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4/20/23 

AIM 

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1

28.  Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) 

FIG 7

1

22 

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Front) 

Key to Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and Aviation 

Routine Weather Report (METAR) (Front) 

TAF 

KPIT 091730Z 0918/1024 15005KT 5SM HZ FEW020 WS010/31022KT 

FM091930 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015 
TEMPO 0920/0922 1/2SM +TSRA OVC008CB 
FM100100 27008KT 5SM SHRA BKN020 OVC040 
PROB30 1004/1007 1SM -RA BR 
FM101015 18005KT 6SM -SHRA OVC020 
BECMG 1013/1015 P6SM NSW SKC 

NOTE

: Users are cautioned to confirm 

DATE

 and 

TIME

 of the TAF. For example FM

10

0000 is 

0000Z on the 

10th

. Do not confuse with 

1000Z!

 

METAR

 KPIT 091955Z COR 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28L/2600FT TSRA OVC010CB 18/16 A2992 RMK 

SLP045 T01820159 

Forecast 

Explanation 

Report 

TAF 

Message type: TAF-routine or TAF AMD-amended forecast, METAR-
hourly, SPECI-special or TESTM-non-commissioned ASOS report 

METAR 

KPIT 

ICAO location indicator 

KPIT 

091730Z 

Issuance time:  ALL times in UTC “Z”, 2-digit date, 4-digit time 

091955Z 

0918/1024 

Valid period, either 24 hours or 30 hours.  The first two digits of EACH 
four digit number indicate the date of the valid period, the final two di­
gits indicate the time (valid from 18Z on the 9

th

 to 24Z on the 10

th

). 

In U.S. METAR: CORrected ob; or AUTOmated ob for automated re­
port with no human intervention; omitted when observer logs on. 

COR 

15005KT 

Wind: 3 digit true-north direction, nearest 10 degrees (or VaRiaBle); 
next 2-3 digits for speed and unit, KT (KMH or MPS); as needed, Gust 
and maximum speed; 00000KT for calm; for METAR, if direction varies 
60 degrees or more, Variability appended, e.g., 180V260 

22015G25KT 

5SM 

Prevailing visibility; in U.S., Statute Miles & fractions; above 6 miles in 
TAF Plus6SM. (Or, 4-digit minimum visibility in meters and as re­
quired, lowest value with direction) 

¾SM 

Runway Visual Range: R; 2-digit runway designator Left, Center, or 
Right as needed; “/”, Minus or Plus in U.S., 4-digit value, FeeT in U.S., 
(usually meters elsewhere); 4-digit value Variability 4-digit value (and 
tendency Down, Up or No change) 

R28L/2600FT 

HZ 

Significant present, forecast and recent weather: see table (on back) 

TSRA 

FEW020 

Cloud amount, height and type: Sky Clear 0/8, FEW >0/8-2/8, ScaTtered 
3/8-4/8, BroKeN 5/8-7/8, OverCast 8/8; 3-digit height in hundreds of ft; 
Towering Cumulus or CumulonimBus in 

METAR

; in 

TAF

, only CB. 

Vertical Visibility for obscured sky and height “VV004”. More than 1 
layer may be reported or forecast. In automated 

METAR

 reports only, 

CleaR for “clear below 12,000 feet” 

OVC 010CB 

Temperature: degrees Celsius; first 2 digits, temperature “/” last 2 digits, 
dew-point temperature; Minus for below zero, e.g., M06 

18/16 

Altimeter setting: indicator and 4 digits; in U.S., A-inches and hun­
dredths; (Q-hectoPascals, e.g., Q1013) 

A2992 

WS010/31022KT 

In U.S. 

TAF

, non-convective low-level (≤2,000 ft) Wind Shear; 3-digit 

height (hundreds of ft); “/”; 3-digit wind direction and 2-3 digit wind 
speed above the indicated height, and unit, KT 

Meteorology 

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