This is from brief
3. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS 3.1 WEATHER
Cloud base is usually greater than 3,000ft during winter. During snow/rain showers visibility and cloud base may be lower. On average only 5 days per month have visibility below 800m. Fog possible during early morning when ground is snow covered.
When snow/rain showers are forecast they generally pass within 30 minutes. Wind is predominantly from west unless Foehn wind is present.
A local phenomenon exists known as the ‘Stadtwuzl’ which literally means ‘dust ball’, but is used here to describe the ‘fluffy’ cloud that often sits over the city of Innsbruck in the early morning. It sits at a height of 300 – 800ft AAL and its presence is indicated in the METAR as FEW 005 (or SCT) BKN 011. It sits below other cloud and obscures the runway when approached from the East. It may appear as a remark in the METAR: ‘Low Cloud in FNA’ (FNA = Final Approach).
Weather reports are available from Innsbruck Volmet (130.475). Innsbruck Volmet can be received in the area of Belgium – listen early. The following locations are available:
1. Patscherkofel (7,371ft) – 5 nm SE of Innsbruck on east side of Brenner pass.
2. Absam (AB)/Rinn – Reported if cloudbase 5,000ft aal or below
3. Visibility in various directions if observed
Item 2 is useful for the first and second decision points for the LOC DME WEST procedure
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Item 3 is reported when there is a haze or mist layer over the city. In this case the actual visibility and the estimated visibility above the haze are reported. In these conditions ATC may recommend RWY 08 for landing due to visibility over the city (final approach for RWY 26).