OLD STYLE FORMAT (before 12/6/98)
NEW STYLE FORMAT (after 12/7/98)
METAR (used after 02/01/99)
Weather Conditions/Prec. Indicator
Other

OLD STYLE (used up to 12/6/98)

212155z 03701G01KT 55/44 A3002 BKN RMK PRSS:S RF:0.30"

the ob breaks down like this: 212155z=date:21st day of the month time:2155z(Universal Time) 037O1G01KT=wind direction:037º(NNE) 03G09KT:3 knots gust to 9 knots (1 knot=1.152mph) 55/44=temperature/dew point in Fº A3002=30.02" (barometric pressure) BKN=Sky Coverage (CLR=Clear SCT=Partly Cloudy BKN=Mostly Cloudy OVC=Cloudy X=Obsured) RMK=Remarks PRSS:S=Pressure Rate of Change(S=Steady SF=Slowly Falling SR=Slowly Rising FF=Falling Fast RR=Rising Rapidly) RF:0.30"=Todays Rainfall

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NEW STYLE{Modified METAR} (used after 12/6/98)

071147z 16500KT FG X 57/54 A3014 RMK SLP0170 T05740538 PRSS:S RF:0.00" Sky:100%

the ob breaks down like this: 071147z=date:7th day of the month time:1147z(Universal Time) 16501KT=wind direction 165º(SSE) 03KT=3 knots 00KT=CALM (1 knot =1.15mph) FG=Fog (See Weather Conditions Below) OVC=Sky Coverage (CLR=Clear SCT=Partly Cloudy BKN=Mostly Cloudy OVC=Cloudy X=Obsured) 57/57=temperature/dew point in Fº A3014=30.14" (barometer pressure) RMK=Remarks SLP0170=Sea Level Pressure is 1017.0 mb(this will always = the barometer pressure because my readings are taken @ sea level) T05740538=Temperature/Dew Point with decimal points;057.4ºF 053.8ºF PRSS:S=Pressure Rate of Change(S=Steady SF=Slowly Falling SR=Slowly Rising FF=Falling Fast RR=Rising Rapidly) RF:0.00"=Todays Rainfall Total

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METAR (used after 02/01/99)

040200z 21100KT +TSRA OVC 20/19 A3011 RMK SLP200(197) PRSS:SR T01960189 70000 10213 20196 58020

the ob breaks down like this: 040200z=date:4th day of the month: 0200z(Universal Time) 21000KT=wind direction 210º(SSW) 05KT=5 knots 00KT=CALM (1 knot=1.15mph) +TSRA=Heavy Thunderstorm (See Weather Conditons Below) OVC=Sky Coverage (SKC=Clear FEW=Few Clouds SCT=Partly Cloudy BKN=Mostly Cloudy OVC=Cloudy X=Obsured) 20/19=temperature/dew point in Cº A3011=30.11" (barometer pressure) RMK=Remarks SLP200(197)=Sea Level Pressure 200=1020.0 mb{Rounded from Weather Station} (197)=1019.7 mb{real reading} PRSS:SR=Pressure Rate of Change(S=Steady SF=Slowly Falling SR=Slowly Rising)(during the hour) T01960189=Temperature/Dew Point with decimal points in Cº;019.6ºC 018.9ºC 70000=Rainfall in Past 24 hr 10213=6 hour maximum temp.;021.3ºC *starting 2/5/99 will be only every six hours @ 0000z 0600z 1200z 1800z* 20196=6 hour minimum temp.;019.6ºC *starting 2/5/99 will be only every six hours @ 0000z 0600z 1200z 1800z* 58020=3 hour pressure rate of change (See Pressure Rate of Change)

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Other METAR Codes

10SM=10 statue miles of visiblity FEW025=low level clouds @ 2,500 ft SCT100=mid level cloudys @ 10,000 ft BKN200=high clouds @ 20,000 ft OVC250=really high clouds @ 25,000 ft P0012=Rainfall in the past hour;00.12" 0000=Trace *only used if rainfall occured in the past hour* 60018=Rainfall in the past 3 or 6 hours;00.18" 0000=Trace *used every six hours @ 0000z 0600z 1200z 1800z when rain occurs & every three hours @ 0300z 0900z 1500z 2100z when rain occurs* 98660=Daily sunshine that occured in minutes;660 min PRESRR or PRESRF=Pressure Rapidly Rising or Rapidly Falling.. used when 0.06" of change in an 1-2 hrs ONCL LTGICCG OHD;FRQ LTG VC or LTG DSNT W Occasional Lightning IC(In-cloud) CG(Cloud-ground); Frequent Lightning in Vicinity or Lightning Distant West *see Type and Frequency of Lightning Below* PK WND 28045/15=Peak Wind occurring @ 280º of 45 Knots(1 knot=1.15 mph) / occured @ 15 minutes past the hour

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Weather Conditions

MI=Shallow (clouds)BC=Patches (clouds)PR=Partial (clouds)TS=ThunderstormBL=Blowing
SH=ShowersDR=DriftingFZ=Freezing(Rain)DZ=DrizzleRA=Rain
SN=SnowSG=Snow GrainsIC=Ice CrystalsPL=Ice PelletsGR=Hail
GS=Small Hail/snow pelletsUP=Unknown PrecipitationBR=MistFG=FogFU=Smoke
VA=Volcanic AshSA=SandHZ=HazePY=SprayDU=Widespread Dust
SQ=SquallSS=SandstormDS=Dust StormPO=Well developed dust/sand whirlFC=Funnel Cloud
FC=Funnel Cloud+FC=tornado/waterspoutBLANK=No Weather Conditons

Precipation Indication

"-""no sign""+"
LightModerateHeavy

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Type of Lightning
Type
Contraction
Definition
Cloud-ground
CG
Lightning occuring between cloud and ground.

Other:

3 hr RF:0.08"=Rainfall Total for the Past 3 hours6 hr RF:0.50"=Rainfall Total for the Past 6 hours
6 hr H&L: 75.1/44.2=
High/Low Temps for the past 6 hours
24 hr H&L: 49.9/30.2=
High/Low Temps for the past 24 hours
RFRate:0.16"/hr=Current Rainfall RateWC: 40F:Wind Chill Factor
Sky:40%=The sky is 40% coveredHTY:83F=Yesterday's high temp.
HYL:55F=Yesterday's low temp.H/L:Today's High/Low Temps.
HUM:HumidityPK WIND 280/18KT=Peak Wind 280º(W) of 18 knots
(1 kt = 1.152 mph)

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