- | Light intensity (precip) |
+ | Heavy intensity (precip) |
$ | Maintenance required (ASOS) |
= | End of report |
+FC | Tornado/Water Spout |
ABT | About |
ABV | Above |
AC | Altocumulus |
ACT | Active, activated |
AER | Approach end of runway |
AFD | Airport Facility Directory |
AIP | Aeronautical Information Publication |
AIREP | Plain language form of air report |
AIREP SPECIAL | Air report of special meteorological observation |
ALQDS | All quadrants |
ALT | Altitude |
AMD | Amend, amended |
AMD | Amended Forecast (TAF) |
AO1 | Automated Observation without precipitation discriminator (rain/snow) |
AO2 | Automated Observation with precipitation discriminator (rain/snow) |
AS | Altostratus |
ASDA | Accelerate/stop distance available |
ASDE | Airport Surface Detection Equipment |
ASSW | Associated with |
BASE | Cloud base |
BA | Braking action (FAIR, POOR, NIL) |
BC | Patches |
BECMG | Becoming (expected between 2 digit beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour) |
BINOVC | Breaks in the overcast |
BKN | Broken (5-7 octas (eighths) cloud coverage) |
BL | Blowing |
BLO | Below clouds |
BLSN | Blowing snow |
BLW | Below |
BR | Mist (Fog with vis greater than 5/8 Mile) |
BRAF | Braking action fair |
BRAG | Braking action good |
BRAN | Braking action nil |
BRAP | Braking action poor |
BTL | Between layers |
BTN | Between |
BYD | Beyond |
C | Degrees Celsius |
CAT | Clear Air Turbulence |
CAVOK | Ceiling And Visibility OK. More than 1500M & 10K (5000 FT/6 SM). No CB, No Precip. |
CB | Cumulonimbus |
CC | Cirrocumulus |
CHINO [LOC] | Cloud Height Indicator at second location not available |
CI | Cirrus |
CLD | Clouds |
CLR | Clear at or below 12,000 feet (ASOS/AWOS report) |
CMSND | Commissioned |
CNS | Continuous |
COR | Correction to the observation |
COT | Coast |
CS | Cirrostratus |
CTN | Caution |
CU | Cumulus |
CUF | Cumuliform |
DCMSND | Decommissioned |
DEG | Degrees |
DMO | Dependent Meteorological office |
DP | Dewpoint |
DR | Low Drifting |
DS | Dust Storm |
DSNT | Distant |
DTRT | Deteriorate, deteriorating |
DU | Widespread Dust |
DUST | Duststorm |
DZ | Drizzle |
EXP | Expect(ed), expecting |
FBL | Light (to qualify icing, turbulence etc) |
FC | Funnel Cloud |
FEW | >0-2 octas (eighths) cloud coverage |
FG | Fog |
FL | Flight Level |
FM | From (4 digit beginning time in hours and minutes) |
FPM | Foot per minute |
FRONT | Front |
FRQ | Frequent |
FT | Feet |
FU | Smoke |
FZ | Supercooled/freezing |
FZDZ | Freezing drizzle |
FZRA | Freezing rain |
FZRANO | Freezing rain information not available |
GND | Ground |
GR | Hail |
GRADU | Gradual(ly) |
GS | Small Hail/Snow Pellets |
H | High pressure |
HAIL | Hail |
HIBAL | High Altitude Balloon |
HIWAS | Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service |
HURCN | Hurricane |
HVY | Heavy |
HZ | Haze |
IAO | In and out of clouds |
IC | Ice Crystals |
ICE | Icing |
IFR | Instrument flight rules |
IMC | Instrument meteorological conditions |
IMPR | Improve, improving |
INC | In Clouds |
INS | Inches |
INTER | Intermittent |
INTSF | Intensify(ing) |
INTST | Intensity |
JTST | Jet stream |
KM | Kilometers |
KMH | Kilometers per hour |
KT | Knots |
L | Low pressure area |
LAN | Land |
LDA | Landing distance available |
LDG | Landing |
LGT | Light |
LOC | Locally |
LSQ | Line squall |
LSR | Loose snow on runway |
LTG | Lightning |
LYR | Layer(ed) |
M | Meters |
M | Minus or below zero (temperature) |
M | Less than lowest reportable sensor value (RVR or vis e.g. M1/4SM) |
MAX | Maximum |
MB | Millibars |
MET | Meteorological, meteorology |
MI | Shallow |
MIN | Minutes |
MNM | Minimum |
MOD | Moderate (icing, turbulence etc.) |
MOV | Move, moving |
MPS | Meters per second |
MS | Minus |
MSL | Mean sea level |
MTW | Mountain waves |
MU | Runway friction coefficent |
NC | No change |
NIL | None, nothing |
NM | Nautical mile(s) |
NMRS | Numerous |
NO | Not available (e.g. SLPNO, RVRNO) |
NOSIG | No significant change |
NS | Nimbostratus |
NSC | No significant clouds |
NSW | No Significant Weather |
OBS | Observe(d), observation |
OBSC | Obscure(d), obscuring |
OCNL | Occasional(ly) |
OKTA | Eight of sky cover |
OTP | On top |
OTS | Out of service |
OVC | Overcast 8 octas (eighths) cloud coverage |
P | Greater than highest reportable sensor value (RVR or vis e.g. P6000FT) |
P6SM | Visibility greater than 6 SM (TAF only) |
PAEW | Personnel and equipment working |
PE | Ice Pellets |
PJE | Parachute Jumping Exercise |
PK WND | Peak wind |
PLW | Plow/plowed |
PNO | Precipitation amount not available |
PO | Dust/Sand Whirls |
PPR | Prior permission required |
PR | Partial |
PRESFR | Pressure falling rapidly |
PRESRR | Pressure rising rapidly |
PROB | Probability |
PROB30 | Probability 30 percent |
PS | Plus |
PSR | Packed snow on runway |
PWINO | Precipitation identifier sensor not available |
Pxxxx | In METAR RMK = xx.xx inch (water equivalent) of precipitation in previous hour |
PY | Spray |
R | Runway (in RVR measurement) |
RA | Rain |
RAB | Rain Began @ HHMM (RAB 1421) or as Min past hour (RAB 21) [METAR] |
RADAT | Radiosonde observation addl data (RADAT 87045 = 87 % RH at frzg level of 4500 MSL) |
RAE | Rain Ended @ HHMM (RAE 1433) or as Min past hour (RAE 33) [METAR] |
RAPID | Rapid(ly) |
RASN | Rain and snow |
RCAG | Remote Center Air/Ground Comm Facility |
RMK | Remark |
RVR | Runway visual range |
RVRNO | RVR not available (ASOS) |
RY/RWY | Runway |
SA | Sand |
SAND | Sandstorm |
SC | Stratocumulus |
SCSL | Stratocumulus standing lenticular cloud |
SCT | Scattered 3-4 octas (eighths) cloud coverage |
SEC | Seconds |
SEV | Severe (icing, turbulence) |
SFC | Surface |
SG | Snow Grains |
SH | Shower |
SHWR | Shower |
SIGMET | Information from MWO concerning certain meteorological phenomena |
SIR | Snow and ice on runway |
SKC | Sky Clear |
SLP | Sea Level Pressure in 3 digit MB (e.g., 1001.3 reported as 013) |
SLPNO | Sea-level pressure not available |
SLR | Slush on runway |
SLW | Slow |
SM | Statute Miles |
SMK | Smoke |
SMO | Supplementary meteorological office |
SN | Snow |
SPECI | Special Report |
SQ | Squall |
SS | Sandstorm |
SSR | Secondary Surveillance Radar |
T | Temperature |
TAF | Terminal aerodrome forecast in code |
TAPLEY | Tapley runway friction coefficient |
TAR | Terminal Area Surveillance Radar |
TAIL | Tail wind |
TCH | Threshold Crossing Height |
TCU | Towering Cumulus |
TDO | Tornado |
TDWR | Terminal Doppler Weather Radar |
TEMPO | Temporary changes expected (between 2 digit beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour) |
TEND | Trend or tending to |
TKOF | Takeoff |
TMPA | Traffic Management Program Alert |
TODA | Takeoff distance available |
TOP | Cloud top |
TORA | Takeoff run available |
TS | Thunderstorm |
TSNO | Thunderstorm/lightning detector not available (ASOS) |
TURB | Turbulence |
TWY | Taxiway |
UFN | Until further notice |
UNL | Unlimited |
UP | Unknown Precipitation (Automated Observations) |
UTC | Coordinated Universal Time (=GMT) |
V | Variable (wind direction and RVR) |
VA | Volcanic Ash |
VC | Vicinity. Not at airfield, but within 5-10 SM of center of runway complex. |
VER | Vertical |
VFR | Visual flight rules |
VGSI | Visual Glide Slope Indicator |
VIS | Visibility |
VISNO [LOC] | Visibility Indicator at second location not available |
VMS | Visual meteorological conditions |
VOLMET | Meteorological information for aircraft in flight |
VRB | Variable wind direction when speed is less than or equal to 6 knots |
VRBL | Variable |
VSP | Vertical speed |
VV | Vertical Visibility (indefinite ceiling) |
WAAS | Wide Area Augmentation System |
WDSPR | Widespread |
WEF | With effect from |
WIE | With immediate effect |
WIP | Work in progress |
WKN | Weaken(ing) |
WR | Wet runway |
WS | Wind shear (In TAFs, low level and not associated with convective activity) |
WSHFT | Wind shift at (time in minutes after the hour) |
WSP | Weather Systems Processor |
WSR | Wet snow on runway |
WST | Convective Significant Meteorological Information |
WTSPT | Waterspout |
WW | Severe Weather Watch Bulletin |
WX | Weather |