Palo Alto Airport Association

SPECI for Special Report
AUTO for automated observation
COR for correction to observation

Note: When METAR data is missing from the body of the report (e.g. dew point), it is simply
omitted and the user must know the sequence to recognize this.
Some exceptions apply in remarks such as RVRNO, or SLPNO when RVR or SLP are normally reported but
not currently available.

To help remember the sequence, think of 3W's at the beginning-

Where, When, and Wind. This works for METAR as well as TAF!

METAR KPIT 201955Z 22015G25KT

Where
KPIT is the ICAO station identifier. The usual 3 letter identifiers we are all familiar with are now
preceded by a "K" for the contiguous United States. Alaska and Hawaii will use 4 letter identifiers
beginning with "PA" and "PH" respectively. Changes are planned to incorporate alphabetic identifiers
for those weather reporting stations where numbers and letters are now used (e.g., W10 to KHEF).

When
201955Z is the 20th day of the month.

201955Z at 1955Z time

Wind
220 15G25KT is reported as the 3 digit true direction to the nearest 10 degrees.
(Note: ATC towers, ATIS and airport advisory service report wind as magnetic.)
22015G25KT next is the 2 or 3 digit speed.
22015G25KT a "G" comes next if the wind is gusting.
22015G25KT followed by the 2 or 3 digit maximum speed and units (KT).
00000KT for calm winds.
22015KT 180V260 When wind direction varies 60 degrees or more and wind is greater than 6 knots.
VRB Used when wind direction is variable and speed is less than or equal to 6 knots.
RMK Peak wind is one element reported in the remarks section whenever the maximum instantaneous
speed is greater than 25 knots. 22030/15 means a maximum instantaneous wind
of 30 knots occurred 15 minutes past the hour from 220 degrees. PK WND 22030/15

Visibility
3/4SM meaning 3/4 statute mile visibility. Miles and fractions are also reported
(e.g., 2 3/4SM for 2 and 3/4 statute miles visibility).

R28R/2600FT Means Runway Visual Range (RVR). Signifies that the runway visual range
for runway 28 Right is 2600 feet.
The format is R(XXX) Runway Designator including (L)eft (C)enter or (R)ight /(XXXX)
4 digit visibility in feet.

Some coding pilots may also see for RVR include:

M Indicates that RVR is less than lowest reportable sensor value (e.g. M0600FT)
P Indicates RVR greater than highest reportable sensor value (e.g. P6000FT).
V Variable If the RVR is variable between 2000 and 4000 feet for runway 6L: (R06L/2000V4000FT).
May contain up to four RVR reports.

Significant Present Weather

TSRA: Thunderstorm/Moderate Rain Format is a two character descriptor (e.g. TS, SH, DR)
sometimes followed by a two character weather phenomenon (e.g. RA, SN, FG).
(See Abbreviations section)

Intensity or proximity of weather phenomenon:

"-" Light
"+" Heavy
"no sign" Moderate
"C" In the vicinity

Clouds
OVC010CB: Specifies cloud amount, height, and type. Overcast clouds are present at 1000 feet
consisting of cumulonimbus clouds.
Cloud height is reported in hundreds of feet. When clouds are composed of towering cumulus or
cumulonimbus TCU or CB will follow cloud height.

The clouds are categorized based on eighths (octas) of the sky:
SKC Sky Clear
FEW 1-2 octas
SCT 3-4 octas
BKN 5-7 octas
OVC 8 octas
VV may be listed here for indefinite ceiling such as "VV004" for Vertical Visibility 400 feet.

18/16 Temperature/Dew Point listed in degrees Celsius. When temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius,

they are preceded by "M" for Minus (e.g., 10/M06 for temperature 10 degrees C, dew point Minus 6 degrees C).

A2992 Altimeter Setting "A" indicates setting in inches of mercury for United States. Consists of 4 digits:
inches and hundredths.
RMK SLP013 T01760158
RMK SLP013 T01760158. Remarks come last.
RMK SLP013 T01760158. Selected stations will contain SLP for Sea Level Pressure reported as the
last three digits in hectoPascals (milibars) to the nearest tenth (e.g., 1001.3 is reported as SLP013).

RMK SLP013 T01760158. Also, at selected stations, the 9 character code (T01760158) breaks
down the temperature and dew point to the nearest 1/10th of a degree Celsius.
The "T" stands for temperature and the "0" means positive temperature. A "1" in place of
the "0" stands for negative temperature. At selected stations, other temperature codes, such as10142, 20012, or 401120084,
may appear to document temperatures not related to aviation.

PALO ALTO AIRPORT ASSOCIATION