Aviation Weather Services

What We will Discuss

Weather Observations
Service Outlets
Weather Briefings
Aviation Weather Reports
Aviation Forecasts
Weather Charts
ATC Radar Weather Displays

Observations

 Data gathered from surface and upper altitude observations form

the basis of all weather forecasts, advisories, and briefings.
4 Types of Weather Observations:

Surface
Upper Air
Radar
Satellite

Surface Aviation Weather Observations

Also known as METARs, are an compilation of elements of the
current weather at individual ground stations.
Provides continuous, up-to-date weather information.
Automated weather sources, such as AWOS, ASOS, and other
facilities, play a major role in the gathering of surface
observations.

Surface Aviation Weather Observations

Provide local weather conditions, and other relevent informationfor a specific
airport.
Normally consists of:

Type of Report
Identifier
Date and Time
Wind
Visibility
Current Weather
Sky Condition
Temperature / Dew Point
And Altimeter.

Upper Air Observations

More challenging to obtain than surface observations.
Several ways to obtain:

Radiosonde Observations
PIREPs
Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR).
Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting System (MDCRS).

Upper Air Observations

A Radiosonde is a small instrument package, attached to a 6 foot
hydrogen or helium balloon. This balloon rises at around 1,000/m,
gathering various information such as: Temperature, Moisture,
Pressure, Wind Speed & Direction. Itis then relayed to the ground
via a 300 mW radio transmitter.
Pilots also provide vital information regarding upper air weather
observations, and are the only current real time source of
information regarding: Icing, Turbulence, and Cloud Heights.

Upper Air Observations

The Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) is a program
utilizing commercial aircraft to provide automated weather
observations.
Uses onboard sensors and probes which measure Wind,
Temperature, Humidity, Turbulence, and Icing Data. The
information is down-linked via either VHF communication through
the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
(ACARS), or via satellite link through the Aircraft to Satelite Data
Acquisition and Relay (ASDAR).

Radar Observations
4 Types of Radars which provide information about precipitation and wind.
WSR-88D NEXRAD Radar = Commonly called Doppler, provides indepth observations of
impending weather.
Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) = Installed at some large airports, used to
assist in identifying lcoal terminal hazards, such as windshear, gust fronts, and heavy
precipitation.
Airport Surveillance Radar = Used primarily to detect aircraft, but can also detect the
location and intensity of precipitation. Used to route traffic around severe weather.
Airborne Radar Equipment = Installed directly in the aircaft, relays precipitation areas
directly to the pilot, from light, to intense.

Satellite
Recent advancements in satellite technology allow for commercial
use to include weather uplinks.
Individuals can receive satellite transmitted signals which provide
a birds eye view of current cloud coverage.

Service Outlets

Flight Service Stations (FSS)

Primary source for Preflight Weather Information
1-800-WX BRIEF can be called (In the US) to obtain an accurate
weather briefing, 24 Hours a day.
Also provides inflight weather briefing services, and weather
advisories to flights within the FSS area of responsibility.

Telephone Information Broadcasting System

(TIBS)
TIBS, Provided by the FSS, provides recordings of meteorological
and aeronautical information. This service contains route and area
briefings, airspace procedures, and special announcements.
Automatically updated as changes occur.
Designed to be a preliminary briefing tool, and not to replace a
standard briefing.
Can be accessed by regular touchtone phone.

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service

(HIWAS)
An Automated continuous broadcast of hazardous weather
information over selected VOR Navaids.
Include advisories such as AIRMETS, SIGMETS, Convective SIGMETS,
and urgent PIREPs.
Automatically updated as changes occur.
VORs that have HIWAS capability, are depicted on aeronautical
charts with a H in the upper right corner.

Weather Briefings

 It is the Pilots responsibility to gather all vital information to the

natureof th flight.
Includes a weathr briefing obtained from a specialist at an FSS.
Weather specialists need to know which of the 3 types of briefings
are required:
Standard
Abbreviated,
Or Outlook

Standard Briefing
Provides the most complete information, and weather picture.
Should be obtained prior to departure of any flight, and should be used during
planning.
A standard briefing contains the following information:

Adverse Conditions = Including Sig WX such as thunderstorms, or icing.

VFR Not Recommended
Synopsis = An overview of the larger weather picture. Fronts, etc.
Current Conditions = Ceilings, Visibility, Winds, and Temperatures.
Enroute Forecast
Destination Forecast
Forecast winds and Temperatures Aloft
NOTAMS
ATC Delays
Other Information

Abbreviated Briefing
A Shortened version of the standard briefing.
Should be requested when a departure has been delayed, or an
update is required for a previous briefing.
The pilot needs to let the FSS officer know when the last briefing
was recieved, to be able to see if/what has changed.

Outlook Briefing
Should be requested when a planned departure is 6 or more hours
away.
Provides initial forecast information, and a good source of
information to influence route of flight, altitude, and the ultimate
go/no-go decision.
Even after recieving an outlook briefing, a pilot still should obtain
a standard briefing, to ensure all correct information has been
obtained.

Aviation Weather Reports

Aviation Weather Reports

Give accurate depicitions of current weather conditions.
Each report provides current information that is updated at different
times.
These include:

METAR
PIREP
TAF
FA
Inflight Weather Advisories
FB

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

Observation of current surface weather, reported in a standard,
international format.
Issed on a regular scheduled basis, unless significant weather
changes have occured (SPECI).
METARs usually contain 12 pieces of information, which is shown
on the next slide.

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

Type of Report = Two types of METAR reports. The first is the
routine METAR report that is transmitted on a regular time
interval. The second is the aviation selected SPECI. This is a
special report that can be given at any time to update the METAR
for rapidly changing weather conditions, aircraft mishaps, or other
critical information.
Station Identifier
Date and Time of Report

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

Modifier = Denotes that the METAR/SPECI came from an automated
source or that the report was corrected. If the notation AUTO is
listed in the METAR/SPECI, the report came from an automated
source. It also lists AO1 (for no precipitation discriminator) or
AO2 (with precipitation discriminator) in the Remarks section
to indicate the type of precipitation sensors employed at the
automated station. When the modifier COR is used, it identifies
a corrected report sent out to replace an earlier report that
contained an error (for example: METAR KGGG 161753Z COR).

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)

Wind
Visibility = Always reported in Statute Miles (SM), or sometimes,
RVR.
Weather = See next slide.
Sky Condition
Temperature and Dew Point
Altimeter Setting = Preceded by the letter A, Rising or Falling is
indicated in the remarks section as PRESRR, and PRESFR.

Decode It!

METAR KDFW 161755Z AUTO 14021G26KT

3/4SM +TSRA BR BKN008 OVC012CB
18/17 A2970 RMK PRESFR

Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)

Provides valuable information regarding the conditions as they
actually exist in the air.
Pilots can confirm these reports first hand, making them
extremely accurate.
PIREPs follow a standard format, which is shown on the next page.

Decode It!

UA/OV GGG 090025/TM 1450/FL 060/TP

C182/SK 080 OVC/WX FV04SM RA/TA 05/WV
270030KT/TB LGT/RM HVY RAIN

Aviation Forecasts

Aviation Forecasts
Observed weather condition reports are often used in the creation
of forecasts for the same area.
The printed forecasts pilots need to be familar with are:

Terminal Area Forecast = TAF

Aviation Area Forecast = FA
Inflight Weather Advisories = SIGMET, AIRMET
Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast (FB)

Terminal Area Forecast (TAF)

Established for the 5 SM Radius around an Airport, usually at large
airports.
Each TAF is valid for 24 or 30-Hour time perods, and is updated 4
times a day; 0000Z 0600Z 1200Z 1800Z.
Uses the same Descriptors and abbreviations as the METAR.
Includes the following information:

Terminal Area Forecast (TAF)

Type of Report
ICAO Identifier
Date and Time of Origin
Valid Period and Dates
Forecast Wind
Forecast Visibility
Forecast Significant Weather
Forecast Sky Condition
Forecast Change Group = TEMPO, FM
Probability = A percentage to describe the probability of thunderstorms.

Decode It!

TAF KPIR 111130Z 1112/1212

TEMPO 1112/1114 5SM BR
FM1500 16015G25KT P6SM SCT040 BKN250
FM120000 14012KT P6SM BKN080 OVC150
PROB30 1200/1204 3SM TSRA BKN030CB
FM120400 1408KT P6SM SCT040 OVC080
TEMPO 1204/1208 3SM TSRA OVC030CB

Area Forecast (FA)

Gives Information about clouds, general weather condition, and
VMC conditionsexpected over a large area.
In the US, there are 6 regions which FAs cover.
Issued 3 times a day, valid for 18 Hours.
Vital to enroute operations, and to smaller airports, with not TAF.
Broken into 4 sections, listend on the next slide.

Area Forecast (FA)

Header = Includes Identifier, date and time of issue, valid forecast
tim, and area of coverage.
Precautionary Statements = IFR Conditions, Mountain obscurations,
and thunderstorm hazards. All height is in MSL unless noted.
Synopsis = A brief summary identifying the location and movement
of pressure systems, fronts, and circulation patterns.
VFR Clouds and Weather = Expected Sky Conditions, visibility, and
weather for the next 12 hours, and an outlook for the next 6
hours.

Decode It!
DFWC FA 120945
SYNOPSIS AND VFR CLDS/WX
SYNOPSIS VALID UNTIL 130400
CLDS/WX VALID UNTIL 122200OTLK VALID
122200-130400
OK TX AR LA MS AL AND CSTL WTRS
SEE AIRMET SIERRA FOR IFR CONDS AND MTN OBSCN.
TS IMPLY SEV OR GTR TURB SEV ICE LLWS AND IFR CONDS.
NON MSL HGTS DENOTED BYAGL OR CIG.
SYNOPSISLOW PRES TROF 10Z OK/TX PNHDL AREA FCST MOV EWD INTO CNTRL-SWRN OK BY 04Z. WRMFNT 10Z CNTRL OK-SRN ARNRN MS FCST LIFT NWD INTO NERN OK-NRN AR EXTRM NRN MS BY 04Z
S CNTRL AND SERN TX AGL SCT-BKN010. TOPS 030. VIS 3-5SM BR. 14-16Z BECMG AGL SCT030. 19Z AGL SCT050. OTLKVFR OK
PNDLAND NWAGL SCT030 SCT-BKN100. TOPS FL200. 15Z AGL SCT040 SCT100. AFT 20Z SCT TSRA DVLPG.. FEW POSS SEV. CB TOPS
FL450.
OTLKVFR

Inflight Weather Advisories

Provided to en route aircraft
Forecasts detailing potentially hazardous weather.
An inflight weather advisory issued in the form of either an
AIRMET, SIGMET, or Convective SIGMET.

AIRMET
Issued every 6 hours with intermediate updates as required.
Of interest to all aircraft, but weather section contains phenomena
considered potentially hazardous to light aircraft.
Includes forecast of moderate icing, moderate turbulence,sustained
surface winds of 30 kt or more, widespread areas of ceilings less than
1,000, visibilites less than 3SM, and extensive mountan obscurement.
Has an alpanumeric designator for easy identification.
SIERRA = IFR Weather and Mountain Obscuration
TANGO = Turbulence, Strong Winds, and LLWS
ZULU = Icing and Freezing Levels.

Decode It!
BOSS WA 211945
AIRMET SIERRA UPDT 3 FOR IFR AND MTN OBSCN
VALID UNTIL 220200
AIRMET IFTME NH VT MA CT RI NY NJ AND CSTL
WTRS FROM CAR TO YSJ TO 150E ACK TO EWR TO
YOW TO CAR OCNL CIG BLW 010/VIS BLW 3SM
PCPN/BR. CONDS CONT BYD 02Z THRU 08Z
AIRMET MTN OBSCNME NH VT MA NY PA
FROM CAR TO MLT TO CON TO SLT TO SYR TO CAR
MTNS OCNLY OBSCD BY CLDS/PCPN/BR. CONDS
CONT BYD 02Z THRU 08Z

Decoded AIRMET
AIRMET SIERRA was issued for the Boston area at 1945Z on the 21st day of the
month. SIERRA contains information on IFR and/or mountain obscurations. This
is the third updated issuance of this Boston AIRMET series as indicated by
SIERRA UPDT 3 and is valid until 0200Z on the 22nd. The affected states
within the BOS area are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New
York, and Pennsylvania. Within an area bounded by: Caribou, ME; to Saint
Johns, New Brunswick; to 150 nautical miles east of Nantucket, MA; to Newark,
NJ; to Ottawa, Ontario; to Caribou, ME. The effected states within Caribou, ME
to Millinocket, ME to Concord, NH to Slate Run, PA to Syracuse, NY to Caribou,
ME will experience ceilings below 1,000 feet/visibility below 3 SM,
precipitation/mist. Conditions will continue beyond 0200Z through 0800Z.

SIGMET
Known as WSs, SIGMETs are inflight advisories concerning nonconvective weather hazardous to all aircraft.
Include Icing, severe, or extreme turbulence, CAT, dust and sand
storms which lower inflight visibility to lower than 3NM, and
volcanic ash.

Decode It!
SFOR WS 100130
SIGMET ROME02 VALID UNTIL 100530
OR WA
FROM SEA TO PDT TO EUG TO SEA
OCNL SEV CAT BTN FL280 AND FL350 EXPCD
DUE TO JTSTR. CONDS BGNG AFT 0200Z CONTG BYD 0530Z.

Convective SIGMET
Inflight weather advisory issued for hazardous convective weather,
affecting the safety of every flight.
Issued for severe thunderstoms with surface winds greater than
50Kt, hail, and tornadoes.
Also advise of embedded thunderstorms, squall lines, and
thunderstorms that affect 40% or more, of a 3,000 square mile area.
Each report is issued at 55 minutes past the hour.
If no hazardous weather exists, the Convective SIGMET states
CONVECTIVE SIGMET....NONE.

Decode It!
MKCC WST 221855
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 20C
VALID UNTIL 2055Z
ND SD
FROM 90W MOT-GFK-ABR-90W MOT
INTSFYG AREA SEV TS MOVG FROM 24045KT. TOP
ABV FL450. WIND GUSTS TO 60KTS RPRTD.
TORNADOESHAIL TO 2 IN WIND GUSTS TO
65KTS POSS ND PTN

Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast (FB)

Forecasts made 2 times a day based on radiosonde observations at
0000Z an 1200Z.
0 17,999 = Altitude
18,000 Up = Flight Level
Wind is given in regard to true north, speed in knots, and
temperaturs in celcius.
If wind is greater than 99Kt but less than 199Kt, the computer
adds 50 to the direction, and subtracts 100 from the speed.
If wind is forecast greater than 200Kts, it will be shown as 99.

Weather Charts

Weather Charts

Graphic charts depicting current or forecast weather.

Should be used in the beginning stages of flight planning.
Normally show the movement of major weathr systems and fronts.
Three types of Weather Charts:
Surface Analysis
Weather Depiction
Significant Weather Prognostic Charts

Surface Analysis Chart

Gives an analysis of the current surface weather.
Transmitted every 3 Hours.
Shows areas high and low pressure, fronts, temperatures, dew
points, wind dirction / speed, local weather, and visual
obstructions.
Station Models are weather stations, also depicted, which can
provide even more information, for that specific area.

Surface Analysis Chart

Station Models Display the following information:

Sky Cover in Oktas

Sea Level Pressure given in 3 digits to the nearest tenth of a milibar
Pressure change/tendancy over the past 3 hours
Temperature and Dewpoint given in fahrenheit
Present weather expressed in symbols
Wind

Weather Depiction Chart

Details Surface Conditions derived from METAR and other sources.

Transmitted by computer every 3 hours beginning at 0100Z.
Designed to give an overall picture of weather.
Shows IFR (1,000 or less ceiling, Visibity less than 3mi), VFR, and
MVFR (1,000 3,000 ceiling, visibility 3mi 5mi) weather.
IFR shown by a hatched area outlined by a smooth line.
MVFR shown by a non-hatched area outlined by a smooth line.

Weather Depicition Chart

Also plotted are fronts, troughs, and squall lines.
Shows a modified station model that provides sky conditions in the
form of oktas, ceiling, weather, and obstructions to visibility.
A bracket to the right of the station (]), indicates the observation
by an automated station.

Significant Weather Prognostic Chart

Available for low-level significant weather, from the surface to FL240,
and high-level from FL250 FL630.
The low-level chart is a forecast of aviation weather hazards.
These charts are issued 4 times daily and are valid at fixed times:

0000Z
0600Z
1200Z
1800Z

Each chart is divided on the left and right into 12 and 24 hour forecast
intervals.

Significant Weather Prognostic Charts

Charts depict freezing levels, and areas of IFR, MVFR, and
moderate or greater turbulence.
Also often includes fronts, pressure, precipitation type and
intensity, and weather type.

Summary
No weather forecast is guaranteed to be 100% accurate.
By using mutiple sources for planning, we can safely plan a trip.
Make sure the sources we are using are still vaild, or will be valid
for the time of our flight.