Aviation Weather 23'

Station Identifiers

100

KACY

Atlantic City International Airport

200

KPHL

Philadelphia International Airport 

300

KLAX

Los Angeles International Airport

400

KMSP

Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport

500

KEWR

Newark Liberty International Airport

Cloud Types

100

A dense cloud that looks to have levels towering vertically.

Cumulonimbus

200

A high cloud made out of ice crystals. Seen as wispy with white strands.

Cirrus

300

Clouds that have flat bases and are often described as puffy, cotton-like, or fluffy in appearance.

Cumulus

400

Low-level clouds characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective or cumuliform clouds formed by rising thermals.

Stratus

500

Large mid-level sheets of thin cloud.

Altostratus

Definitions

100

Convection

Thunderstorms

200

Trough

An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure.

300

Isobars

A line of constant barometric pressure.

400

Ridge

An elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure.

500

Altimeter Setting

The value to which the scale of a pressure altimeter is set to ensure the altimeter will read the field elevation when on the ground. (Below 18k)

METARS

100

Cloud rating and height

KPHL 231254Z 05007KT 10SM FEW090 BKN300 17/11 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP269 T01670111

Broken Clouds at Thirty-Thousand (30,000) Feet

200

Wind Speed

FM231400 09009KT P6SM FEW050

Nine (9) Knots

300

Temperature & Dew Point

KPHL 231254Z 05007KT 10SM FEW090 BKN300 17/11 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP269 T0167011

Temperature 17

Dew point 11

400

Visibility

KPHL 231125Z 2312/2418 05006KT P6SM SCT010 BKN080

Six (6) Statute miles

500

Ceiling

KPHL 231254Z 05007KT 10SM FEW090 BKN300 17/11 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP269 T01670111

Thirty-Thousand (30,000) Feet AGL

Notations

100

The symbols and names for the intensity or proximity of the convection.

-      Light

        Moderate

+      Heavy

VC    In the Vicinity

200

Shallow

Partial

Patches

Low Drifting

MI     Shallow

PR     Partial

BC     Patches

DR     Low Drifting

300

Blowing

Shower(s)

Thunderstorms

Freezing

BL     Blowing

SH     Shower(s)

TS     Thunderstorms

FZ     Freezing

400

Drizzles

Rain

Snow

Snow Grains

Ice Crystals

Ice Pellets

Hail

Small Hail

Unknown Precipitation

DZ     Drizzle

RA     Rain

SN     Snow

SG     Snow Grains

IC     Ice Crystals

PL     Ice Pellets

GR     Hail

GS     Small Hail

UP     Unknown Precipitation

500

Mist

Fog

Smoke

Volcanic Ash

Widespread Dust

Sand

Haze

Spray

Dust/Sand Whirls

Squalls

Funnel Cloud, Tornado, Waterspout

Sandstorm

Duststorm

BR     Dust/Sand Whirls

FG     Fog
FU     Smoke
VA     Volcanic Ash
DU     Widespread Ash
SA     Sand
HZ     Haze
PY     Spray
PO     Dust/Sand Whirls
SQ    Squalls
FC     Funnel Cloud, Tornado, Waterspout
SS     Sandstorm
DS     Duststorm