Meteorology Manual

METEOROLOGY MANUAL

PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE

FOR EXAMINATION PURPOSES ONLY

Please! Do not mark or damage this manual in any way

SOUTH AFRICAN

CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE

METEOROLOGY MANUAL

CONTENTS

PAGE 1. Synoptic Symbols 2. Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 1 3. Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 2 4 Present Weather Synoptic Symbols - 3 5. Synoptic Weather Station Models - 1 6. Synoptic Weather Station Models - 1 7. Significant Present Weather 8. TAF - Aerodrome Forecast 9. METAR’s - Aerodrome Actuals 10. Significant Weather Symbols - 1 11. Significant Weather Symbols - 2 12. Forecast Weather Abbreviations 13. Significant Weather Chart - 1 14. Significant Weather Chart - 2 15. Significant Weather Chart - 3 16. Upper Winds and Temperatures Page 1

SYNOPTIC SYMBOLS

LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH CLOUD

MEDIUM CLOUD CL LOW CLOUD CM CH HIGH CLOUD

Cu Small cumulus As Thin Ci Strands, not increasing

Cu Moderate or large As Thick or Ns Ci Dense Cumulus Cb Cumulonimbus Ci Dense, anvil shaped Ac Thin at one level without anvil from Cb Sc formed by the Ac Thin patches at more Ci Hooked, increasing spreading out of Cu than one level amounts Ac In bands and in Ci and/or Cs, below 45°, Sc Stratocumulus increasing amounts thickening Ac Formed from Ci and/or Cs above 45° St Stratus spreading Cu thickening Ac Layered or with Fs Fractus stratus Cs Covering entire sky As and/or Ns Cu and Sc with bases at Ac Castellanus Cs Not increasing different levels Ac Several layers in a Cb With anvil Cc Cirrocumulus chaotic sky

TOTAL CLOUD COVER

HEIGHT IN FEET SKY COVERAGE HEIGHT IN FEET SKY COVERAGE h (Rounded off) (Total amount) (Rounded off) (Total amount) 0 0 - 149 No Clouds 5 2 000 - 3 499 Five oktas 1 150 - 299 One okta or less 6 3 500 - 4 999 Six oktas Seven oktas or more 300 - 599 Two oktas 2 7 5 000 - 6 499 but not overcast 3 600 - 999 Three oktas 8 6 500 - 7 999 Completely overcast 8 000 or more 1 000 - 1 999 Four oktas Sky obscured 4 9 or no clouds Page 2

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 1

a PRESSURE TENDENCY - PREVIOUS 3 HOURS Code Code Number Meaning Number Meaning 0 Rising, then falling. 1 Rising, then steady. 2 Rising steadily. 3 Falling then rising, 4 Steady. 5 Falling, then rising. 6 Falling, then steady. 7 Falling steadily. 8 Rising, then falling.

PAST WEATHER

Duststorm/Sandstorm Storm of drifting snow

Fog Drizzle

Rain Snow

Shower (s) Thunderstorms

Hail

VV VISIBILITY CODE 00 to 50 = metres x 100 (e.g. 03 = 300 m)

56 to 80 = subtract 50, visibility in km (e.g. 58=8km)

81 to 89 = subtract 80, then multiply by 5 and add 30 (e.g. 83 - 80=3x5=15+30=45km) Page 3

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 2

ww PRESENT WEATHER

Smoke Haze Widespread dust in suspension

Fog, no change in Duststorm or Sandstorm Mist last hour Fog, thinned Fog, thickened Fog within sight in last hour in last hour Fog, sky visible, Fog, sky visible,no Fog patches thinned in last hour change in last hour Fog, sky visible, Drizzle, intermittent Drizzle, continuous thickened in last hour Slight Slight Drizzle, intermittent Drizzle, continuous Drizzle, intermittent Moderate Moderate Heavy Drizzle, continuous Rain, intermittent Rain, continuous Heavy Slight Slight Rain, intermittent Rain, continuous Rain, intermittent Moderate Moderate Heavy Rain, continuous Rain and drizzle, Drizzle and rain, Heavy slight heavy Slight drizzle, Heavy drizzle, Slight rain, freezing freezing freezing Heavy rain, Snow, intermittent Snow, continuous freezing Slight Slight Snow, intermittent Snow, continuous Snow, intermittent Moderate Moderate Heavy Snow, continuous Rain, shower (s) Rain, shower (s) Heavy Slight Heavy Showers of rain Showers of rain Snow showers and snow - Slight and snow - Heavy Slight Snow showers Showers of hail Showers of hail Heavy Slight Heavy Lightning visible, but Ice pellets Thunderstorm, ()no precipitation no thunder heard Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with rain - Slight rain - Heavy hail - Slight Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with Thunderstorm with hail - Heavy snow -Slight snow - Heavy Page 4

PRESENT WEATHER SYNPOTIC SYMBOLS - 3

SURFACE WIND

Calm 20 kt

5kt 25 kt

10 kt 50 kt

15 kt 65 kt

ww PRESENT WEATHER

Weather during the past hour Drizzle in the last hour and not at the time of observation

Rain in the last hour Snow in the last hour

Rain and snow in the last hour Freezing rain or drizzle in the last hour Showers of rain Showers of snow in the last hour in the last hour Showers of hail Fog in the last hour in the last hour

Thunderstorm in the last hour Page 5

SYNOPTIC WEATHER STATION MODELS - 1

STATION 1 STATION 2

25 220 21 140 30 15 50 10 75 16 4 2 3

STATION 3 STATION 4

28 280 23 200 80 13 60 12 2 45 4

STATION 5 STATION 6

20 150 25 200

02 30 28 15 5 01 8 3 1

STATION 7 STATION 8

10 160 22 230 01 08 60 10 10 31 8 Page 6

SYNOPTIC WEATHER STATION MODELS - 2

STATION 9 STATION 10

30 170 18 170

80 15 35 10 12 8 -5 9 4

STATION 11 STATION 12

15 160 31 195 40 20 ( ( 75 10

12 7 84 4 5

STATION 13 STATION 14

17 230 30 220 02 15 35 10 15 05 6 2

STATION 15 STATION 16

27 180 06 120 75 15 20 17

12 5 28 2 1 Page 7

SIGNIFICANT PRESENT WEATHER

QUALIFIER WEATHER PHENOMENA INTENSITY OF DESCRIPTOR PRECIPITATION OBSCURATION OTHER PROXIMITY 12 3 4 5

LightMI Shallow DZ Drizzle BR Mist PO Well-developed dust/sand whirls

MODERATEBC Patches RA Rain FG Fog SQ Squalls (no qualifier)

DRDrifting SN Snow FU Smoke FC Funnel cloud (tornado or waterspout) + Heavy BLBlowing SG Snow grains VA Volcanic ash [well-developed in the case of SHShower(s) IC Diamond dust DU Widespread SS Sandstorm dust/sand whirls (Ice crystal) dust (dust devils) and TSThunderstorm PE Ice pellets SA Sand DS Duststorm funnel clouds]

FZSupercooled GR Hail HZ Haze

VC In the PRPartial GS Small hail and/or vicinity covering part of snow pellets the aerodrome

The significant present and forecast weather groups are constructed by considering columns 1 to 5 in the table above in sequence, that is intensity, followed by description, followed by weather phenomena.

An example could be: +SHRA (heavy shower (s) of rain). Page 8

TAF (Aerodrome Forecasts) WESTERN CAPE FACT 200600Z 200718 21010KT 9999 BKN035 FM0900 21020G30KT 9999 FEW035 TX28/12ZTN19/07Z= FAGG 200600Z 200718 25015KT 5000 -RA OVC015 TEMPO 1018 2000 +RA OVC008 TX18/12ZTN14/18Z= EASTERN CAPE FAEL 200600Z 200718 25015G25KT 9999 SCT030 SCT040 TEMPO 0710 5000 -RA BKN015 BKN025 BECMG 0809 240G30KT TX20/12ZTN16/18Z= FAPE 200600Z 200718 21015KT 9000 HZ SCT010 BKN020 PROB30 TEMPO 0710 4000 -DZRA BKN008 BECMG 1113 9999 SCT015 BKN035 PROB30 TEMPO 1618 BKN015 TX26/12ZTN22/18Z= FAUT 200600Z 200718 24008KT 9999 OVC008 TEMPO 5000 RA OVC005 TX19/12ZTN15/18Z= KWAZULU-NATAL FADN 200600Z 200718 04007KT CAVOK BECMG 0810 04012KT TEMPO 1518 SCT018 BECMG 1618 14012KT TX34/11ZTN27/18Z= FAPM 200600Z 200718 03010KT 9999 FEW015 SCT025 TEMPO 1618 5000 TSRA BKN012 SCT040CB TX32/12ZTN23/18Z= NORTHERN CAPE FAKM 200600Z 200718 20005KT CAVOK TX21/13ZTN14/18Z= FAUP 200600Z 200718 20005KT CAVOK TX22/13ZTN16/18Z= FREESTATE FABL 200600Z 200718 350107KT CAVOK BECMG 0911 9999 SCT050 PROB40 TEMPO 1218 5000 TSRA FEW055CB TX34/13ZTN20/07Z= NORTH WEST PROVINCE FAMM 200600Z 200718 23010KT CAVOK TX29/12ZTN15/18Z= FAPN 200600Z 200718 32006KT 9999 SCT040 BECMG 1618 21010KT CAVOK TX34/12ZTN25/18Z= GAUTENG FAJS FAJS 200600Z 200718 06008KT CAVOK BECMG 0709 06012KT TX31/12ZTN23/07Z= FAWB 200600Z 200718 29010KT 9999 SCT045 BECMG 1618 23010KT CAVOK TX33/12ZTN27/18Z= MPUMALANGA FAKN 200600Z 200718 06007KT 9999 SCT035 BECMG 1113 FEW035CB SCT040 TEMPO 1318 5000 TSRA BKN040 TX32/12ZTN24/18Z= FAEO 200600Z 200718 34010KT 9999 BKN020 BECMG 1012 FEW035CB SCT040 PROB40 TEMPO 1218 5000 TSRA BKN050 TX29/12ZTN18/18Z= Page 9

METAR (Aerodrome Actuals) WESTERN CAPE FACT 200700Z 16016KT 9999 SCT030 21/11 Q1022 NOSIG= FAGG 200700Z 00000KT 1000 VCFG FEW000 BKN025 16/15 Q1022= FALW 200700Z AUTO 16009KT //// // ////// 21/10 Q1020= EASTERN CAPE FAEL 200700Z 25007KT 9999 FEW020 SCT100 21/13 Q1012= FAPE 200700Z 30022G33KT 9999 SCT019 BKN040 19/13 Q1008 NOSIG= FAUT 200700Z 06002KT 9999 FEW008 BKN015 19/16 Q1015= KWAZULU-NATAL FADN 200700Z 10010KT 9999 FEW018 27/23 Q1010 NOSIG= FARB 200700Z 36008KT 9999 SCT025 32/21 Q1010= NORTHERN CAPE FAUP 200700Z 21005KT CAVOK 21/M01 Q1019= FAKM 200700Z 27004KT 9999 FEW045 17/05 Q1021= FREESTATE FABL 200700Z 24005KT 200V270 9999 FEW020 17/06 Q1021 NOSIG= FABM 200700Z 28005KT 9999 BKN012 22/16 Q1020= NORTH WEST PROVINCE FAMM 200700Z 21005KT 9999 FEW030 24/M00 Q1019= FAPN 200700Z 00000KT CAVOK 31/14 Q1016= GAUTENG FAJS 200730Z 02008KT 350V070 CAVOK 26/M02 Q1025 NOSIG= FALA 200730Z 06011KT 9999 BKN018 20/16 Q1023= FAGM 200730Z 07010KT 6000BR+ BKN050 OVC020 16/15 Q1025= MPUMALANGA FAKN 200700Z 09006KT 9999 FEW030 27/14 Q1019= FAEO 200700Z 33007KT 9999 BKN020 SCT100 22/13 Q1021= LIMPOPO PROVINCE FAPP 200700Z 35005KT 9999 FEW040 29/13 Q1017= FAHS 200700Z AUTO 08004KT //// // ////// 29/17 Q1013= Page 10

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYMBOLS - 1

SYMBOLS FOR SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS

Thunderstorms Drizzle

Tropical cyclone Rain

v v Severe line squall* Snow

Moderate turbulence Shower

Severe turbulence Widespread blowing snow

Mountain waves Severe sand or dust haze

Widespread sandstorm Slight aircraft icing or duststorm

Moderate aircraft icing Widespread haze

Heavy aircraft icing Widespread mist

Widespread fog Widespread smoke

Hail Freezing precipitation**

* In flight documentation for flights operating up to FL 100, this symbol refers to "line squall".

** This symbol does not refer to icing due to precipitation coming into contact with an aircraft which is at a very low temperature.

NOTE: Height indications between which phenomena are expected, top above base, as per chart legend.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - LOW CHARTS (BELOW FL180)

Scalloped lines = Used to demarcate significant cloud boundaries

X = position of pressure centres given in hPa

XXX XXX = Indicates cloud base or tops which are outside the parameters of specific SIG WX charts Page 11

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYMBOLS - 2

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS - SYMBOLS

Cold front at the Quasi-stationary surface front at the surface Cold front above Quasi-stationary front the surface above the surface Warm front at the Position, speed and surface level of maximum wind Warm front above Convergence line the surface Occluded front at Intertropical the surface convergence zone Occluded front above the surface Volcanic eruption 270 Tropopause level Tropopause low 300 L H Tropopause high 460 0° = 090 Freezing level

Temperature at selected 20 Isotherm (°C) 12 points (°C)

Wind at selected points (half a barb = 5 knots, full barb = 10 knots and a triangle 50 knots)

Zone of maximum 030 Cloud border Cloud tops wind 005 Centre of high altitude Centre of low altitude H of the isobaric surface L of the isobaric surface

FL 310 FL 340 The double bar denotes changes of level by 3 000 ft or less and/or wind speeds by 37 km/h - 20 kts. In the example, at the double bar the wind speed is 225 km/h - 120 kts.

The heavy line delineating the jet axis begins/ends at the points where a wind speed of 150 km/h - 80 kts is forecast.

ISOL CB: Individual Cells OCNL CB : Well separated Cells FRQ CB : Little or No Separation

EMBD: Embedded in Cloud and Haze LYR : Layered Cloud NSC : No SIg Cloud NSW : No Sig Weather Page 12

FORECAST WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS

VISIBILITY BR Mist FG Fog BCFG Fog patches MIFG Shallow fog VCFG Vicinity fog PRFG Partial Fog FU Smoke HZ Dust haze SA Dust or Sandstorm PRECIPITATION DZ* Drizzle RA* Rain RASH Showers FZDZ* Freezing drizzle FZRA* Freezing rain GR* Hail XXSH Heavy showers SN* Snow THUNDERSTORMS TS* Thunderstorm TSGR* Thunderstorm with hail ISOL Isolated OCNL Occasional FRQ Frequent EMBD Embedded LSQ Line Squall TURBULENCE MTW Mountain Wave TURB Turbulence WS Wind Shear REGIONS LOC Local MON Over mountains ESC Along escarpment CIT Urban areas VAL In valleys HIV On Highveld LOV Over Lowveld MAR Maritime COT Coastal CLOUD COVER LYR Layer FEW 1 - 2 Oktas SCT 3 - 4 Oktas BKN 5 - 7 Oktas OVC Overcast NOTE: Those items which are marked with an asterisk (*) may be preceded by XX, which means HEAVY. Page 13

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 1

SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 12H00 UT 2000/04/23 COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 09H00 UT 2000/04/23 Symbols and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

100 080

BKN SC

+ + +

0 =140

0 =110

070

XXX

ISOL EMBD

+ +

XXX 100

SCT AC

0 =100

120 070

2000M

BKN SC L

+ +

0 =070

020

040

BKN SC

0 =110

090 060

0 =130

BKN SC

+ +

020

090

4000M

030

XXX

0 =130

OVC SC

BKN CU

010

040

BKN SC

20 Page 14

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 2

SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 12H00 UT 2001/02/02 COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 09H00 UT 2001/02/02 Symbols and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

TION

070

100

ADDITIONAL INFORMA

+ + +

BKN SC

XXX 080

0° =140

030 006

FREQ EMBD

OVC SC

020

060

3000M

+ +

BKN SC

0° =110

0° = 100

XXX 050

BKN SC L

070

100

+ +

BKN SC

0° = 100

0° =130

XXX 070

OCNL EMBD

0° =110

+ +

008

030

3000M

070

030

OVC SC

0° =130

BKN SC

050

030

1000M

BKN ST

20 Page 15

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - CHART 3

SIGNIFICANT WX LOW (MSL - FL180) All heights above MSL FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHART VALID - 09H00 UT 2001/03/02 COMPILED BY GS. - ISSUED AT 02H00 UT 2001/03/02 Symbols and CB imply moderate or severe turbulence, icing and hail.

TION

ADDITIONAL INFORMA

+ + +

040

080

BKN SC

0 =140

2000M

LOC ESC

+ +

120 070

BKN SC

0 =140

5000M

+ +

020

070

0 =140

OVC SC

040

080

100

XXX

BKN SC

BKN AC

120

XXX

0 =110

SCT AC

+ +

080

XXX

4000M

070

020

ISOL EMBD

0 =160

2000M

BKN SC

007

080

0 =100

OVC SC

007

025

2500M

BKN ST

20 Page 16

UPPER WINDS AND TEMPERATURES

TURES

T INTERSECTIONS OF

O SPOT WINDS DEGREES

TURES DEGREES C,

UPPER WINDS, TEMPERA FIXED TIME PROGNOSTIC CHAR VALID : 20060304 12UTC BASED ON : 20060304 00UTC NEXT ISSUE: 20060304 18UTC

T/LONG LINES COVERED BY THE

35 E

122

7 225 12 16 5 190 8 16 3 210 6 23 1 155 4 25

BOXES REFER T TRUE AND KNOTS A THE LA BOX, TEMPERA HEIGHTS ABOVE MSL (THOUSANDS OF FEET)

24 15 12 -12 21 50 8 -8 17 105 6 -1 15 158 5 1 13 235 14 10 10 250 16 10

7 145 9 16 5 100 5 19 3 130 1 1 140 8 25

24 60 8 -14 21 65 8 -9 17 85 9 -2 15 105 10 3 13 125 12 5 10 150 16 10

7 142 7 15 5 115 5 21 3 133 3 23 1 105 8 26

NATAL N.COAST

24 260 12 -17 21 272 8 -12 17 280 5 -3 15 250 6 3 13 195 8 7 10 185 10 12

30 E

7215816

24 60 12 -13 21 56 9 -8 17 50 5 -2 15 45 2 1 13 346 4 6 10 300 7 12

7236319

24 10 16 -17 21 17 13 -12 17 35 8 -4 15 50 5 -1 13 85 4 3 10 120 3 9

7 280 3 22

24 330 20 -17 21 325 14 -12 17 320 9 -6 15 306 5 0 13 296 5 4 10 275 3 12

SE COAST

7 350 25 16 5 355 17 19 3 5 15 24 1 8 12 26

24 330 42 -21 21 330 40 -18 17 320 37 -6 15 330 33 -1 13 335 30 3 10 340 27 10

25 E

755621

24 330 8 -14 21 350 6 -9 17 36 9 -2 15 44 9 2 13 52 8 6 10 60 8 12

7351222

24 350 20 -17 21 10 18 -12 17 16 15 -4 15 25 13 1 13 45 10 6 10 35 12 10

7 310 17 20

24 335 36 -20 21 340 38 -17 17 345 40 -6 15 338 36 -1 13 320 28 4 10 310 22 10

7 310 30 1 5 290 26 13 3 295 29 15 1 275 18 19

24 330 52 -20 21 330 48 -15 17 330 43 -7 15 330 40 -3 13 330 38 1 10 320 35 7

20 E

7401616

24 40 9 -14 21 50 13 -10 17 63 15 -3 15 55 12 2 13 50 15 6 10 45 18 12

7 315 12 19

7 310 26 15

24 300 26 -16 21 315 25 -12 17 335 28 -4 15 330 23 0 13 325 18 6 10 320 14 1

24 330 46 -20 21 325 43 -17 17 315 40 -6 15 317 36 -1 13 320 40 6 10 335 35 10

7 294 25 7 5 280 28 13 3 285 23 14 1 255 17 18

24 340 64 -20 21 330 58 -16 17 325 52 -12 15 320 48 -7 13 315 42 -3 10 306 33 1

15 E

7 210 10 18

7 265 27 9 5 250 18 12 3 270 23 17 1 263 18 19

24 310 10 -15 21 292 6 -10 17 220 5 -3 15 210 5 1 13 200 7 6 10 193 8 10

7 218 10 16 5 196 12 19 3 246 10 20 1 200 7 20

24 310 50 -21 21 310 45 -18 17 300 41 -1 15 295 38 -7 13 290 36 1 10 285 32 5

24 290 30 -18 21 280 28 -12 17 285 27 -4 15 278 23 1 13 256 20 4 10 230 14 12

25 S

20 S

35 S

30 S