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whichever is greater,
visibility in
Indicator Vertical
Vertical units of
highest minimum
vertical visibility
undertaken by:
appropriate by:
sector altitude,
VVhshshs
obscured and
forecasts are
Forecast height
CAVOK is not
TWO HOURS FROM TIME OF OBSERVATION
NSC
of base of cloud
Forecast cloud
amount
TREND FORECAST
of
Significant
significant
FORECAST Forecast significant
Replaced
w’w’
Weather
weather
NSW
WEATHER weather (see table)
when
ends
by:
Nil
FORECAST Forecast prevailing
VVVV
VISIBILITY visibility in metres 9999 = 10 km or more Abbreviated decode of METAR and SPECI
For details of codes, see
Wind speed units
KT or
Manual on Codes,
MPS
00000 = calm
FORECAST
dddffGfmfm
WIND
Smooth (wavelets)
Forecast mean wind direction in degrees
true, rounded to nearest 10°
a Clouds of operational significance (i.e. below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, and CB or TCU).
Calm (rippled)
Calm (glassy)
Phenomenal
Descriptive
(VRB = VaRiaBle)
Very rough
Moderate
Very high
TTGGgg
Rough
CHANGE
terms
Slight
TIME
AND
High
Can be AT or FM = FromM or TL = TilL
BECMG = BECoMinG or see Table: Aerodrome Forecast –
figure
NOSIG
Code
TTTTT
CHANGE
S'
TEMPO = TEMPOrary
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
TAF decode for definitions
or
waterspout)
whirls (dust
(tornado or
SS Sandstorm
THE RUNWAYb
Depth of deposit
DS Duststorm
PO Dust/sand
is, intensity, followed by description, followed by weather phenomena. An example could be: +SHRA
1. The w'w' groups are constructed by considering columns 1 to 5 in the table above in sequence, that
OTHER
STATE OF
cloud(s)
SQ Squalls
FC Funnel
devils)
Extent of runway contamination
3. DR (low drifting) less than 2 m above the ground, BL (blowing) 2 m or more above the ground.
Runway deposits
4. GR is used when hailstone diameter is 5 mm or more. When less than 5 mm, GS is used.
5. BR – visibility at least 1 000 m but not more than 5 000 m. FG – visibility less than 1 000 m.
Indicator of runway
WEATHER PHENOMENA
OBSCURATION
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
VA Volcanic ash
Significant wave height, in decimetres
WAVE HEIGHT
DU Widespread
SIGNIFICANT
SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE
AND
FU Smoke
4
SA Sand
HZ Haze
BR Mist
dust
FG Fog
Temperature in whole degrees Celsius
Group indicator letter
OR
snow pellets
precipitation
THE SEA
PL Ice pellets
GS Small hail
Temperature in whole degrees Celsius
UP Unknown
DZ Drizzle
and/or
3
SN Snow
Group indicator letter
GR Hail
Runway designator – for parallel runways
wind shear by:
Replaced
the aerodrome)
when all
TS Thunderstorm
(supercooled)
RUNWAY
DESCRIPTOR
DR Low drifting
SH Shower(s)
Wind Shear
FZ Freezing
BC Patches
BL Blowing
MI Shallow
PR Partial
2
WEATHER
QPHPHPHPH REw’w’
RECENT
PRESSURE
developed in
of PO and FC
(no qualifier)
INTENSITY OR
PROXIMITY
REPORT
Moderate
DEW-
AND
Ceiling And Visibility OK. Replaces visibility RVR, present weather and cloud if: (1) Visibility is 10 km or more; (2) No cumulonimbus cloud and no cloud
CAVOK
below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater; and (3) No significant present weather (see table w'w')
Cloud type — only CB (cumulonimbus) or TCU (Towering CUmulus) indicated Vertical visibility
visibility is available by
restriction on vertical
NsNsNshshshs (cc)
vertical visibility
NCD
NSC
detected by:
PRESENT
50 m STEP if 400 ≤ RVR < 800 m
w'w'
variations in RVR by
than 2 000 m, M0050 = less than 50 m Runway designator – for parallel runways may
have LL, L, C, R or RR
AERODROME
Indicator of RVR
and visibility < 1 500 m
visibility ≠ prevailing
VnVnVnVn NDV
Prevailing visibility in metres or lowest visibility if visibility is not the Abbreviation for
visibility is not the
VISIBILITY
VnVnVnVnDv
Followed when
no directional
significant if minimum visibility
group below:
variations
9999 = 10 km or more observed in more than one direction
MPS
dndndnVdxdxdx
(50 MPS) or more
in wind direction
(measured clockwise)
00000 = calm
by group below:
Followed when
SPECI
TNYYTFTF /YeYeGFGFZ)
(TXYYTFTF /YeYeGFGFZ
BY REGIONAL
AGREEMENT
TEMPERATURE
YeYeGFGF Date and time UTC to which forecast temperature refers
FORECAST
YYTFTF Date and forecast temperatures at GFGF
Temperatures below 0 °C preceded by M
Note: Meteorological offices to issue 30-h TAFs are determined by regional air navigation agreement.
DATE AND TIME
YYGGgg is the time in hours and minutes UTC. All forecast conditions before this
YYGG/YeYeGeGe
This takes the form FMYYGGgg where FM is the abbreviation for FroM and
time (UTC) YeYeGeGe of forecast period
Clouds of operational significance (i.e. below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below highest minimum
to a different set of conditions, thus indicating the beginning of another
Abbreviated decode of TAF
For details of codes, see
TTTTT
TTYYGGgg
and in aggregate less than half the period
OR
indicated by YYGG/YeYeGeGe
PROBABILITY
elements
30% or 40%
PROBability
Ceiling And Visibility OK. Replaces visibility, weather and cloud if:
–
(2) No cumulonimbus cloud and no other cloud forecast below 1 500 m (5 000 ft)
or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater, and
(3) No significant weather forecast (see Table: Aerodrome Weather Report –
FO R E CA ST
a
METAR and SPECI decode)
visibility is available by:
Vertical visibility in
Replaced when sky
NSC
OVC – OVerCast (8 oktas)
menon forecast
SIGNIFICANT
Replaced when
to end by:
Weather
FORECAST Prevailing visibility in metres
VVVV
AERODROME
00000 = calm
(P49 MPS)
(50 MPS)
dddffGfmfm
or more
Indicator of Gust
P99 KT
100 KT
f mf m =
mean
Indicator of UTC
TAF AMD or CCCC YYGGggZ