Aeronautical Meteorology Abbreviations

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FAA Abbreviations
-Light intensity (precip)
+Heavy intensity (precip)
$Maintenance required (ASOS)
=End of report
+FCTornado/Water Spout
ABTAbout
ABVAbove
ACAltocumulus
ACTActive, activated
AERApproach end of runway
AFDAirport Facility Directory
AIPAeronautical Information Publication
AIREPPlain language form of air report
AIREP SPECIALAir report of special meteorological observation
ALQDSAll quadrants
ALTAltitude
AMDAmend, amended
AMDAmended Forecast (TAF)
AO1Automated Observation without precipitation discriminator (rain/snow)
AO2Automated Observation with precipitation discriminator (rain/snow)
ASAltostratus
ASDAAccelerate/stop distance available
ASDEAirport Surface Detection Equipment
ASSWAssociated with
BASECloud base
BABraking action (FAIR, POOR, NIL)
BCPatches
BECMGBecoming (expected between 2 digit beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour)
BINOVCBreaks in the overcast
BKNBroken (5-7 octas (eighths) cloud coverage)
BLBlowing
BLOBelow clouds
BLSNBlowing snow
BLWBelow
BRMist (Fog with vis greater than 5/8 Mile)
BRAFBraking action fair
BRAGBraking action good
BRANBraking action nil
BRAPBraking action poor
BTLBetween layers
BTNBetween
BYDBeyond
CDegrees Celsius
CATClear Air Turbulence
CAVOKCeiling And Visibility OK. More than 1500M & 10K (5000 FT/6 SM). No CB, No Precip.
CBCumulonimbus
CCCirrocumulus
CHINO [LOC]Cloud Height Indicator at second location not available
CICirrus
CLDClouds
CLRClear at or below 12,000 feet (ASOS/AWOS report)
CMSNDCommissioned
CNSContinuous
CORCorrection to the observation
COTCoast
CSCirrostratus
CTNCaution
CUCumulus
CUFCumuliform
DCMSNDDecommissioned
DEGDegrees
DMODependent Meteorological office
DPDewpoint
DRLow Drifting
DSDust Storm
DSNTDistant
DTRTDeteriorate, deteriorating
DUWidespread Dust
DUSTDuststorm
DZDrizzle
EXPExpect(ed), expecting
FBLLight (to qualify icing, turbulence etc)
FCFunnel Cloud
FEW>0-2 octas (eighths) cloud coverage
FGFog
FLFlight Level
FMFrom (4 digit beginning time in hours and minutes)
FPMFoot per minute
FRONTFront
FRQFrequent
FTFeet
FUSmoke
FZSupercooled/freezing
FZDZFreezing drizzle
FZRAFreezing rain
FZRANOFreezing rain information not available
GNDGround
GRHail
GRADUGradual(ly)
GSSmall Hail/Snow Pellets
HHigh pressure
HAILHail
HIBALHigh Altitude Balloon
HIWASHazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
HURCNHurricane
HVYHeavy
HZHaze
IAOIn and out of clouds
ICIce Crystals
ICEIcing
IFRInstrument flight rules
IMCInstrument meteorological conditions
IMPRImprove, improving
INCIn Clouds
INSInches
INTERIntermittent
INTSFIntensify(ing)
INTSTIntensity
JTSTJet stream
KMKilometers
KMHKilometers per hour
KTKnots
LLow pressure area
LANLand
LDALanding distance available
LDGLanding
LGTLight
LOCLocally
LSQLine squall
LSRLoose snow on runway
LTGLightning
LYRLayer(ed)
MMeters
MMinus or below zero (temperature)
MLess than lowest reportable sensor value (RVR or vis e.g. M1/4SM)
MAXMaximum
MBMillibars
METMeteorological, meteorology
MIShallow
MINMinutes
MNMMinimum
MODModerate (icing, turbulence etc.)
MOVMove, moving
MPSMeters per second
MSMinus
MSLMean sea level
MTWMountain waves
MURunway friction coefficent
NCNo change
NILNone, nothing
NMNautical mile(s)
NMRSNumerous
NONot available (e.g. SLPNO, RVRNO)
NOSIGNo significant change
NSNimbostratus
NSCNo significant clouds
NSWNo Significant Weather
OBSObserve(d), observation
OBSCObscure(d), obscuring
OCNLOccasional(ly)
OKTAEight of sky cover
OTPOn top
OTSOut of service
OVCOvercast 8 octas (eighths) cloud coverage
PGreater than highest reportable sensor value (RVR or vis e.g. P6000FT)
P6SMVisibility greater than 6 SM (TAF only)
PAEWPersonnel and equipment working
PEIce Pellets
PJEParachute Jumping Exercise
PK WNDPeak wind
PLWPlow/plowed
PNOPrecipitation amount not available
PODust/Sand Whirls
PPRPrior permission required
PRPartial
PRESFRPressure falling rapidly
PRESRRPressure rising rapidly
PROBProbability
PROB30Probability 30 percent
PSPlus
PSRPacked snow on runway
PWINOPrecipitation identifier sensor not available
PxxxxIn METAR RMK = xx.xx inch (water equivalent) of precipitation in previous hour
PYSpray
RRunway (in RVR measurement)
RARain
RABRain Began @ HHMM (RAB 1421) or as Min past hour (RAB 21) [METAR]
RADATRadiosonde observation addl data (RADAT 87045 = 87 % RH at frzg level of 4500 MSL)
RAERain Ended @ HHMM (RAE 1433) or as Min past hour (RAE 33) [METAR]
RAPIDRapid(ly)
RASNRain and snow
RCAGRemote Center Air/Ground Comm Facility
RMKRemark
RVRRunway visual range
RVRNORVR not available (ASOS)
RY/RWYRunway
SASand
SANDSandstorm
SCStratocumulus
SCSLStratocumulus standing lenticular cloud
SCTScattered 3-4 octas (eighths) cloud coverage
SECSeconds
SEVSevere (icing, turbulence)
SFCSurface
SGSnow Grains
SHShower
SHWRShower
SIGMETInformation from MWO concerning certain meteorological phenomena
SIRSnow and ice on runway
SKCSky Clear
SLPSea Level Pressure in 3 digit MB (e.g., 1001.3 reported as 013)
SLPNOSea-level pressure not available
SLRSlush on runway
SLWSlow
SMStatute Miles
SMKSmoke
SMOSupplementary meteorological office
SNSnow
SPECISpecial Report
SQSquall
SSSandstorm
SSRSecondary Surveillance Radar
TTemperature
TAFTerminal aerodrome forecast in code
TAPLEYTapley runway friction coefficient
TARTerminal Area Surveillance Radar
TAILTail wind
TCHThreshold Crossing Height
TCUTowering Cumulus
TDOTornado
TDWRTerminal Doppler Weather Radar
TEMPOTemporary changes expected (between 2 digit beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour)
TENDTrend or tending to
TKOFTakeoff
TMPATraffic Management Program Alert
TODATakeoff distance available
TOPCloud top
TORATakeoff run available
TSThunderstorm
TSNOThunderstorm/lightning detector not available (ASOS)
TURBTurbulence
TWYTaxiway
UFNUntil further notice
UNLUnlimited
UPUnknown Precipitation (Automated Observations)
UTCCoordinated Universal Time (=GMT)
VVariable (wind direction and RVR)
VAVolcanic Ash
VCVicinity. Not at airfield, but within 5-10 SM of center of runway complex.
VERVertical
VFRVisual flight rules
VGSIVisual Glide Slope Indicator
VISVisibility
VISNO [LOC]Visibility Indicator at second location not available
VMSVisual meteorological conditions
VOLMETMeteorological information for aircraft in flight
VRBVariable wind direction when speed is less than or equal to 6 knots
VRBLVariable
VSPVertical speed
VVVertical Visibility (indefinite ceiling)
WAASWide Area Augmentation System
WDSPRWidespread
WEFWith effect from
WIEWith immediate effect
WIPWork in progress
WKNWeaken(ing)
WRWet runway
WSWind shear (In TAFs, low level and not associated with convective activity)
WSHFTWind shift at (time in minutes after the hour)
WSPWeather Systems Processor
WSRWet snow on runway
WSTConvective Significant Meteorological Information
WTSPTWaterspout
WWSevere Weather Watch Bulletin
WXWeather