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