AAvviiaattiioonn WWeeaatthheerr DDeeccooddee CCaarrdd

UTC Conversion Table SIGMET METAR AND SPECI SIGMETs provide information on observed or forecast hazardous A METAR is a routine meteorological report, compiled manually, provided for a UTC EST CST WST weather conditions. specific aerodrome. Issue Times As required A METAR AUTO is a routine meteorological report provided by an automatic weather 0000 1000 0930 0800 Validity Four hours, reviewed after three hours or station (AWS) provided for a specific aerodrome. when further information available. A SPECI is a METAR issued outside of the routine issue time of a METAR. 0100 1100 1030 0900 Heights Feet AMSL up to 10,000; flight levels from Issue Times are issued at fixed times, hourly or half hourly FL100 Heights Feet above aerodrome level 0200 1200 1130 1000 Area North and south of 30oS in Brisbane FIR and Within 8km of the aerodrome reference point. o 0300 1300 1230 1100 west and east of 130 E in Melbourne FIR Area When the term VC is used it applies to the area between 8 and 16 km from the aerodrome reference point. 0400 1400 1330 1200 Speed Knots ARFOR Wind Area forecasts are forecasts for a specific region. They are intended Direction Degrees True 0500 1500 1430 1300 for use for domestic IFR and VFR flights below 10,000. Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000 Issue Times Various depending on area. Daylight hours Above 9999 metres – in kilometres, eg 20KM 0600 1600 1530 1400 forecast published as early as practical in the Visibility Visibililty variation shown by adding the direction eg 2000NE – 0700 1700 1630 1500 morning. visibility variation not reported in METAR AUTO. Validity Routinely 12 hours but may vary. CAVOK and 9999 may be used 0800 1800 1730 1600 Heights Feet AMSL Type CB, TCU Cloud Area Defined areas as specified on the Planning Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC 0900 1900 1830 1700 Chart Australia (PCA) Temperature Degrees Celcius Speed Knots 1000 2000 1930 1800 Wind Direction Degrees True ATIS and Take-off and Landing Reports Type AS, AC, NS, SC, ST, TCU,CB 1100 2100 2030 1900 Cloud ATIS is a continuous plain language broadcast of the current conditions of an Amount SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC aerodrome. It is broadcast on a discrete frequency. 1200 2200 2130 2000 Temperature Degrees Celcius Take-off and landing reports are available at locations where CA/GRS or UNICOM is

1300 2300 2230 2100 provided. TAF and TTF Issue Times Continuously during operating hours 1400 0000 2330 2200 A TAF is an aerodrome forecast provided for a specific aerodrome, Heights Feet above aerodrome level presented in code. Area Within 8km of the aerodrome reference point. 1500 0100 0030 2300 A TTF is a forecast, valid for two hours, attached to the end of a Setting Hectopascals METAR or SPECI stating any significant changes from those Temperature Degrees Celcius 1600 0200 0130 0000 described. While the TTF is valid it supersedes the aerodrome TAF. Cloud if Type CB, TCU Issue Times Major aerodromes 00, 06, 12, 18 Z significant or 1700 0300 0230 0100 Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC Validity 12, 18 or 24 hours depending on location. below 5,000 feet 1800 0400 0330 0200 Heights Feet above aerodrome level Speed Knots Wind Area Within 5 NM of the aerodrome reference. Direction Degrees Magnetic 1900 0500 0430 0300 Speed Knots Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000 Wind Direction Degrees True Visibility Above 9999 metres – Greater than 10 KM 2000 0600 0530 0400 Up to 9999 metres – in metres, eg 6000 CAVOK may be used 2100 0700 0630 0500 Visibility Above 9999 metres – in kilometres, eg 20KM When Cumulonimbus cloud (CB) is included in meteorological information this implies that there CAVOK and 9999 may be used may be associated thunderstorms and the occurrence of severe icing, turbulence and hail. 2200 0800 0730 0600 Type CB Cloud Version 1.1 17th January 2010 © Steve Griffin Amount NSC, SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC http://www.brisbanehotairballooning.com.au 2300 0900 0830 0700 Temperature Degrees Celcius AAvviiaattiioonn WWeeaatthheerr DDeeccooddee CCaarrdd

//* Weather is clear or current DS Dust storm AUTO meteorological report SH Shower weather is not detectable DU Dust MI Shallow SIG Significant ///* Cloud is detected, no CB / TCU DZ Drizzle MOD Moderate SIGMET Significnat meteorological identified EMBD Embedded MOV Moving information - Light SKC Sky Clear FC Funnel Cloud MS Minus (Blank Moderate (when included before a SN Snow space) weather phenomenon) FCST Forecast MTW Mountain waves SPECI Aerodrome special meteorological + Heavy FEW Few (1 -2 oktas) NC No change report 9999 Visibility 10 km or greater FG Fog (visibility less than 1000 metres) NCD No cloud detected (METAR AUTO SQ Squall Only) ABT About FIR Flight information region SS Sandstorm NDV No directional variation available AC Altocumulus FL (METAR AUTO only) ST Stratus AGL Above ground level FM From NM Nautical miles STNR Stationary AIP Aeronautical Information Package FRQ Frequent NOSIG No significant change T Temperature in degrees celcius AIREP Air report – from aircraft in flight FU Smoke NOTAM Notice to airmen TAF Aerodrome forecast AMD Amended FZ Freezing NS Nimbostratus TC Tropical cyclone AMSL Above mean FZL Freezing level NSC No significant cloud TCU Towering cumulus ARFOR Area forecast G Gusts NSW No significnat weather TEMPO Temporarily (30 – 60 minutes AS Altostratus GOOD Visibility greater than 10km over the OBSC Obscured duration) entire forecast area TIL Until ATIS Automatic terminal information OCNL Occasional service GR Hail (5mm or more) TL Till OVC Overcast (8 oktas) ATS Air traffic services GS Hail (smaller than 5 mm) TREND Trend forecast PIREP AWIB Automatic weather information HVY Heavy TS Thunderstorm service PL Ice pellets HZ Haze TURB Turbulence AWS Automatic weather station PO Dust devils IC Ice crystals UTC Coordinated universal time BC Patches PR Partially covered with fog ICAO International Civil Aviation V Variations from mean wind BECMG Becoming PROB Probability Organisation direction BKN Broken (5-7 oktas) ICE Icing PROV Provisional VA Volcanic Ash BL Blowing IFR PS Plus VC Vicinity of aerodrome (within 10 BR Mist IMC Instrument meteorological QNH Altimeter sub-scale setting NM) BWR Basic weather report conditions RA Rain VFR Visual flight rules INTER Intermittently (less than 30 minutes CAT Clear air turbulence RE Recent VMC Visual meteorological conditions duration) VRB Variable CAVOK Cloud and visibility OK ISOL Isolated RMK Remark WKN Weakening CB Cumulonimbus KM Kilometres RVR Runway visual range WDSPR Widespread CLD Cloud KT Knots SA Sand WS Windshear CNL Cancelled LYR Layer SC Stratocumulus WX Weather COR Corrected M Metres SCT Scattered (3-4 oktas) Z Coordinated universal time CU Cumulus METAR Aerodrome routine meteorological SEV Severe DP Dew point temperature report SFC Surface DR Drifting METAR Automatic aerodrome SG Snow grains