The below abbreviations defined by quotation marks are examples of how METAR elements are spoken. The numerical values are an arbitrary choice in creating each example. Simply substitute the numbers contained in the METAR/TAF element you are translating and use the same words contained in the example.
$ indicates maintenance needed on ASOS system, 44
- light intensity, 25
+ heavy intensity, 25
/ indicator that visual data follows;
/ separator between temperature and dew point data, 14, 32
00000KT calm wind [wind speed less than one knot], 19, 51
A2985 "altimeter two niner eight five", 34
ACC altocumulus castellanus, 30, 42
ACFT MSHP aircraft mishap, 16, 42
ACSL altocumulus standing lenticular cloud, 30, 42
AO1 automated station without precipitation discriminator, 18, 37
AO2 automated station with precipitation discriminator, 18, 37
ALP airport location point, 39
AMD TAF AMD - Amended forecast, 48
APRNT apparent
APRX approximately
ASOS automated surface observing system
AUTO fully automated report, no human backup, 8
B began, 39, 40
BC patches [spoken as "patchy", a descriptor], 25
BCFG patchy fog [patches of fog], 25
BECMG "a gradual change" [in forecast conditions, see page 54, 55 for a complete explanation]
BKN broken [5/8 to 7/8 sky cover], 29, 31
BKN000 between 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky is obscured [spoken as "broken clouds less than five zero"]10, 28, 41
BKN030 "ceiling three thousand broken", 29, 31
BKN040CB "ceiling four thousand broken, cumulonimbus", 29, 30
BKN050TCU "ceiling five thousand broken, towering cumulus", 29, 30
BKN030 V OVC "broken layer at three thousand variable to overcast", (V) 31, 41
BL blowing [a descriptor], 25, 27
BLDU blowing dust, 25
BLPY blowing spray, 25
BLSA blowing sand, 25
BLSN blowing snow, 25, 27
BR mist [visibility 5/8SM to 6SM], 10, 25, 27
BR HZ mist haze [visibility is 5/8 SM or more], 9, 10, 25, 27
C center [referring to runway designation]
CA cloud to air lightning, 38, 39
CAVOK ceiling and visibility OK [not used in U.S.]
CB cumulonimbus cloud, 29-30, 42, 52
CBMAM cumulonimbus mammatus cloud, 30, 42
CB S MOV E "cumulonimbus South moving East", 29, 30, 42
CC cloud to cloud lightning, 38, 39
CCSL cirrocumulus standing lenticular cloud, 30, 42
CCSL OVR MT E "standing lenticular cirrocumulus over the mountain[s] East", 30, 42
CG cloud to ground lightning, 38, 39
CHI cloud height indicator
CHINO sky condition at secondary location not available, 43, 44
CIG ceiling, 8, 29
CIG 004V008 "ceiling variable between four hundred and eight hundred", 8, 29
CIG 010 RY20 "ceiling one thousand at runway two zero", 38
CLR clear [0 or 0 below 12,000 feet sky cover], 29
CONS continuous [lightning-more than 6 flashes/minute], 38, 39
COR correction to a previously disseminated observation/forecast, 18, 48
DR low drifting [a descriptor], 10, 25
DRDU low drifting dust less than 6 ft high, 10, 25
DRSA low drifting sand less than 6 ft high, 10, 25
DRSN low drifting snow less than 6 ft high, 10, 25
DS duststorm, 25
DSIPTG dissipating
DSNT distant, 36
DU widespread dust, 13, 25
DVR dispatch visual range
DZ drizzle, 8, 25, 27
DZB drizzle began, (B) 39, 40
DZE drizzle ended, (E) 39, 40
E East or ended, 39, 40
FC funnel cloud, 9, 25, 37
+FC tornado or waterspout, 13, 25, 37
FEW few clouds [> 0 but £ 2/8 sky cover], 9, 29
FEW000 from 0 to 2/8 of the sky is obscured [spoken as "few clouds less than five zero"], 10, 28, 41
FEW040 "few clouds at four thousand", 29
FEW050CB "few clouds at five thousand, cumulonimbus", (CB) 29, 30
FEW060TCU "few clouds at six thousand. towering cumulus", (TCU) 29, 30
FG fog [visibility less than 5/8 statute mile], 9, 25, 29
FG BKN000 "fog obscuring five to seven-eights of the sky", 28
FG FEW000 "fog obscuring zero to two-eights of the sky", 28
FG SCT000 "fog obscuring three to four-eights of the sky", 28
FIBI filed but impractical to transmit
FM "after" - [a rapid change in forecast conditions see page 54 for a complete explanation]
FRQ frequent [lightning-about 1 to 6 flashes/minute], 38, 39
FROPA frontal passage, 20, 37, 38
FT feet
FU smoke, 12, 25
FU SCT010 "scattered layer of smoke aloft at one thousand", 25, 41
FZ freezing [a descriptor], 25
FZDZ freezing drizzle, 9, 25, 27
FZDZB freezing drizzle began, 25, (B) 39, 40
FZDZE freezing drizzle ended, 25, (E) 39, 40
FZFG freezing fog [ice fog], 9, 25
FZRA freezing rain, 9, 25
FZRAB freezing rain began, 25, (B) 39, 40
FZRAE freezing rain ended, 25, (E) 39, 40
FZRANO freezing rain sensor not available, 43
G gust, 9, 19, 50, 51
GR hail, 9, 25, 40
GRB hail began, (B) 39, 40
GRE hail ended, (E) 39, 40
GR 1 1/2 "hailstones one and one-half inches in diameter", 40
GS small hail and/or snow pellets, 12, 25, 40
GSB small hail or snow pellets began, (B) 39, 40
GSE small hail or snow pellets ended, (E) 39, 40
HLSTO hailstone
HZ haze, 9, 25, 27
IC ice crystals or in-cloud lightning, 10, 38, 39
INCRG increasing
INTMT intermittent
KT knot[s], 19, 50, 51
L left [referring to runway designation]
LTG lightning, 38, 39
LWR lower
M minus, less than, 23, 24, 32
M1/4SM "visibility less than one quarter", 22
M10/M12 "temperature minus one zero, dew point dew point minus one two", 32
M15/ "temperature minus one five, dew point missing", 32
M1000FT "R-V-R less than one thousand", 23
max maximum
METAR routine weather report provided at fixed intervals, 14-16
MI shallow [a descriptor], 11, 25
MIFG shallow fog, 12, 27
min minimum
MOV moved/moving/movement, 40
MT mountains
N North
N/A not applicable
NCDC National Climatic Data Center
NE Northeast
NIL part-time TAF not issued yet, See 49 for a complete explanation
NIL AMD SKED AFT [closing time]Z appears at end of part-time TAF, See 49 for a complete explanation
NOSPECI no SPECI reports are taken at this station, 43
NSW no significant weather [be sure to read about this!], 45, 51
NW Northwest
00000KT "wind calm", 19, 50, 51
OCNL occasional [lightning-less than 1 flash/minute], 38, 39
OHD overhead, 30, 40
OVC overcast [8/8 sky cover], 10, 29, 31
OVC008 "ceiling eight hundred overcast", 29, 31
OVC020CB "ceiling two thousand overcast, cumulonimbus", (CB) 29, 30
OVC010TCU "ceiling one thousand overcast, towering cumulus", (TCU) 29, 30
P "more than" indicated greater than the highest reportable value, 23, 24
P6SM "visibility more than six" [statute miles], 51
P6000FT "more than six thousand" [RVR], 23, 24
PCPN precipitation
PK WND peak wind, 11, 20
PK WND 27050/25 "peak wind two seven zero at five zero occurred at two five past the hour", 20
PK WND 32045/1735 "peak wind three two zero at four five occurred at one seven three five", 20
PL ice pellets, 10, 25
PLB ice pellets began, (B) 39, 40
PLE ice pellets ended, (E) 39, 40
PNO precipitation amount not available, 43
PO dust/sand whirls [dust devils], 25
PR partial [a descriptor], 10, 25
PRFG partial fog, 10, 25
PRES pressure
PRESFR pressure falling rapidly, 11, 34, 42
PRESRR pressure rising rapidly, 11, 34, 42
PROB30 "slight chance" [10% to 29% probability], 53
PROB40 "chance" [30% to 50% probability, see page 53 for a full explanation]
PWINO precipitation identifier sensor not available, 43
PY spray, 12, 25
R right [referring to runway designation]
RA rain, 25, 26, 27
+RA heavy rain, 26, 27
-RA light rain, 25, 26, 27
RAB rain began, (B) 39, 40
RAE rain ended, (E) 39, 40
RA FG rain, fog, (RA FG) 25, 27, (FG) 9
RAPL rain, ice pellets, 10, 25
RASNDZ rain, snow, drizzle, 25, 26, 27
RTD Routine Delayed [late] forecast, 48
RV reportable value
RVR Runway Visual Range, 11, 23, 24
RVRNO RVR system values not available, 23, 43
RY runway
S South
SA sand, 11, 25
SCSL stratocumulus standing lenticular cloud, 12
SCT scattered [3/8 to 4/8 sky cover], 11, 29, 30
SCT000 between 3/8 & 4/8 of the sky is obscured [spoken as "scattered clouds less than five zero"],10, 28,
41
SCT V BKN "scattered layer variable to broken", 41
SCT010 V BKN "scattered layer at one thousand variable to broken", (V) 31, 41
SCT035 "three thousand five hundred scattered", 11, 29, 30
SE Southeast
SFC surface
SFC VIS 1 "surface visibility one", 21, 38
SG snow grains, 12, 25
SGB snow grains began, (B) 39, 40
SGE snow grains ended, (E) 39, 40
SH shower[s][a descriptor], 12, 25
SHGR hail showers, (SH) 12, 15, (GR) 9
SHGS small hail shower or snow pellet showers, (SH) 12, 25, (GS) 12
SHPL ice pellet showers, (SH) 12, 25, (PE) 10
SHRA rain showers, (SH) 12, 25, (RA) 25, 26
SHSN snow showers, (SH) 12, 25, (SN) 12, 25
SKC sky clear [reported by manual stations], 29
SLP sea-level pressure, 11, 34, 42
SLP142 "sea-level pressure one zero one four point two hectopascals",
(SLP) 11, 34
SLPNO sea-level pressure not available, 34, 42
SM statute miles, 21, 51
SN snow, 12, 25, 27
+SN heavy snow, 12, 25, 27
-SN light snow, 12, 25, 27
SNB snow began, (B) 39,40
SNE snow ended, (E) 39, 40
SNGS snow, snow pellets (SN) 12, 25, (GS) 12, 40
SNINCR snow increasing rapidly, 25
SPECI an unscheduled weather report when certain criteria have been met, 15, 16, 22, 24, 31
SQ squall[s], 12, 25, 26
SS sandstorm, 11, 25
STN station
SW Southwest
TAF Routine Aviation Terminal Forecast, 45, 47, 48
TCU towering cumulus, 29, 30, 42
TCU OHD "towering cumulus overhead", 29, 30, 42
TEMPO an "occasional" condition in a forecast [see page 55 for a complete explanation]
TS thunderstorm [implies showery precipitation, if occurring,
a descriptor]12, 25, 26, 27
TSB thunderstorm began, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (B) 39, 40
TSE thunderstorm ended, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (E) 39, 40
TSGR thunderstorm, hail, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (GR) 9, 25 ,40
TSGS thunderstorm, small hail/ice pellets, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (GS) 12, 25, 40
TSNO thunderstorm information not available, 43
TSPL thunderstorm, ice pellets, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (PE) 10, 25
TSRA thunderstorm, rain, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (RA) 25, 26, 27
TSSN thunderstorm, snow, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, (SN) 25, 26, 27
TWR tower
TWR VIS 2 "tower visibility two", 21, 38
UNKN unknown
UP unknown precipitation, 13, 25, 26, 51
UPB unknown precipitation began, (B) 39,40
UPE unknown precipitation ended, (E) 39, 40
UTC Coordinated Universal Time, 18, 49
V variable, 19, 24, 31, 38, 41
VA volcanic ash, 25, 37
VC in the vicinity, 13
VCBLDU blowing dust in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (BLDU) 8, 25
VCBLSA blowing sand in the vicinity,(VC) 13, (BLSA) 8, 25
VCBLSN blowing snow in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (BLSN) 8, 25, 27
VCDS duststorm in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (DS) 25
VCFC funnel cloud in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (FC) 9, 25
VCFG fog in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (FG) 9, 25
VCPO dust devils in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (PO) 25
VCSH showers in the vicinity, (VCSH) 13, (SH) 12, 25, 26, 27
VCSS sandstorm in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (SS) 11, 25
VCTS thunderstorms in the vicinity, (VC) 13, (TS) 12, 25, 26, 27, 40
VIRGA precipitation that is observed but not reaching the ground, 13, 41
VIS visibility, 21, 22, 38
VIS2V3 "visibility variable between two and three", 21, 38
VIS E 2 "visibility East two", 22, 38
VIS N 1 "visibility North one", 22, 38
VIS S 3 "visibility South three", 22, 38
VIS W 4 "visilility West four", 22, 38
VISNO visibility at secondary location not available, 43, 44
VIS 1 RY22 "visibility one, at Runway two two", 22, 38
VR visual range
VRB variable, 13,20, 21, 50, 51
VRB03KT "wind variable at three", 20
VV indefinite ceiling [vertical visibility], 29, 52
VV003 "indefinite ceiling 300" [vertical visibility 300 feet], 29, 52
VV/// indefinite ceiling height not available
W West
WS windshear, 52
WS020/17040KT "Low level wind shear at two thousand, wind one seven zero at four zero", 52
WND wind, 19, 20
WSHFT windshift, 13, 20, 37, 38
WSHFT 35 "windshift at three five", 13, 20, 37, 38
WSHFT 20 FROPA "windshift at two zero due to frontal passage", 13, 20, 37, 38
Z zulu [Coordinated Universal Time], 1
