Examples of Aviation Weather Products

Contents of this page:

Domestic TAF
International TAF
METAR
SPECI
METAR AUTO
ARFOR
SIGMET
Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA)
Route Forecast
Hi-Level SIGWX Chart
Medium (Mid) SIGWX Chart
Wind and Temperature (WIND/TEMP) Chart for FL340
Satellite Picture (SATPX)
RAPIC (Weather Radar Picture) - New Plymouth Radar

Domestic TAF

TAF NZRO 192053Z 1921/2012 01015G28KT 30KM -SHRA SCT020 BKN035 TEMPO 2001/2004
5000 +TSRAGS BKN010CB
2000FT WIND 36020KT
QNH MNM 1015 MAX 1024

Decode of Domestic TAF

Code	Decode
TAF NZRO 192053Z 1921/2012	Aerodrome forecast for Rotorua, issued at 2053 UTC on the 19th of the month, valid from 2100 UTC on the 19th to 1200 UTC on the 20th of the month.
01015G28KT	Surface wind: 010 degrees true, 15 knots gusts 28 knots.
30KM	Visibility: 30 kilometres.
-SHRA	Weather: Light shower of rain.
SCT020 BKN035	Cloud: scattered cloud (3-4 oktas) with a base at 2000 feet above aerodrome level, broken cloud (5-7 oktas) with a base at 3500 feet above aerodrome level
TEMPO 2001/2004 5000 +TSRAGS BKN010CB	Temporarily, between 0100 and 0400 UTC on the 20th of the month, visibility will reduce to 5000 metres in heavy thunderstorms with rain and small hail pellets, and broken cumulonimbus cloud at 1000 feet above aerodrome level
2000FT WIND 36020KT	Wind at 2000 feet 360 degrees true at 20 knots.
QNH MNM 1015 MAX 1024	The minimum and maximum QNH during the forecast period is expected to be 1015 hPa and 1024 hPa respectively.

International TAF

TAF NZCH 102232Z 1100/1124 20008KT 9999 FEW012 SCT017
TEMPO 1100/1108 BKN012
BECMG 1108/1110 06010KT
TEMPO 1108/1121 6000DZ BKN012

Decode of International TAF

Code	Decode
TAF NZCH 102232Z 1100/1124	Aerodrome forecast for Christchurch International, issued at 2232 UTC on the 10th of the month, valid from 0000 UTC on the 11th to 2400 UTC on the 11th of the month.
20008KT	Surface wind: 200 degrees true, 8 knots.
9999	Visibility: 10 kilometres or more.
FEW012 SCT017	Cloud: few cloud (1-2 oktas) with a base at 1200 feet above aerodrome level, scattered cloud (3-4 oktas) with a base at 1700 feet above aerodrome level.
TEMPO 1100/1108 BKN012	Temporarily, between 0000 and 0800 UTC on the 11th, broken cloud (5-7 oktas) with a base of 1200 feet above aerodrome level.
BECMG 1108/1110 06010KT	Becoming, between 0800 and 1000 UTC on the 11th, wind 060 degrees true, 10 knots.
TEMPO 1108/1121 6000DZ BKN012	Temporarily, between 0800 and 2100 UTC on the 11th, visibility will reduce to 6000 metres in drizzle, with broken cloud (5-7 oktas) at 1200 feet above aerodrome level.

METAR

Example 1 - all aerodromes except NZAA, NZWN, NZCH

METAR NZDN 281900Z 17013KT 20KM BKN025 BKN150 13/12 Q1022

Decode of METAR

Code	Decode
METAR NZDN 281900Z	Routine Meteorological Aerodrome Report for Dunedin aerodrome, at 1900 UTC on the 28th of the month.
17013KT	Surface wind: 170 degrees true, 13 knots.
20KM	Visibility: 1200 metres.
BKN025 BKN150	Cloud: Broken cloud (5-7 oktas) with a base at 2500 feet above aerodrome level, and broken cloud (5-7 oktas) with a base at 15,000 feet above aerodrome level
13/12	Temperature: 13 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 12 degrees Celsius
Q1022	QNH: 1022 hectoPascals

Example 2 - NZAA, NZWN, NZCH only

METAR NZWN 162000Z 36016KT 9999 BKN025 16/12 Q1028 NOSIG
RMK KAUKAU 36033KT

Decode of METAR

Code	Decode
METAR NZWN 162000Z	Routine Meteorological Aerodrome Report for Wellington aerodrome, at 2000 UTC on the 16th of the month.
36016KT	Surface wind: 360 degrees true, 16 knots.
9999	Visibility: 10 kilometres or more.
BKN025	Cloud: Broken cloud (5-7 oktas) with a base at 2,500 feet above aerodrome level.
16/12	Temperature: 16 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 12 degrees Celsius.
Q1028	QNH: 1028 hectoPascals
NOSIG	No significant change to the reported conditions for the next two hours (ie until 2200 UTC on the 16th of the month).
RMK KAUKAU 36033KT	Wind at Mt Kaukau: 360 degrees true, 33 knots

SPECI

SPECI NZAA 010000Z 03022G34KT 010V080 2000 R05/1300D –DZRA FEW003 BKN006
22/21 Q0997 RERA WS RWY05

Decode of SPECI

Code	Decode
SPECI NZAA	Special Meteorological Aerodrome Report for Auckland aerodrome, issued at 0000 UTC on the 1st of the month.
03022G34KT 010V080	Surface wind: 030 degrees true, 22 knots gusting to 34 knots. Wind direction varying between 010 degrees true and 080 degrees true.
2000	Visibility: 2000 metres.
R05/1300D	Runway Visual Range: RVR on runway 05 is 1300 metres at the touchdown zone, with a distinct downward tendency in the 10 minutes prior to the time of the observation. Note: Runway Visual Range (RVR) is only reported at Auckland Airport.
-DZRA	Weather: Light drizzle and rain at the time of the observation.
FEW003 BKN006	Cloud: Few cloud (1-2 oktas) with a base at 300 feet above aerodrome level, and broken cloud (5–7 oktas) with a base at 600 feet above aerodrome level.
22/21	Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 21 degrees Celsius.
Q0997	QNH: 997 hectoPascals.
RERA	Recent weather: Moderate or heavy rain has been observed at the aerodrome since the last routine report.
WS RWY05	Windshear: Windshear reported by pilots or the control tower along the takeoff and/or approach path to runway 05 between runway level and 1600 feet AGL.

METAR AUTO (provided by Automatic Weather Stations (AWS))

METAR NZNS 011400Z AUTO 35004KT 310V010 29KMNDV -SHRA OVC048/// 19/16 Q1021

Decode of METAR AUTO

Code	Decode
METAR NZNS 011400Z AUTO	Routine Meteorological Aerodrome Report for Nelson aerodrome, issued at 1400 UTC on the 1st of the month. Observation made by an Automatic Weather Station.
35004KT 310V010	Surface wind: 350 degrees true, 4 knots. Wind direction varying between 310 degrees true and 010 degrees true.
29KMNDV	Visibility: 29 kilometres, and no directional variation is reported.
-SHRA	Weather: Light shower of rain.
OVC048///	Cloud: Overcast cloud (8 oktas) with a base at 4800 feet above aerodrome. The three strokes (///) indicate that no TCU or CB cloud could be identified by the Automatic Weather Station.
19/16	Temperature: 19 degrees Celsius, Dew Point: 16 degrees Celsius.
Q1021	QNH: 1021 hectoPascals.
Notes about METAR AUTO Reports: At aerodromes where METAR AUTO are issued, no SPECI observations are provided. METAR AUTO are issued routinely every 30 minutes, on the hour and half-hour, day and night. Lightning data from an independent lightning detection network will be added to METAR AUTO to provide additional observational data. METAR AUTO will not include directional visibility variations, “vicinity” (VC) present weather, or cloud type (ie, TCU and CB). When the weather sensor is unable to detect weather, either because the weather is clear or because the current weather condition is not detectable, two strokes (//) are inserted in the present weather field. When no cloud is detected by the cloud sensor, NCD (No Cloud Detected) is used instead of SKC (sky clear). When cloud is detected, three strokes (///) are placed at the end of each cloud layer group, to indicate that the AWS could not identify TCU or CB.

ARFOR

FANZ67 NZKL 282227
ARFOR ST VALID 2200 TO 1100 UTC
1000       15015
3000       14010
5000       08010 PS08
7000       08010   PS05
10000     10010   ZERO
FZL:        10000
VIS:         15KM REDUCING TO 4000M IN SHRA
CLD:       AREAS BKN ST 400 ESPECIALLY VC COOK STRAIT
                BKN CUSC 4500 TOPS 9000
WX:        OCNL SHRA, MAINLY VC COOK STRAIT, EASING ABT
                WELLINGTON LATE AFTERNOON
ICE         NIL
TURB:    NIL

Decode of ARFOR

Code	Decode
FANZ67	This is a reference (or bulletin) number for use by the issuing office.
NZKL 282227 ARFOR ST VALID 2200 TO 1100 UTC	ARFOR for forecast area Straits (ST), issued by the Kelburn Office (NZKL) at 2227 UTC on the 28th of the month, and valid from 2200 UTC on the 28th until 1100 UTC on the 29th of the month.
1000 15015 3000 14010 5000 08010 PS08 7000 08010 PS05 10000 10010 ZERO	1000 ft wind: 150 degrees true, 15 knots. 3000 ft wind: 140 degrees true, 10 knots. 5000 ft wind: 080 degrees true, 10 knots, temperature plus 8 degrees Celsius 7000 ft wind: 080 degrees true, 10 knots, temperature plus 5 degrees Celsius 10,000 ft wind: 100 degrees true, 10 knots, temperature zero degrees Celsius Note: Temperatures are not provided for 1000 and 3000 feet
FZL: 10000	Freezing level 10,000 ft above mean sea level
VIS: 15KM REDUCING TO 4000M IN SHRA	Visibility 15 kilometres, but reducing to 4000 metres in rain showers.
CLD: AREAS BKN ST 400 ESPECIALLY VC COOK STRAIT BKN CUSC 4500 TOPS 9000	Areas of broken (4-5 oktas) stratus cloud, base 400 feet above mean sea level, especially in the vicinity of Cook Strait. Broken (5-7 oktas) cumulus and stratocumulus cloud, base 4500 feet and tops 9000 feet above mean sea level.
WX: OCNL SHRA, MAINLY VC COOK STRAIT, EASING ABT WELLINGTON LATE AFTERNOON	Occasional rain showers, mainly in the vicinity of Cook Strait, and easing about Wellington in the late afternoon.
ICE : NIL	Nil icing expected
TURB: NIL	Nil turbulence expected
Notes: All heights in ARFOR are above mean sea level. The information provided in an ARFOR represents the weather conditions and elements expected within most of the area concerned, or in that part or parts specifically mentioned in the forecast. When conditions are expected to be significantly different in parts of an ARFOR, this will be clearly indicated. When planning a flight near the boundaries of an ARFOR, it would be prudent to also obtain the adjacent ARFORs.

SIGMET

WSNZ21 NZKL 140010 NZZC SIGMET 1 VALID 140010/140410 NZKL-
NZZC NEW ZEALAND FIR SEV TURB OBS AT 2355Z 25NM S OF NZAA AT FL180 FCST SEV TURB FL130/300 N OF NZWS/NZKI S OF NZWP NC

Decode of Sigmet

Code	Decode
WSNZ21 NZKL 140010	WMO meteorological message header (WSNZ21), issued by the Wellington Meteorological Watch Office (NZKL) at 0010UTC on the 14th day of the month. The message header (WSNZ21)can be ignored by pilots.
NZZC	Issued for the Christchurch Flight Information Centre.
SIGMET	SIGnificant METeorological information for pilots (a message containing information about hazardous weather)
1	The 1st SIGMET issued on the 14th day of the month since 0000UTC.
VALID 140010/140410	Valid between 0010 and 0410 UTC on the 14th day of the month.
NZKL-	Issued by the Wellington Meteorological Watch Office (MWO), Kelburn, Wellington. The "-" sign indicates the end of the 1st line of the message
NZZC NEW ZEALAND FIR	Issued for the New Zealand Flight Information Region. (NZZC)
SEV TURB OBS AT 2355Z 25NM S OF NZAA AT FL180	Severe turbulence observed at 2355UTC 25 nautical miles south of Auckland aerodrome at flight level 180
FCST SEV TURB FL130/300 N OF NZWS/NZKI S OF NZWP	Forecast of severe turbulence between flight level 130 and 300 north of Westport and Kaikoura and south of Whenuapai
NC	Intensity not expected to change (NC = no change)

Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA)

FVPS01 NZKL 182220
VA ADVISORY
DTG:
VAAC:
VOLCANO:
PSN:
AREA:
SUMMIT ELEV:
ADVISORY NR:
INFO SOURCE:
AVIATION COLOUR CODE:
ERUPTION DETAILS:
OBS VA DTG:
OBS VA CLD:

FCST VA CLD+6HR:

FCST VA CLD+12HR:

FCST VA CLD+18HR:

RMK:
NXT ADVISORY:

20090318/2220Z
WELLINGTON
HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI 403-05
S2034 W17523
TONGA
149M
2009/5
OBS FM TONGA MET
RED
PLUME OBS TO FL170
18/2100Z
SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S2000 W17520 - S1930 W17530 - S2020 W17520
19/0300Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1920 W17520 - S1930 W17400 - S2030 W17400 FL170/600 NO VA EXP
19/0900Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1900 W17400 - S1900 W17300 - S2020 W17300 FL170/600 NO VA EXP
19/1500Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1840 W17400 - S1820 W17140 - S2100 W17140 FL170/600 NO VA EXP
NIL
NO LATER THAN 20090319/0420Z

Decode of Volcanic Ash Advisory (VAA)

FVPS01 NZKL 182220	WMO meteorological message header (FVPS01), issued by the Wellington Aviation Weather Centre (NZKL) at 2220 UTC on the 18th day of the month. The message header (FVPS01 ) can be ignored by pilots.
VA ADVISORY	Type of message (Volcanic Ash Advisory).
DTG: 20090318/2220Z	DTG (Date, time group): Date and time of origin of the message (yyyymmdd/nnnnZ) (2009, March, 18^th day, 2200 UTC).
VAAC: WELLINGTON	Name of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (Wellington) issuing the advisory.
VOLCANO: HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI 403-05	Name of the volcano (Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai) and its international number (403-05).
PSN: S2034 W17523	Location of the volcano in degrees and minutes (South 20 deg 34 min, West 175 deg 23 min).
AREA: TONGA	Country, region or area in which the volcano is located (Tonga).
SUMMIT ELEV: 149M	Summit elevation of the volcano (149 metres).
ADVISORY NR: 2009/5	Advisory (or reference) number concerning the volcano. 2009/5 indicates it is the fifth advisory to be issued for the current activity of this volcano in 2009.
INFO SOURCE: OBS FM TONGA MET	Source of the information about this volcano (the observation was received from the Tonga meteorological office).
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: RED	Colour code is RED. This means that an eruption has occurred or is expected to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere.
ERUPTION DETAILS: PLUME OBS TO FL170	Details of the eruption (a plume observed to FL170)
OBS VA DTG: 18/2100Z	Date and Time of the eruption (18^th day of the month at 2100 UTC)
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S2000 W17520 - S1930 W17530 - S2020 W17520	Horizontal and vertical extent of the observed ash (as at 18/2100Z). Vertical extent - between the surface and FL170. Horizontal extent - the area is defined by a series of latitude and longitude points (degree and minutes).
FCST VA CLD+6HR: 19/0300Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1920 W17520 - S1930 W17400 - S2030 W17400 FL170/600 NO VA EXP	A 6 hr forecast of the position of the ash cloud (vertical and horizontal extent) with the date and time of the forecast indicated (19^th day of the month at 0300 UTC). Vertical extent – surface to FL170. Horizontal extent – the area is defined by a series of latitude and longitude points (degrees and minutes). No ash is expected between FL170 and FL600.
FCST VA CLD+12HR: 19/0900Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1900 W17400 - S1900 W17300 - S2020 W17300 FL170/600 NO VA EXP	A 12 hr forecast of the position of the ash cloud (vertical and horizontal extent) with the date and time of the forecast indicated (19^th day of the month at 0300 UTC). Vertical extent – surface to FL170. Horizontal extent – the area is defined by a series of latitude and longitude points (degrees and minutes). No ash is expected between FL170 and FL600.
FCST VA CLD+18HR: 19/1500Z SFC/FL170 S2030 W17540 - S1840 W17400 - S1820 W17140 - S2100 W17140 FL170/600 NO VA EXP	An 18 hr forecast of the position of the ash cloud (vertical and horizontal extent) with the date and time of the forecast indicated (19^th day of the month at 1500 UTC). Vertical extent – surface to FL170. Horizontal extent – the area is defined by a series of latitude and longitude points (degrees and minutes). No ash is expected between FL170 and FL600.
RMK: NIL	No (nil) remarks
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20090319/0420Z	The next advisory will be issued no later than 0420 UTC, 19 March 2009 (yyyymmdd/nnnnZ)

Route Forecast

ROFOR VALID 102000/110600
ROUTE NZRO/NZCH
ZONE	FL100	FL180	FL300	FL340	FL360
NZRO/TM	23006M03	25017M19	25054M45	25065M54	26062M56
TM/MEVAX	24004M03	24017M19	25055M46	25065M54	26063M56
MEVAX/NS	27003M03	24018M19	26060M46	26068M55	26063M57
NS/PEAKS	26006M03	25016M20	26048M48	26062M56	26060M57
PEAKS/YW	25008M03	24015M21	25040M49	26057M56	26055M57
YW/NZCH	25009M04	24015M21	25037M49	26053M56	26052M57

Decode of ROFOR

Code	Decode
ROFOR VALID 102000/110600	Route forecast valid from 2000 UTC on the 10th day of the month until 0600 UTC on the 11th day of the month.
ROUTE NZRO/NZCH	Route: Rotorua to Christchurch
ZONE	This column lists the route (NZRO/NZCH) from waypoint to waypoint, eg, NZRO/TM is for that part of the route from Rotorua to waypoint TM.
FL100 FL180 FL300 FL340 FL360	These columns list the forecast winds and temperatures at FL100, FL180, FL300, FL340 and FL360, for each of the zones shown in the “Zone” column.
23006M03	The forecast winds and temperatures are shown in the following format: wind direction in degrees true, wind speed in knots, and temperature in degrees Celsius, eg, in the Zone NZRO/TM, for FL100, the wind direction is 230 degrees true, wind speed 6 knots and temperature minus 3 degrees Celsius.
23006M03	Note: The winds and temperatures represent the average values for the zone concerned, eg, for the zone NZRO/TM, the winds and temperatures are the average between NZRO and TM. They are not the winds at NZRO and TM.

Hi-Level SIGWX Chart

Medium (Mid) SIGWX Chart

Wind and Temperature (WIND/TEMP) Chart for FL340

Satellite Picture (SATPX)

RAPIC (Weather Radar Picture) - New Plymouth Radar

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