Section 4. Weather Phraseology

  1. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS

Use the following phraseology and procedures for stating surface weather observations and for information similarly encoded in other aviation weather products and forecasts.

  1. Location.
  1. Announce the geographic name (not the identifier) once.

EXAMPLE-

“Paducah.”

  1. When the location name is duplicated within 500 miles, follow the location name with the state name.

EXAMPLE-

“Columbus, Ohio.”

  1. When weather reports originate at more than one airport at the same geographical location, identify the airport.

EXAMPLE-

“Anchorage, Merrill.”
“Chicago, O'Hare.”

  1. Where it is considered necessary or is requested by the military base commander, broadcast military observations by stating the location, the name of the airport if different, and the controlling military branch.

EXAMPLE-

“Joint Base Andrews.”
“Elmendorf, Air Force Base.”
“Fort Riley, Marshall Army Air Field.”
“Norfolk Naval Station.”

  1. Special and automated weather reports.
  1. If a special report is the most recent observation available, follow the location with the words “SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT,” (last two digits of the time) “OBSERVATION.”

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Location) SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION.

  1. If “AUTO” appears after the date/time element and is presented as a singular report, follow the location with the word “AUTOMATED.”

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Location) AUTOMATED.

  1. If the current report is both a special report and automated, follow the location with the words “SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION AUTOMATED.”

PHRASEOLOGY-

(Location) SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION, AUTOMATED.

  1. Missing weather data. If the weather data is not available, state the location and the word “MISSING.”
  2. Wind direction and speed.
  1. Announce surface wind direction and speed by stating the word “WIND” followed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the nearest 10 degrees and the separate digits of the speed.
  2. A “G” between two wind speed values is announced as “GUSTS.”
  3. A “V” between two wind direction values is announced as “VARIABLE.”
  4. When indicated, preface the values with the words “VARIABLE BETWEEN,” followed by the first value, the word “AND,” and then the second value.
  5. Announce the variability of wind at the end of the wind group.

EXAMPLE-

Wind

Phraseology

00000KT

WIND CALM

26012KT

WIND TWO SIX ZERO AT ONE TWO

29012KT 260V320

WIND TWO NINER ZERO AT ONE TWO, VARIABLE BETWEEN TWO SIX ZERO AND THREE TWO ZERO

30008KT

WIND THREE ZERO ZERO AT EIGHT

36012G20KT

WIND THREE SIX ZERO AT ONE TWO, GUSTS TWO ZERO

VRB04KT

WIND VARIABLE AT FOUR

  1. Visibility. State the word “VISIBILITY” followed by the visibility values in miles and/or fractions of miles, except announce values indicated by the figure “0” as “ZERO.” When the reported value is indicated as less than (M), state the visibility as “LESS THAN” followed by the indicated value. Announce the separate digits of whole numbers as applicable.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

0 SM

VISIBILITY ZERO

1/16 SM

VISIBILITY ONE SIXTEENTH

1/8 SM

VISIBILITY ONE EIGHTH

M ¼ SM

VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER

¾ SM

VISIBILITY THREE QUARTERS

1 ½ SM

VISIBILITY ONE AND ONE-HALF

8 SM

VISIBILITY EIGHT

25 SM

VISIBILITY TWO FIVE

NOTE-

When visibility is less than three miles and variable, this information is reported in the remarks.

  1. Runway visual range (RVR).
  1. Provide RVR information by stating the runway, the abbreviation “R-V-R,” and the indicated value.
  2. A “V” between two RVR values is announced as “VARIABLE.” When indicated, preface the values with the word “VARIABLE,” followed by the first value, the word “TO,” and then the second value.
  3. When issued along with other weather elements, transmit these values in the normal sequence used for weather reporting.

EXAMPLE-

RVR

Phraseology

R18/2000V3000FT

RUNWAY ONE EIGHT, R-V-R VARIABLE TWO THOUSAND TO THREE THOUSAND

R26R/2400FT

RUNWAY TWO SIX RIGHT, R-V-R TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED

  1. When there is a requirement to issue an RVR value and a visibility condition greater than (P) or less than (M) the reportable values of the equipment is indicated, state the condition as “MORE THAN” or “LESS THAN” the appropriate minimum or maximum readable value.

EXAMPLE-

RVR

Phraseology

R16/M0600FT

RUNWAY ONE SIX, R-V-R LESS THAN SIX HUNDRED

R36L/M0600V2500FT

RUNWAY THREE SIX LEFT, R-V-R VARIABLE LESS THAN SIX HUNDRED TO TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED

R36/P6000FT

RUNWAY THREE SIX, R-V-R MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND

  1. Weather elements. TBL 2-4-1 depicts sample phraseology for weather element contractions. Intensity refers to precipitation, not descriptors. Announce proximity after the phenomenon to which it refers. Announce descriptors ahead of weather phenomena with the exception of “showers,” which are announced after precipitation. TBL 2-4-2 contains a complete list of weather elements and appropriate phraseology.

TBL 2-4-1
Examples of Combining Intensity, Descriptors, and Weather Phenomenon

Contractions

Phraseology

BLSN

BLOWING SNOW

-FZRAPL

LIGHT FREEZING RAIN, ICE PELLETS

FZRA

FREEZING RAIN

FZDZ

FREEZING DRIZZLE

MIFG

SHALLOW FOG

-SHRA

LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS

SHRA

RAIN SHOWERS

SHSN

SNOW SHOWERS

TSRA

THUNDERSTORM, RAIN

+TSRA

THUNDERSTORM, HEAVY RAIN (SHOWERS)1

+TSRAGR

THUNDERSTORM, HEAVY RAIN, HAIL

VCSH

SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY

1Since thunderstorms imply showery precipitation, “showers” may be used to describe precipitation that accompanies thunderstorms.

TBL 2-4-2
Weather Elements

Intensity or Proximity

1

Descriptor

2

Precipitation

3

Obscuration

4

Other

5

-

Light

MI

Shallow

DZ

Drizzle

BR

Mist

PO

Well-developed dust/sand whirls

 

 

BC

Patchy

RA

Rain

FG

Fog

SQ

Squalls

 

Moderate (no qualifier)

DR

Low Drifting

SN

Snow

FU

Smoke

FC

+FC

Funnel cloud, tornado, or
waterspout

 

 

BL

Blowing

SG

Snow grains

DU

Dust

SS

Sandstorm

+

Heavy

SH

Showers

IC

Ice crystals

SA

Sand

DS

Duststorm

 

 

TS

Thunderstorm

PL

Ice pellets

HZ

Haze

 

 

VC

In the vicinity

FZ

Freezing

GR

Hail

PY

Spray

 

 

 

 

PR

Partial

GS

Snow pellets

VA

Volcanic Ash

 

 

 

 

 

 

UP

*Unknown precipitation

 

 

 

 

*Automated stations only.

  1. Ceiling and sky coverage.
  1. State sky coverage in the same order as reported on the weather observation. Announce ceiling as shown on TBL 2-4-3.

TBL 2-4-3
Ceiling and Sky Coverage

Designator

Phraseology

BKN0001

SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED

BKN0002

CEILING LESS THAN FIVE ZERO BROKEN

FEW0001

SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED

FEW0002

FEW CLOUDS AT LESS THAN FIVE ZERO

(lowest layer aloft) BKN/OVC

(precede with) CEILING

SCT0001

SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED

SCT0002

LESS THAN FIVE ZERO SCATTERED

VV

INDEFINITE CEILING

1Surface-based obscurations; requires remarks (for example, RMK FG SCT000, FU BKN000).

2No remark means the layer is aloft.

  1. State cloud heights in tens, hundreds and/or thousands of feet.

EXAMPLE-

Designator

Phraseology

0001

ZERO

003

THREE HUNDRED

018

ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED

200

TWO ZERO THOUSAND

1Spoken as zero only when used with VV.

NOTE-

When the ceiling is less than 3,000 feet and variable, the variable limits will be reported in the remarks.

  1. Announce sky conditions as indicated in TBL 2-4-4.

TBL 2-4-4
Sky Conditions

Contraction

Phraseology

BKN

(height) BROKEN

CLR1

CLEAR BELOW ONE TWO THOUSAND

FEW

FEW CLOUDS AT (height)

OVC

(height) OVERCAST

SCT

(height) SCATTERED

SKC

CLEAR

1Automated weather reports.

  1. The following are examples of phraseology of ceiling and sky conditions.

EXAMPLE-

Condition

Phraseology

BKN000 BKN010 BKN050 RMK FG BKN000

SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, CEILING ONE THOUSAND BROKEN, FIVE THOUSAND BROKEN, FOG OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN EIGHTS OF THE SKY

BKN010

CEILING ONE THOUSAND BROKEN

SCT000 SCT020 OVC035 RMK FG SCT000

SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED, CEILING THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED OVERCAST, FOG OBSCURING THREE TO FOUR EIGHTS OF THE SKY

SCT020 OVC250

TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED, CEILING TWO FIVE THOUSAND OVERCAST

VV000

INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO

VV012

INDEFINITE CEILING ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED

  1. Temperature and dew point. Announce surface temperature and dew point by stating the words “TEMPERATURE” or “DEW POINT,” as appropriate, followed by the temperature in degrees Celsius. Announce temperatures below zero by prefixing the word “MINUS” before the values.

EXAMPLE-

Reading

Phraseology

02/M01

TEMPERATURE TWO, DEW POINT MINUS ONE

04/02

TEMPERATURE FOUR, DEW POINT TWO

18/13

TEMPERATURE ONE EIGHT, DEW POINT ONE THREE

  1. Altimeter setting.
  1. State the word “ALTIMETER” followed by the four digits of the altimeter setting.

EXAMPLE-

Altimeter Setting

Phraseology

A2989

ALTIMETER TWO NINER EIGHT NINER

A3001

ALTIMETER THREE ZERO ZERO ONE

A3025

ALTIMETER THREE ZERO TWO FIVE

  1. Identify the source of all altimeter settings when issued, if not given as part of an identified surface observation. Provide the time of the report if more than one hour old.

PHRASEOLOGY-

(airport name) (time of report if more than one hour old) ALTIMETER (setting).

  1. If a request for the altimeter setting in millibars is received, announce the separate digits of the millibars equivalent value, using the millibars conversion chart, followed by the word “MILLIBARS.” If the millibars setting is not a whole number, always round down.

EXAMPLE-

Millibar Conversion

Phraseology

956.3

ALTIMETER NINER FIVE SIX MILLIBARS

1002.0

ALTIMETER ONE ZERO ZERO TWO MILLIBARS

1058.9

ALTIMETER ONE ZERO FIVE EIGHT MILLIBARS

REFERENCE-

FAA Order JO 7110.10, Para 4-2-5, Routine Radio Contacts.

  1. When altimeter is in excess of 31.00:
  1. Advise all aircraft.

PHRASEOLOGY-

ALTIMETER GREATER THAN THREE ONE ZERO ZERO. HIGH PRESSURE ALTIMETER PROCEDURES ARE IN EFFECT.

  1. Advise VFR aircraft to set altimeter to 31.00 en route.

PHRASEOLOGY-

RECOMMEND YOU SET ALTIMETER THREE ONE ZERO ZERO EN ROUTE.

  1. ANNOUNCING MISSING ITEMS

With the exception of the RVR, announce the word “MISSING” when any item or component of a weather report is not reported, or in place of unreadable or obviously incorrect items or portions of weather reports. When appropriate, instead of speaking the name of several locations with missing reports, announce “other scheduled reports missing.”

NOTE-

On occasion, a parameter from an automated observation may be reported as missing in the body of the report but is available as a manually reported parameter in the remarks section. When speaking the report, include the manually reported element in its proper sequence within the report.

  1. WEATHER REMARKS

Announce pertinent remarks from surface weather observations in accordance with FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions, and as shown in the following tables. Do not state additive data or other information intended for NWS analysis or processing that does not contribute to the description of the conditions occurring at the station.

  1. Sky and ceiling.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

CIG 005V010

CEILING VARIABLE BETWEEN FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND

CIG 020 RY11

CEILING TWO THOUSAND AT RUNWAY ONE ONE

CB N MOV E

CUMULONIMBUS NORTH MOVING EAST

CBMAM DSNT S

CUMULONIMBUS MAMMATUS DISTANT SOUTH

CLDS TPG MT SW

CLOUDS TOPPING MOUNTAIN SOUTHWEST

CONTRAILS N FL420

CONDENSATION TRAILS NORTH AT FLIGHT LEVEL FOUR TWO ZERO

FRQ LTCIC VC

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN CLOUD IN THE VICINITY

LWR CLDS NE

LOWER CLOUDS NORTHEAST

OCNL LTGICCG NW

OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IN CLOUD AND CLOUD TO GROUND NORTHWEST

RDGS OBSCD W-N

RIDGES OBSCURED WEST THROUGH NORTH

  1. Obscuring phenomena.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

BLSN SCT000

BLOWING SNOW OBSCURING THREE TO FOUR-EIGHTS OF THE SKY

DU BKN000

DUST OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN-EIGHTS OF THE SKY

FG FU FEW000

FOG AND SMOKE OBSCURING ONE TO TWO-EIGHTS OF THE SKY

FU SCT020

SMOKE LAYER TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED

SN BKN000

SNOW OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN-EIGHTS OF THE SKY

  1. Visibility.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

SFC VIS 1/2

SURFACE VISIBILITY ONE-HALF

SFC VIS 15 TWRINC

SURFACE VISIBILITY ONE FIVE, TOWER IN CLOUDS

TWR VIS 3/4

TOWER VISIBILITY THREE-QUARTERS

VIS S 1 W 1/4

VISIBILITY SOUTH ONE, WEST ONE-QUARTER

VIS 1V3

VISIBILITY VARIABLE BETWEEN ONE AND THREE

  1. Weather and obstructions to visibility.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

BCFG S

PATCHY FOG SOUTH

DUST DEVILS NW

DUST DEVILS NORTHWEST

FG DSIPTG

FOG DISSIPATING

FU DRFTG OVR FLD

SMOKE DRIFTING OVER FIELD

FUOCTY

SMOKE OVER CITY

GR 2

HAILSTONES TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER

INTMT -RA

INTERMITTENT LIGHT RAIN

OCNL LTG DSNT

NW

OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING DISTANT NORTHWEST

OCNL SHRA

OCCASIONAL MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS

-RA OCNLY +RA

LIGHT RAIN OCCASIONALLY HEAVY

RAB30

RAIN BEGAN AT THREE ZERO

SNB15E40

SNOW BEGAN AT ONE FIVE, ENDED AT FOUR ZERO

SNINCR 5/10

SNOW INCREASE FIVE INCHES DURING PAST HOUR, TEN INCHES ON THE GROUND

TS OHD MOV E

THUNDERSTORM OVERHEAD, MOVING EAST

FRQ LTGCG TS W

MOV E

FREQUENT LIGHTNING CLOUD TO GROUND, THUNDERSTORM WEST MOVING EAST

UNCONFIRMED TORNADO 15W OKC MOV NE 2015

UNCONFIRMED TORNADO ONE FIVE WEST OF OKLAHOMA CITY,

MOVING NORTHEAST SIGHTED AT TWO ZERO ONE FIVE ZULU

WET SN

WET SNOW

  1. Wind.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

PK WND 33048/22

PEAK WIND THREE THREE ZERO AT FOUR EIGHT OCCURRED AT TWO TWO PAST THE HOUR

WSHFT 30

WIND SHIFTED AT THREE ZERO

  1. Pressure.

EXAMPLE-

Contraction

Phraseology

PRESFR

PRESSURE FALLING RAPIDLY

PRESRR

PRESSURE RISING RAPIDLY

  1. Maintenance data.

EXAMPLE-

RVR

Phraseology

PNO

PRECIPITATION AMOUNT NOT AVAILABLE

RVRNO

R-V-R INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE

TSNO

THUNDERSTORM/LIGHTNING INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE

VISNO

VISIBILITY SENSOR INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE

  1. WEATHER ADVISORIES
  1. When announcing weather advisories, include the complete advisory description including the product name and alphanumeric identification. Specify eastern, central, or western section if applicable.

PHRASEOLOGY-

AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING or AIRMET FOR ICING
G-AIRMET FOR ICING or GRAPHICAL AIRMET FOR ICING
or
G-AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING or GRAPHICAL AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING
ALERT WEATHER WATCH, ONE ZERO SEVEN FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CONVECTIVE SIGMET TWO SEVEN EASTERN
HOUSTON CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY ONE, ISSUANCE TWO
SIGMET WHISKEY THREE

  1. Do not read the OUTLOOK section of Convective SIGMETs when stating the advisory. Data contained in the OUTLOOK concerning convective activity location, movement, and intensity may be extracted for compilation in forecast summarizations.

EXAMPLE-

“Convective SIGMET one seven eastern from five zero south of St. Petersburg to three zero south of Columbus, line of thunderstorms three five miles wide moving east at one five knots. Maximum tops four seven thousand.”

  1. VFR Flight Not Recommended (VNR). When VFR flight is proposed and sky conditions or visibilities are reported or forecast, surface or aloft, that, in your judgment, would make flight under VFR doubtful, include one of the following statements:

PHRASEOLOGY-

V-F-R FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED (location if applicable) DUE TO (conditions)
or
V-F-R NOT RECOMMENDED (location if applicable) DUE TO (conditions)

EXAMPLE-

“There are broken clouds along the entire route between niner and one one thousand feet. With the approach of a cold front, these clouds are forecast to become overcast and to lower to below seven thousand with mountains and passes becoming obscured. V-F-R flight not recommended between Salt Lake City and Grand Junction after two two zero zero Zulu.”
“V-F-R not recommended in the Seattle area until early afternoon. The current weather at Seattle is indefinite ceiling three hundred, visibility one, mist, and little improvement is expected before one eight zero zero Zulu.”

  1. RADAR

When stating precipitation intensity from a radar display (for example, NEXRAD), use the following four categories as appropriate:

  1. Light (equates to radar return levels of less than 30 dBZ).
  2. Moderate (equates to radar return levels of 30 to 40 dBZ).
  3. Heavy (equates to radar return levels of greater than 40 to 50 dBZ).
  4. Extreme (equates to radar return levels of greater than 50 dBZ).
  1. WINDS AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT FORECAST

When announcing the winds and temperatures aloft forecast, use the following phraseology and procedures:

  1. State the altitude, then announce wind direction and speed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the 5- or 10-degree multiple, the word “AT,” and the separate digits of the speed.

NOTE-

Announcing the wind direction in 5- or 10-degree multiples is dependent on the operating system of the specialist.

  1. When the forecast speed is less than five knots, the coded group is 9900 and read “LIGHT AND VARIABLE.”
  2. Encoded wind speed 100 to 199 knots have 50 added to the direction code and 100 subtracted from the speed.
  3. If wind speed is forecast at 200 knots or greater, the wind group is coded as 199 knots.

EXAMPLE-

7799 is decoded 270 degrees at 199 knots or greater.

  1. A six-digit group includes forecast temperature. Provide temperatures on request only, stating the word ”TEMPERATURE,” followed by the word “MINUS,” as appropriate, and the separate digits.

EXAMPLE-

Coded

Phraseology

2707

(altitude) TWO SEVEN ZERO AT SEVEN

7799

(altitude) TWO SEVEN ZERO AT ONE NINER NINER OR GREATER

850552

(altitude) THREE FIVE ZERO AT ONE ZERO FIVE, TEMPERATURE MINUS FIVE TWO

9900+00

(altitude) LIGHT AND VARIABLE, TEMPERATURE ZERO