Weather Forescast

The Aviation Weather Center delivers consistent, timely and accurate weather information for the world airspace system. They are a team of highly skilled people dedicated to work with customers and partners to enhance safe and efficient flight.

TAF: The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast is one of the most prominent and widely accepted

forecasting tools for flight planning.

METAR: Aerodrome Routine Meteorological Report

SPECI: Special Meteorological Report

The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF), Aerodrome Routine Meteorological Report (METAR), and irregularly issued Special Meteorological Report (SPECI) are internationally standardized reports intended to ensure an orderly flow of air traffic.

Abbreviations

ANNEX 3 A regulation for Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation issued by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AMD Amended

BECMG Becoming (used in TREND and TAF code)

BKN Broken (5–7/8 cloud cover; used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

BL Blowing (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

BR An abbreviation of the French word “brume”, standing for “mist” (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

CAVOK Clouds and visibility OK (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

CB Cumulonimbus (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

COR Corrected (used in METAR, SPECI, and TAF code)

DR Drifted (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

DRSA Drifted Sand (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

ETA Estimated Time Arrival

ETD Estimated Time Departure

FEW Few (1–2/8 cloud cover; used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

FG Fog (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

FM From (used in TREND and TAF code)

Ft Feet

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

IFR Instrumental flight rules: a set of regulations under which a pilot operates WMO World Meteorological Organization

Kts Knots

METAR Meteorological Aviation Routine Weather Report

NORTAF TAF verification scheme developed by the Northern European Meteorological Institutes

NSC No significant clouds (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

NSW No Significant Weather

OVC Overcast (8/8 cloud cover; used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

PROB Probability followed by percentage value (used in TAF code)

QNH The value of the atmospheric pressure adjusted to mean sea in an aeronautical code Q code

REG QNH The forecast value of the atmospheric pressure adjusted to mean sea level for an altimeter setting region in an aeronautical code Q code

RMK Remarks (used in METAR and SPECI code)

RVR Runway visual range

RWY Runway

SCT Scattered (3–4/8 cloud cover; used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code) Atmosphere 2021, 12, 138 22 of 22

SPECI Special Meteorological Report, issued when an operationally significant deterioration or improvement in airport weather conditions is observed

SYNOP Synoptic code used for reporting weather observations

TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

TCU Towering cumulus (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

TEMPO Temporary (used in TREND and TAF code)

Td Dew point temperature

TREND A form of the landing forecast (used in METAR and SPECI code)

U/D/N Up/down/neutral

UTC Coordinated universal time

VA Volcanic ash (used in METAR, SPECI, TREND, and TAF code)

VFR Visual flight rules: a set of regulations under which a pilot operates WMO World Meteorological Organization

Weather for Pilots – 01 – Layers of the Atmosphere