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Guest ScottPilot

How do I decode Metar and TAFF Data?

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Guest Andrew

TAFF2002/06/22 17:12EGKK 22160;+ 230018 240IKT 9999 SCT025 PROB30 0407 8000 BKN007Metar2002/06/22 19:50EGKK 221950Z 23008KT 9999 FEW018 SCT090 BKN140 15/12 Q1018And What is the diferance between Taff and Metar.Thank you

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Guest AndrewMal

Well I can help you with METAR,I think 221950Z means-Report from 1950Z, good thru 2250Z23008KT-Winds 230 at 08 ktsFEW018 SCT090 BKN140-Clouds are few at 1800, scattered at 9000, and broken at 1400015/12-Temp 15 C, dewpoint 12Q1018-Altimeter 1018Hope I could help ya!-Andrew

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well , i can go ahead and can help you with TAF.basically, TAF is the international standard code format for terminal forecasts issued for airports. The acronym translates to Terminal Aerodrome Forecast , and is analogous to the terminal forecast (FT) coding format currently used in the US. there is a perefect example of KLAX forecast:KLAXThe most recent Terminal Aerodrome Forecast from KLAX in our system was generated at the source at:2002/06/22 20:57 UTC The forecast is:KLAX 222057Zulu time 222118 26015KT P6SM BKN016 FM2200zulu time 26015KT P6SM SCT018 FM0800zulu time VRB03KT P6SM SCT010 FM1100zulu time VRB03KT 5SM BR BKN010 FM1630 zulu time 24006KT 5SM HZ SCT015Henry. CYXT

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Several different programs are available to read the data and provide it in useable readable format. Try metar10.zip and infom101.zip here or at www.flightsim.com .

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Andrew, your TAF and METAR confuses me a little bit because 9999 is (I think) supposed to mean winds are light and variable. I dont know if there is a different format over the pond, but this is a current METAR and TAF from the US:KIKV 222205Z AUTO 18009G13KT 10SM SCT060 34/22 A3009 RMK AO1 222205Z (last metar was the 22nd at 2205Z)AUTO (the report was automatically generated as opposed to a special or revised METAR)18009G13KT (Winds are 180 at 9 gusting to 13)10SM (visibility 10 statute miles or more)SCT060 (layer at 6000 (scattered, so its not a ceiling)34/22 (Temp 34, Dewpoint 22)A3009 (Altimeter 30.09 inches (as opposed to the format you use, millibars)RMK AO1 (anything after RMK is just general information or any information that doesnt fit in the standard data...A01 is just the type of automated weather station it is....an AWOS)EDIT: I forgot that the A01 means an AWOS without a precipitation descriminator. So at my airport we just get visibility and any obscurations...not any precip...I think those are mainly on ASOS'sTAFKDSM 221730Z 221818 20013G21KT P6SM SCT050 FM0000 17010KT P6SM SKC TEMPO 0913 5SM BR FM1500 20013KT P6SM SCT250221730Z (date and time report was made)221818 (valid time of TAF (24 hrs....22nd at 1800Z to 23rd at 1800Z)20013G21KT (wind at time report was made 200 @ 13knots gusting to 21)P6SM (visibility greater than 6 statute miles)SCT050 (layer scattered at 5000 ft. also keep in mind that these cloud reports are AGL....IKV elevation is 910, so the clouds are approx. 5910 feet above sea level.FM0000 17010KT P6SM SKC (from midnight zulu time winds 170@10kts vis. greater than 6, sky clear)TEMPO 0913 5SM BR (temporarily from 0900z to 1300z vis. 5 statute miles with obscuration of mist (BR)FM1500 20013KT P6SM SCT250 (from 1500Z winds 200@13kts vis greater than 6SM layer scattered at 25000ft.)TAF's are just a forecast, but these things are really accurate sometimes. Sometimes they miss, but I think theyre on more than not. Make sure that the place your getting METARs and TAFs is the correct format for your area, because it just doesnt look right to me. Hope this helps.Craig

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Guest ScottPilot

Yes 9999 does mean winds are light and variable.

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Guest ScottPilot

I am a flight instructor and I send my students to the AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilot's Association's) web site for more info on TAF's and Metars.Theye have some good information on how to read these type of encoded weather reports.http://www.aopa.orgSoctt :-)

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Guest

>Yes 9999 does mean winds are light and variable. in the uk that means the visibility is more than 10 kilometers?:-sun1 ginj

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Well ginj, that would make sense if thats what it means. You can see how it makes little sense decoding using the US format (just the wind direction and velocity. Everything else looks the same).Craig

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