National Weather Service
METAR/TAF Information
KEY to AERODROME FORECAST (TAF) and
AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT
(METAR) 
TAF KPIT 091730Z 091818 15005KT 5SM HZ FEW020 WS010/31022KT     FM1930 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015 TEMPO 2022 1/2SM +TSRA      OVC008CB     FM0100 27008KT 5SM SHRA BKN020 0VC040 PROB40 0407 1SM -RA BR     FM1015 18005KT 6SM -SHRA OVC020 BECMG 1315 P6SM NSW SKC     METAR KPIT 091955Z COR 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28L/2600FT TSRA OVC010CB18/16 A2992 RMK SLP045 T01820159
Forecast Explanation Report 
TAF
 
Message type: TAF-routine or TAFAMD-amended forecast, METAR-hourly,SPECI-special or TESTM-non-commissionedASOS report
 
METAR
 
KPIT
 
ICAO location indicator
 
KPIT
 
091730Z
 
Issuance time: ALL times in UTC "Z",2-digit date, 4-digit time
 
091955Z
 
091818
 
Valid period: 2-digit date,2-digit beginning,2-digit ending times
  
  
In U.S. METAR: CORrected ob; orAUTOmated ob for automatedreport with no human intervention;omitted when observer logs on
 
COR
 
15005KT
 
Wind: 3 digit true-north direction,nearest 10 degrees (or VaRiaBle);next 2-3 digits for speed and unit,KT (KMH or MPS); as needed,Gust and maximum speed; 00000KT for calm;for METAR, if direction varies60 degrees or more, Variability appended,e.g. 180V260
 
22015G25KT
 
5SM
 
Prevailing visibility: in U.S., StatuteMiles & fractions; above 6 miles in TAFPlus6SM. (Or, 4-digit minimum visibilityin meters and as required, lowest valuewith direction)
 
3/4SM
  
Runway Visual Range: R; 2-digit runway designatorLeft, Center, or Right as needed;"/"; Minus or Plus in U.S,4-digit value, FeeT in U.S.(usually meters elsewhere);4-digit value Varialbility 4-digit value(and tendency Down, Up or No change)
 
R28L/2600FT
 
HZ
 
Significant present, forecast andrecent weather: see table(below)
 
TSRA
 
FEW020
 
Cloud amount, height and type: SKyClear 0/8, FEW >0/8-2/8,SCaTtered 3/8-4/8, BroKeN 5/8-7/8,OVerCast 8/8; 3-digit height in hundreds of ft;Towering CUmulus or CumulonimBus inMETAR; in TAF, only CB.Vertical Visibility for obscured sky andheight "VV004". More than 1 layer may be reportedor forecast. In automated METAR reports only, CLeaRfor "clear below 12,000 feet"
 
OVC010CB
  
Temperature: degrees Celsius; first 2 digits,temperature "/" last 2 digits, dew-point temperature;Minus for below zero, e.g., M06
 
18/16
  
Altimeter setting: indicator and 4 digits; in U.S.,A-inches and hundredths; (Q-hectoPascals, e.g. Q1013)
 
A2992
 
WS010/31022KT
 
In U.S. TAF, non-convective low-level(<=2,000 ft)Wind Shear; 3-digit height (hundreds of ft);"/", 3-digit wind direction and 2-3 digit wind speedabove the indicated height, and unit, KT
  
  
In METAR, ReMarK indicator& remarks. For example:Sea-Level Pressure inhectoPascals & tenths, as shown: 1004.5 hPa;Temp/dew-point in tenths °C, as shown:temp 18.2°C, dew-point 15.9°C
 
RMKSLP045T01820159
 
FM1930
 
FroM and 2-digit hour and 2-digitminute beginning time: indicates significant change.Each FM starts on a new line, indented 5 spaces.
   
TEMPO 2022
 
TEMPOrary: changes expected for < 1 hour and intotal, < half of 2-digit hour beginning and2-digit hour ending time period
   
PROB40 0407
 
PROBability and 2-digit percent (30 or 40): probablecondition during 2-digit hour beginning and2-digit hour ending time period
   
BECMG 1315
 
BECoMinG: change expected during 2-digithour beginning and 2-digit hour endingtime period
  

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

QUALIFIERIntensity or Proximity   - Light              "no sign" Moderate   + Heavy   VC Vicinity: but not at aerodrome;                in U.S. METAR, between 5 and 10SM of the point(s) of observation;                in U.S. TAF, 5 to 10SM from center of runway complex                (elsewhere within 8000m)Descriptor   MI Shallow           BC Patches           PR Partial          TS Thunderstorm   BL Blowing           SH Showers           DR Drifting         FZ FreezingWEATHER PHENOMENAPrecipitation   DZ Drizzle           RA Rain              SN Snow             SG Snow grains   IC Ice crystals      PL Ice pellets       GR Hail             GS Small hail/snow pellets   UP Unknown precipitation in automated observationsObscuration   BR Mist(>= 5/8SM)    FG Fog(< 5/8SM)      FU Smoke            VA Volcanic Ash   SA Sand              HZ Haze              PY Spray            DU Widespread dustOther   SQ Squall            SS Sandstorm         DS Duststorm        PO Well developed   FC Funnel cloud      +FC tornado/waterspout                      dust/sand whirls
November 1998UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Weather ServiceNOAA/PA 96052
Page Maintained by Howard Diamond