METAR

METAR is a standardized message in short form, which reflects the weather observation of a single airfield.

Originally METAR was the abbreviation for double message d'observation météorologique régulière pour l'aviation or aviation météorologique régulière. In English, the formulations METeorological Aerodrome Report, Aviation Routine Weather Report Meteorological Aviation Routine Weather or report are common.

A METAR contains in any case, the ICAO code of the airport, has created this METAR, and the time of observation. In addition, wind direction, visibility, temperature, air pressure, cloud formation and other information may be included.

Basic structure of a METAR report

The METARs can be queried on the NOAA website. An example METAR looks like this:

The individual groups have the following meaning:

• EDDS = Airport Identifier, here Stuttgart Airport
• 081620Z = time of observation ( 08 of the month at 16:20 UTC, ie 17:20 CET or 18:20 GMT )
• 29010KT = wind direction relative to true north (290 °, ie NW ) and wind speed (10 kn)
• 9999 = visibility on the ground in m (here 10 km or more ) → Not to be confused with runway visual range (RVR )!
• FEW040TCU = Cloudiness: Strength (FEW = 1 through 2/8 ), height of cloud base ( 4,000 feet above ground level) and type of cloudiness ( eg TCU = towering cumulus )
• 09/M03 = temperature ( 9 ° C) and dew point ( M represents a negative value, that -3 ° C)
• Q1012 = QNH of 1012 hPa, so the air pressure prevailing at the place according to the standard atmosphere at sea level is reduced 1012 hPa
• NOSIG = ("no significant change" ) forecast for the next two hours

Validity

METAR reports of civilian German airfields are updated every 30 minutes ( each 20 minutes and 50 minutes past the hour and can be heard as part of the ATIS, eg at 13.20 and 13.50 clock clock, etc. ) and have a valid one hour. There are differences between German and international METAR updates and their validity. More details can be found in the relevant literature.

Wind information

View

The ground visibility is four digits in meters:

From a perspective of 5 km, the sight is only given in 1000 m increments, the visibilities are given always rounded.

This information is not specific direction! If the visibilities for the slopes are given ( Runway Visual Range = RVR, with visibilities below 1500m ), using, for example the following group: R27L/1200U, ie there on runway 27L a visibility of 1200m and rising ( upward ).

With a clear view and clear weather conditions is reported instead of the vision values ​​and clouds also CAVOK ( ceiling and visibility OK). The following conditions must be met: - the predominant minimum visibility of 10 km or more - no clouds below 5000 ft or below the highest minimum sector altitude - no CB / TCU - no weather phenomenon ( see table: weather).

Special weather phenomena

If necessary, specific weather phenomena are reported according to the following rules:

INTENSITY OR PROXIMITY (Intensity or nearby)

• Light
• Weak
• Weakness

• Moderate (see note 2)
• Moderately
• Modéré

• Heavy
• Strongly
• Forte

• In the Vicinity (see note 4)
• Close
• Au voisinage

• Recent
• Recently
• Récent

• Shallow
• Flat
• Mince

• Partial
• In places
• Partiel

• Patches
• Single swath
• Bancs

• Low Drifting
• Sweeping

• Blowing
• Impulsive
• Chasse élevée

• Shower ( s )
• Shower
• Averse

• Thunderstorm
• Storm
• Orage

• Freezing
• Icing
• Surfondu

• Drizzle
• Drizzle
• Bruine

• Rain
• Rain
• Pluie

• Snow
• Snow
• Neige

• Snow Grains
• Snow grains
• Neige en grains

• Ice Crystals
• Ice needles
• Poudrin de glace

• Ice pellets
• Ice bodies
• Granules de glace

• Hail
• Hail
• Grêle

• Small Hail and / or Snow Pellets
• Frost / freezing sleet
• Grésil

• Unknown Precipitation
• Undefined precipitation
• Averse inconnu

• Manure
• Humid haze
• Brume

• Fog
• Fog
• Brouillard

• Smoke
• Smoke
• Fumée

• Volcanic Ash
• Volcanic ash
• Cendres volcaniques

• Widespread Dust
• Widespread dust
• Poussière généralisée

• Sand
• Sand
• Sable

• Haze
• Dry cooker
• Brume sèche

• Spray
• Mist / spray
• Fumée d' eau

• Well- Developed Dust / Sand Whirls
• Dust and sand vortex
• Tourbillon de sable

• Squall
• Gusts
• Grains

• Funnel Cloud Tornado Waterspout (see note 3)
• Trombe / wind pants (with water: FC )
• Trombe terrestre ou marine

• Sandstorm
• Sandstorm
• Tempête de sable

• DustStorm
• Dust Storm
• Tempête de poussière

In Germany: Within 8 km, but not at the airfield

Cloudiness

The height of the cloud base is transmitted in feet above ground. The cloudiness is coded as follows:

Other common abbreviations for the cloudiness state are:

• No clouds below 5000 feet above ground or, if it is higher, below the Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA )
• No CB / TCU
• Visibility over 10 km
• No significant weather phenomenon

The cloud type can be added as required:

Air pressure

The air pressure is always stated with four digits. As a unit either hPa or inHg hundredths is used.

Color Code

Military stations usually use at the end of a color code or color called State in which the main cloud base and the horizontal visibility is included:

The code BLACK means that the airfield for reasons other than the visibility and cloud ceiling is not usable. He precedes the actual color code.

Trend

Other weather reports

In addition to the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast METAR exists (TAF ) that contains weather forecasts for major aerodromes or the General Aviation Forecast ( GAFOR ).