less and/or
wind speeds by 37 km/h - 20 kts. In the example, at the double bar the
wind speed is 225 km/h - 120 kts.

The heavy line delineating the jet axis begins/ends at the points
where a wind speed of 150 km/h - 80 kts is forecast.

ISOL CB: Individual Cells OCNL CB: Well separated Cells FRQ CB: Little or No Separation

EMBD: Embedded in Cloud and Haze LYR: Layered Cloud NSC: No SIg Cloud NSW: No Sig Weather
 Page 12

FORECAST WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS

VISIBILITY
BR Mist FG Fog BCFG Fog patches
MIFG Shallow fog VCFG Vicinity fog PRFG Partial Fog
FU Smoke HZ Dust haze SA Dust or Sandstorm

PRECIPITATION
DZ* Drizzle RA* Rain RASH Showers
FZDZ* Freezing drizzle FZRA* Freezing rain GR* Hail
XXSH Heavy showers SN* Snow

THUNDERSTORMS
TS* Thunderstorm TSGR* Thunderstorm with hail
ISOL Isolated OCNL Occasional FRQ Frequent
EMBD Embedded LSQ Line Squall

TURBULENCE
MTW Mountain Wave TURB Turbulence WS Wind Shear

REGIONS
LOC Local MON Over mountains ESC Along escarpment
CIT Urban areas VAL In valleys HIV On Highveld
LOV Over Lowveld MAR Maritime COT Coastal

CLOUD COVER
LYR Layer FEW 1 - 2 Oktas SCT 3 - 4 Oktas
BKN 5 - 7 Oktas OVC Overcast
NOTE: Those items which are marked with an asterisk (*) may be preceded by XX, which means
HEAVY.
 15 20 25 30 35

0°=130
HA
0°=140
FA

Symbols
BR
20 + + + + + 20
0°=130

0°=110
WH 090
BKN SC
060 XXX
SCT AC 100
100 BKN SC
080
P
0° =100

25 + + + + + 25
PR NS
JS MA
KT
040
BKN SC
010 0°=070

UP L
AB KM
COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 09H00 UT 2000/04/23

BL DN
30 + + + + + 30
and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

XXX ISOL
BKN CU
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 1

030 EMBD XXX

0°=110 120 CB 070
BKN SC LYR
070
EL
FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 12H00 UT 2000/04/23
SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL

090 CT
OVC SC
020 PE
35 G 35
4000M 040 2000M
BKN SC
020
15 20 25 30 35
Page 13
 15 20 25 30 35
0° =130 0° =140

HA
FA
XXX
BKN SC LYR
050
Symbols
BR
20 + + + + + 20
0° =130
0° =110

WH

100
BKN SC P
070

25 + + + 0° = 100 + + 25
PR NS
JS MA
030
BKN ST 0° = 100
050 KT
100
BKN SC
070
1000M FREQ
XXX
UP L EMBD
080
AB KM CB
COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 09H00 UT 2001/02/02

BL DN
30 + + + + + 30
3000M 030
OVC SC
OCNL XXX 006
and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

EMBD 070
CB
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
0° =110 EL
FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 12H00 UT 2001/02/02

070
SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL

BKN SC
030 060
BKN SC
020
3000M CT
PE
35 030 35
OVC SC
008
15 20 25 30 35
Page 14
 15 20 25 30 35

0°=140

120
BKN SC HA
070
0°=160 FA

Symbols
BR
20 + + + + + 20

XXX
SCT AC
120

WH

2500M P
LOC ESC
2000M
25 + + + + + 25
5000M PR NS
025
BKN ST JS MA
007
KT 0°=140
ISOL
XXX 080
EMBD 080 BKN SC
040
CB L
UP
AB KM
COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 02H00 UT 2001/03/02

XXX
BKN AC BL DN
30 + + 100 + + 30
0°=140 +
and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

070
BKN SC 0°=110
020
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 3

4000M
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
080 EL
FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 09H00 UT 2001/03/02

BKN SC
SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL

040
080
OVC SC
007 CT
PE
35 070 35
0° =100 2000M OVC SC
020
15 20 25 30 35
Page 15
 15 E 20 E 25 E 30 E 35 E

24 310 10 -15 24 40 9 -14 24 330 8 -14 24 60 12 -13

21 292 6 -10 21 50 13 -10 21 350 6 -9 21 56 9 -8 24 15 12 -12
17 220 5 -3 17 63 15 -3 17 36 9 -2 17 50 5 -2 21 50 8 -8
15 210 5 1 15 55 12 2 15 44 9 2
20 S 13 50 15 6 13 52 8 6
15 45 2 1 17 105 6 -1
13 200 7 6 13 346 4 6
10 45 18 12 10 60 8 12 15 158 5 1
10 193 8 10 10 300 7 12
7 40 16 16 7 55 6 21 13 235 14 10
7 210 10 18 7 215 8 16 10 250 16 10
7 225 12 16
5 190 8 16
3 210 6 23
24 290 30 -18 1 155 4 25
21 280 28 -12 24 300 26 -16
17 285 27 -4 21 315 25 -12 24 350 20 -17
21 10 18 -12 24 10 16 -17 UPPER WINDS, TEMPERATURES
15 278 23 1 17 335 28 -4 24 60 8 -14
17 16 15 -4 21 17 13 -12 FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART
13 256 20 4 15 330 23 0 21 65 8 -9
25 S 10 230 14 12 15 25 13 1 17 35 8 -4 VALID : 20060304 12UTC
13 325 18 6 17 85 9 -2 BASED ON : 20060304 00UTC
7 218 10 16 13 45 10 6 15 50 5 -1 15 105 10 3
10 320 14 11 NEXT ISSUE: 20060304 18UTC
5 196 12 19 10 35 12 10 13 85 4 3 13 125 12 5
7 315 12 19
3 246 10 20 7 35 12 22 10 120 3 9 10 150 16 10
1 200 7 20 7 236 3 19 7 145 9 16
5 100 5 19
3 130 11 22
1 140 8 25
24 310 50 -21
21 310 45 -18
17 300 41 -11 24 330 46 -20 24 335 36 -20
21 325 43 -17 21 340 38 -17 24 330 20 -17 NATAL N.COAST
15 295 38 -7
13 290 36 1 17 315 40 -6 17 345 40 -6 21 325 14 -12 24 260 12 -17
30 S 10 285 32 5 15 317 36 -1 15 338 36 -1 17 320 9 -6 21 272 8 -12
7 265 27 9 13 320 40 6 13 320 28 4 15 306 5 0 17 280 5 -3
5 250 18 12 10 335 35 10 10 310 22 10 13 296 5 4 15 250 6 3
3 270 23 17 7 310 26 15 7 310 17 20 10 275 3 12 13 195 8 7
1 263 18 19 7 280 3 22 10 185 10 12
7 142 7 15
5 115 5 21
SE COAST 3 133 3 23
24 340 64 -20 24 330 52 -20 1 105 8 26
24 330 42 -21
21 330 48 -15
UPPER WINDS AND TEMPERATURES

21 330 58 -16 21 330 40 -18

17 325 52 -12 17 330 43 -7 BOXES REFER TO SPOT WINDS DEGREES
17 320 37 -6
15 320 48 -7 15 330 40 -3 TRUE AND KNOTS AT INTERSECTIONS OF
15 330 33 -1
13 315 42 -3 13 330 38 1 THE LAT/LONG LINES COVERED BY THE
13 335 30 3
35 S 10 306 33 1 10 320 35 7 BOX, TEMPERATURES DEGREES C,
10 340 27 10
7 294 25 7 7 310 30 11 HEIGHTS ABOVE MSL (THOUSANDS OF FEET)
7 350 25 16
5 280 28 13 5 290 26 13
5 355 17 19
3 285 23 14 3 295 29 15
3 5 15 24
1 255 17 18 1 275 18 19
1 8 12 26
Page 16