AMC1 MET.TR.205(d)(3) Reporting
of meteorological elements
PRESENT WEATHER PHENOMENA — CHARACTERISTICS
(a) In local routine report, local special report, METAR and SPECI, only when reported by a semi-automatic observing system, the following characteristics of present weather phenomena, as necessary, should be reported using their respective abbreviations and relevant criteria, as appropriate:
(1) Shower (SH): used to report showers.
Showers observed in the vicinity of the aerodrome should be reported as ‘VCSH’
without qualification regarding type or intensity of precipitation.
(2) Blowing (BL): used with types of present
weather phenomena raised by the wind to a height of 6 ft (2 m) or
more above the ground.
(3) Low drifting (DR): used with types of
present weather phenomena raised by the wind to less than 6 ft (2 m)
above ground level.
(4) Shallow (MI): less than 6 ft
(2 m) above ground level.
(5) Patches (BC): fog patches randomly
covering the aerodrome.
(6) Partial (PR): a substantial part of the
aerodrome covered by fog while the remainder is clear.
(b) In automated local routine report, local special report, METAR and SPECI, when showers (SH) referred to above cannot be determined based upon a method that takes account of the presence of convective cloud, the precipitation should not be characterised by ‘SH’.