AMC2 MET.TR.205(d) Reporting of meteorological elements

• ED Decision 2022/004/R found in: ATM/ANS Provision of Services (2017/373) (Feb 2023)

AMC2 MET.TR.205(d) Reporting of meteorological elements ED Decision 2022/004/R PRESENT WEATHER PHENOMENA — SEMI-AUTOMATIC OBSERVING SYSTEM In local routine report, local special report, METAR and SPECI reported by a semi-automatic observing system, the following types of present weather phenomena should be reported, using their respective abbreviations and relevant criteria, as appropriate: (a)       Precipitation: (1)       drizzle (DZ); (2)       rain (RA); (3)       snow (SN); (4)       snow grains (SG); (5)       ice pellets (PL); (6)       hail (GR): reported when the diameter of the largest hailstones is 5 mm or more; (7)       small hail and/or snow pellets (GS): reported when the diameter of the largest hailstones is less than 5 mm. (b)       Obscurations (hydrometeors): (1)       fog (FG): reported when visibility is less than 1 000 m, except when qualified by ‘MI’, ‘BC’, ‘PR’ or ‘VC’. (2)       mist (BR): reported when visibility is at least 1 000 m, but not more than 5 000 m; (c)       Obscurations (lithometeors) The following should be used only when the obscuration consists predominantly of lithometeors and the visibility is 5 000 m or less, except ‘SA’ when qualified by ‘DR’ and volcanic ash: (1)       sand (SA); (2)       dust (widespread) (DU); (3)       haze (HZ); (4)       smoke (FU); and (5)       volcanic ash (VA). (d)       Other phenomena: (1)       dust/sand whirls (dust devils) (PO); (2)       squall (SQ); (3)       funnel cloud (tornado or waterspout) (FC); (4)       dust storm (DS); (5)       sandstorm (SS). AMC2 MET.TR.205(d) Reporting of meteorological elements ED Decision 2022/004/R PRESENT WEATHER PHENOMENA — SEMI-AUTOMATIC OBSERVING SYSTEM In local routine report, local special report, METAR and SPECI reported by a semi-automatic observing system, the following types of present weather phenomena should be reported, using their respective abbreviations and relevant criteria, as appropriate: (a) Precipitation: (1) drizzle (DZ); (2) rain (RA); (3) snow (SN); (4) snow grains (SG); (5) ice pellets (PL); (6) hail (GR): reported when the diameter of the largest hailstones is 5 mm or more; (7) small hail and/or snow pellets (GS): reported when the diameter of the largest hailstones is less than 5 mm. (b) Obscurations (hydrometeors): (1) fog (FG): reported when visibility is less than 1 000 m, except when qualified by ‘MI’, ‘BC’, ‘PR’ or ‘VC’. (2) mist (BR): reported when visibility is at least 1 000 m, but not more than 5 000 m; (c) Obscurations (lithometeors) The following should be used only when the obscuration consists predominantly of lithometeors and the visibility is 5 000 m or less, except ‘SA’ when qualified by ‘DR’ and volcanic ash: (1) sand (SA); (2) dust (widespread) (DU); (3) haze (HZ); (4) smoke (FU); and (5) volcanic ash (VA). (d) Other phenomena: (1) dust/sand whirls (dust devils) (PO); (2) squall (SQ); (3) funnel cloud (tornado or waterspout) (FC); (4) dust storm (DS); (5) sandstorm (SS).