Examples of Aviation Weather Products

Contents of this page:

Domestic TAF
International TAF
METAR
SPECI
METAR AUTO
ARFOR
SIGMET
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.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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:

  1. At aerodromes where METAR AUTO are issued, no SPECI observations are provided.
  2. METAR AUTO are issued routinely every 30 minutes, on the hour and half-hour, day and night.
  3. Lightning data from an independent lightning detection network will be added to METAR AUTO to provide additional observational data.
  4. METAR AUTO will not include directional visibility variations, “vicinity” (VC) present weather, or cloud type (ie, TCU and CB).
  5. 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.
  6. When no cloud is detected by the cloud sensor, NCD (No Cloud Detected) is used instead of SKC (sky clear).
  7. 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.

Back to Top

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:

  1. All heights in ARFOR are above mean sea level.
  2. 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.

Back to Top

SIGMET

NZZC SIGMET 6 VALID 110010/110410 NZKL
NZZC NEW ZEALAND FIR SEV ICE FCST 9000FT/FL210 S NZWB AND      N OF NZCH
ABT/E OF RANGES WKN

Decode of Sigmet

Code Decode
NZZC Issued for the Christchurch Flight Information Centre.
SIGMET SIGMET SIGnificant METeorological information for pilots.
6 The 6th SIGMET issued today since 0000UTC.
VALID 110010/110410 Valid between 0010 and 0410 UTC on the 11th day of the month.
NZKL Issued by the Wellington Meteorological Watch Office, Kelburn, Wellington (NZKL).
NZZC NEW ZEALAND FIR Issued for the New Zealand Flight Information Region.
SEV ICE FCST 9000FT/ FL210 S
NZWB AND N OF NZCH ABT/E
OF RANGES 		Severe ICE forecast between 9000 ft and FL210 about and east of the ranges south of Woodbourne and north of Christchurch.
WKN Conditions expected to weaken.

Back to Top

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.
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.

Back to Top

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

Back to Top

Return to Meteorology homepage