Below is a short explanation and couple of examples to help you decode the SNOWTAM.

For further information about SNOWTAM, please refer to AIP Norway section AD 1.2

Bear in mind that measuring friction values is not an exact science and conditions can change
rapidly. This is especially true with temperatures around 0°C. Always use your own
judgement and remember to check your limits for operations on contaminated runways.

SNOWTAM is the message formular used to describe conditions on runway(s), taxiways and
apron. SNOWTAM will be issued when the runway(s) is/are contaminated and is valid 24
hours. A new SNOWTAM will be issued if significant changes occur. If no SNOWTAM is in
force, it will not appear on the briefing.

Each airport has its own SNOWTAM series which is numbered consecutively throughout the
year, starting with 0001.

The SNOWTAM consists mainly of codes, below are an example from ENHF (Hammerfest).
Each field in the SNOWTAM form is identified by a letter, clicking on them will direct you
to an explanation on that particular part of the SNOWTAM.

SWEN0393 ENHF 04200243

(SNOWTAM 0393
A) ENHF
B) 04200243 C) 05
F) 48/7/47 G) 02/XX/03 H) 5/5/5
N) 47
R) 47
T) RWY SANDED)

This is SNOWTAM number 393 for ENHF – Hammerfest issued 20th of April at 0243 UTC.
Figures are given from threshold runway 05 and the runway is split into three equal sections.
The first part is covered with two millimeters of dry snow on top of compact or rolled snow,
the second (middle) part is icy, and the third part covered with three millimeters of dry snow
on top of ice. Friction is estimated to be good on all three parts. The taxiways (Field N) and
apron (Field R) are covered with dry snow on top of ice.

Note that for aerodromes with two or more runways the items B) through H) are repeated.

SWEN

SWEN is the code for SNOWTAM originating in Norway, the four-digit number stating the
sequence number for the respective airport.

Back

Field A

The four-letter ICAO code for the airport

Back

Field B

Date and time in Month-Day-Hour-Minute format using UTC time

Back

Field C

Runway number. A SNOWTAM will always tell you the condtions of a runway seen from
the end with the lower designator, for example if the runway orientation is 03/21, then the
conditions for RWY 03 will be in the SNOWTAM.

Back

Field F

Deposits on each third of the runway, always starting from the threshold with the lowest
runway number. The following number codes are used to describe conditions:

NIL: Clear and dry

1: Damp
2: Wet or water patches
3: Rime (normally less than 1 mm deep)
4: Dry snow
5: Wet snow
6: Slush
7: Ice
8: Compact or rolled snow
9: Frozen ruts or ridges.

Back

Field G

Average depth of contamination, in millimeters, for each third of the runway. If the depth is
irrelevant or can not be measured, the letters XX are used.

Back

Field H

This field indicates the braking action, the friction on the runway. Again the runway is
divided into three parts, and the numbers are the mean values for each third. The braking
action may be determined by measuring equipment, or estimated. Whatever method only
estimated friction will be published, using a single digit as shown below.
Estimated friction:

5: Good
4: Medium/good
3: Medium
2: Medium/poor
1: Poor

Back

Field N

Contamination on taxiway(s), using the same codes as for the runway. Conditions are
reported for the taxiway(s) as a whole, they are not split into three sections.

Back

Field R

Contamination on apron(s), using the same codes as for the runway.

Back

Field T

Free text field where additional information can be added. If this field is left blank it will not
appear on the SNOWTAM.