KACY 1545z 00000KT 11/4SM -SHSN BKN005 OVC010 M03/MO3 A2942 RMK SB30
Interpretation
Atlantic City, NJ 1545Z observation, winds calm, visibility 1 1/4 statute miles in light snow showers, the ceiling is 600 feet broken with an overcast cloud deck at 1000 feet, temperature is minus 3 degrees centigrade, dewpoint is minus 3 degrees centigrade, the altimeter is 29.42 inches of mercury, and remarks indicate that the snow began falling at 1530Z.
KBUF 1549z 35015G2T 1/4SM BLSN R31/1200FT VV003 01/MO1 A3013
Interpretation
Buffalo, NY 1549Z observation, winds are 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 27 knots with 1/4 statute mile visibility in blowing snow, runway 31 runway visual range (RVR) is only 1200 feet, and the ceiling is indefinite 300 feet, temperature is 1 edge centigrade, dewpoint is minus 1 degree centigrade, and the altimeter is 30.13 inches of mercury.
KBOS 1549z 1501T 6SM -RASN SCT004 BKN009 OVC015 02/M01 A29.49 RMK PRESFR
Interpretation
Boston, Mass 1549Z observation, wind from 150 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 6 statute miles in mixed light rain and snow, scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken ceiling at 900 feet and an overcast deck at 1500 feet, temperature is 2 degrees centigrade, dewpoint is minus 1 degree centigrade, the altimeter is 29.49 inches of mercury and remarks indicate that the pressure is falling rapidly.
KBWI 1550Z 0900T 3/4SM R10/3800FT -FZDZ PE OO80OVC M01/M01 A2990
Interpretation
Baltimore, MD 1550Z observation, winds directly out of the east at 8 knots, with only 3/4 statute mile visibility, runway 10 has a runway visual range of only 3800 feet in light freezing drizzle and ice pellets, with a ceiling of only 800 feet, temperature is minus 1 degree centigrade, a dew point of minus one degree centigrade and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury.
KLAX 231850Z VRB0T 10SM FEW023 BKN030 BKN050 11/05
A2984 RMK AO2 SLP102 T01060050
Interpretation
A2984 - Altimeter setting is 29.84 "Hg
RMK - Remarks
A02 means that the site is automated and has a precipitation sensor. If it were AO1, there would be no
precip sensor
SLP 102 - Sea level Pressure is 1010.2 hP (millibars)
T01060050 - Hourly Temperature and Dewpoint
T - Temp
0 after T signifies next three digits are temp above zero Celsius (1=below zero)
106 - temp is positive 10.6 degrees C
0 after 106 signifies next three digits are dewpoint above zero Celsius (1=below zero)
050 = dewpoint is positive 5.0 degrees C
METAR Terms Revisited
--Missing data will screw up the weather sequence. You must learn the sequence to notice this.
--Exceptions to missing data omission occur such as RVRNO OR SLPNO
--Data sequence is always 3Ws;
--Where
KOAK with K for United States plus three letter identifier
--When
23 as day of the month
1345Z as time
Written as 231345Z
--Wind
230 always as three digit TRUE direction. V used when direction varies over 60 degrees
25 two digit wind velocity
G30KT gusts and velocity and units
Five zeros for calm winds
PK WND 22025/15 means peak gust of 25 occurred 15 minutes past the hour
--Visibility
3/4 fractions of statute mile
M0600FT --M means below sensor's ability to measure
P6000FT --P means above sensor's ability to measure
R --in front gives runway number and
L-C-R --gives runway location references to other runways
--Clouds
SKC -- sky clear
FEW -- >2 2 eights clouds
SCT -- 4 eights clouds
BKN -- 7 eights clouds
OVC -- eight eights clouds
Temperature/dew point
M -- minus
15/13
Altimeter
A --mean setting in inches
Four digits in inches and hundredths. Decimal point omitted.
ASOS.AWOS METAR
--Identified by AO1 or AO2
--Only fully automated site will say AUTO
--CLR means no clouds below 12,000
SPECI -- special report
COR -- correction
AUTO -- automated observation
VRB -- when wind direction is variable below 6 knots
RMK -- when velocity over 25 knots
OVC -- Overcast
TCU -- towering cumulus
CB -- cumulonimbus
VV -- vertical visibility occasionally variable visibility
SLP -- Sea level pressure
TO -- T means temperature and O means positive
T1 -- T means temperature and 1 means minus
NSW --no significant weather
UP --unknown precipitation in automated observations
BC -- patches
PR -- partial
VC -- vicinity
WS -- wind shear
Continued on Reading Terminal Area Forecasts