Met Decode METAR help please

[DenhamPPL]

Am revising for my MET exam and have just had a look at the following current METAR for Shawbury:


SHAWBURY EGOS 040950Z 23009KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 BKN090 16/12 Q1022 BLU NOSIG
Can someone let me know what BLU means? I can't find the abbreviation in the Met Office list. All I could find was BL (Blowing) and U (Upwards -tendency in RVR).

:ugh:

Thanks in advance

Andy

[AlanM]

BLU = Colour Code Blue (like CAVOK)
RED = Colour Code Red.... the worst

Loads of threads on here mate..... some very recent!

[DenhamPPL]

Thanks AlanM sorry didn't perform my usual search and only just realised that Shawbury is of course a military airfield:hmm:

I'll get my coat and a strong cup of coffee.

Thanks V much:ok:

[Aussie Andy]

Colour code is a MIL thing - only on MIL airfield's METARs so don't worry too much if you can't remember the code.

[tmmorris]

You'll find details in e.g. the front of the VFR Flight Guide, but approximately:

Blue - VFR
White - marginal VFR (usually lowish ceiling)
Green - IFR for IMC rating holders
Amber - IFR for IRs
Red - IFR for Cat II/III ILS use only
Black - airfield closed

Tim

[Jinkster]

I presume the military have colour codes as some mil pilots dont understand METARs either ;)

:E

[breakscrew]

Here is the decode:

Surface Lowest Cloud
Colour State vis Km (nm) base 3/8 or more

Blue 8(4.3) 2500 ft agl
White 5(2.7) 1500 ft agl
Green 3.7(2) 700 ft agl
Yellow 1.6(1) 300 ft agl
Amber 0.8(0.5) 200 ft agl
Red <800m
Black Not usable for other reasons

BS