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Met codes for reporting GEOFF SMITH & LOUIS BOKOR The changes: Gone are the eighths (OKTAS)
which measure cloud amount in
and forecasting cloud INCE J ULY OF THIS YEAR , SOME METAR/SPECI, TTF and TAF. They are now
have changed, bringing
Australia into line with
international practice.
S critical changes to the way of reporting
and forecasting cloud have occurred
which affect cloud codes.
replaced with cloud amount descriptors.(The
cloud amount descriptors used in the
abbreviated, plain language, low-level area
The changes implement the international forecast conform to the same standard.)
standard adopted by the International Civil The descriptive terms now used for cloud
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World amounts are:
Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1993. • SKC (sky clear) = no cloud.
Use of the standard in Australia has been • FEW (few) = 1 to 2 OKTAS.
endorsed by CASA after an analysis of the • SCT (scattered) = 3 to 4 OKTAS.
potential impact showed there would be no • BKN (broken) = 5 to 7 OKTAS.
resulting penalty to operators. • OVC (overcast) = 8 OKTAS.
The result for international pilots is close to (If appropriate CAVOK is used.)
world-wide uniformity in coded versions of Minimum conditions: To find out below
actual and forecast weather. The format also minimum conditions, the amounts of fore-
removes unnecessary detail on cloud types.
cast cloud layers below the minima must be
looked at cumulatively as follows:
• FEW plus FEW is equivalent to SCT (4/8ths or
less)
• FEW plus SCT is equivalent to BKN (more
than 4/8ths)
• SCT plus SCT is equivalent to BKN or OVC
(more than 6/8ths)
Observations: In METAR/SPECI:
• Cloud amounts are in ICAO standard
descriptors.
• Only towering Cumulus (TCU) and Cumu-
lonimbus (CB) cloud types are identified.
For TTF METAR/SPECI:
• Cloud amounts are in ICAO standard
descriptors.
RAINFALL INTENSITY: WHAT THE REPORTED RATES MEAN • Of the observed cloud reported, only
INTENSITY RATE OF FALL PAST 10 MINUTES VISUAL APPROXIMATION towering Cumulus (TCU) and Cumu-
lonimbus (CB) cloud types are identified.
SLIGHT up to 2mm/hr 00.2mm Individual drops easily identifiable, • The statement of trend appended to the
wets dry surface slowly, puddles form observation uses ICAO descriptors for cloud.
very slowly, small streams may flow in
Only forecast CB cloud type is identified.
gutters and down pipes.
In TAF, cloud is forecast using ICAO descrip-
MODERATE 2.2 – 6mm/hr 00.4 – 1mm Individual drops not clearly identifiable, tors for cloud amount. Again, the only fore-
puddles form rapidly, some spray visible cast cloud type identified is CB.
over hard surfaces. Rainfall in METAR/SPECI: At aerodromes
HEAVY 6.2 – 50mm/hr 1 – 8.2mm Rain seemingly falls in sheets, misty spray where there is an automatic weather station
visible over hard surfaces, down pipes and (AWS), METARs and SPECIs will usually include
gutters flow strongly, may make a roaring a rainfall group. This will be included in the
noise on roofs. message in the form “RMK RF00.0/000.0”
For example:
VIOLENT >50mm/hr >8.4mm Gutters and down pipes overflowing,
spray to a height of several centimetres TTF SPECI YSSY 1200Z 18010KT 9999 FEW006
over hard surfaces, may cause a loud BKN010 OVC100 21/21 Q1006 RMK
roaring noise on roofs. RF00.0/002.8
TEMPO 1200/1500 3000 DZ SCT004 BKN008
Note: Rainfall intensity is defined by the World Meteorological Organization. It may not reflect local Explanation: The TTF SPECI YSSY 1200Z
subjective assessment
contains the group “RMK RF00.0/002.8”
Test yourself on the a) Only reported below minima at 0100Z Conditions at Canberra are forecast to be
and forecast to immediately improve to above below alternate minima:
new cloud codes minium conditions. a) Between 0800Z and 2000Z.
(Lowest alternate minimum at YMAY 2011ft, b) Reported to be below alternate minima b) Between 0800Z and 1100Z and for periods
YSCB 1912FT) and forecast to continue for 3 hours from not exceeding 30 minutes from 1800Z TO
1) SPECI YMAY 2100Z VRB03KT 8000 0100Z. 2000Z.
2000E NOSIG WX FEW002 SCT008 08/07 c) Not reported or forecast to be below c) Only between 0800Z and 1100Z.
Q1028 RMK FOG TO EAST minima. d) Only between 0800Z and 1800Z.
Conditions at Albury at 2100Z are: 3) TAF YSCB 270648 Z 0820 02010 KT e) Between 0800Z and 1800Z and for periods
a) Below alternate minima. 5000 LIGHT RAIN BKN 008 OVC 100 not exceeding 30 minutes from 1800Z TO
b) Not below alternate minima. FM 11 16015 8000 RAIN SHOWERS 2000Z.
2) TTF SPECI YSCB 0100Z 36015KT 9999 FEW008 SCT015 BKN030 FM18 22010KT
FEW005 SCT015 10/08 Q1008 NOSIG 9999 FEW 010 SCT 030 INTER 1820 8000 Answers:
Conditions at Canberra at 0100Z are: RAIN SHOWERS FEW 008 SCT 015 1) a 2) b 3) e