Reading American METARS

[AndyDRHuddleston]

Hi All,

Just a query for all those sudying MET at ATPL level. I am trying to understand how METARS are translated from the American way of reporting. I understand the majority of what was given in the METAR below, but I don't understand what the last part (RMK.....)means??? Answers on a postcard!!

KAPF 020953Z AUTO 05006KT 10SM BKN041 15/11 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP146 T01500111

Thanks

ADRH

[mcgrath]

Hope this is of some help.

http://wx.erau.edu/reference/text/metar_decode_key.pdf

A02 Type of automated station
SLP146 Sea Level Pressure in tens, units and tenths of SLP in hPa
T01500111 hourly temperature and dew point.

McGrath

[Keygrip]

As mcgrath says,

Sea Level Pressure (QNH) - 3014.2 hPa
Air Temperature 15.0°C Dew Point 11.1°C

[BillieBob]

3014.2 hPa?????? That's some anticyclone!

I think the officer meant to say 1014.2hPa

[minus273]

KAPF 020953Z AUTO 05006KT 10SM BKN041 15/11 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP146 T01500111

Hey there, Well will help with what you ask as all the answers are still wrong even if in minor ways. :E

A good site for the weather decoding is:

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/

You can put in the TAF that you are looking for and it will spit out coded and decoded versions for you. The one above as I see it is:

METAR for KAPF taken on 2nd Day of the month at 0953zulu was taken by an automatic machine. Wind is 050deg @ 6KTS Visibility is 10sm. Clouds Broken at 4100ft above surface. Temp 15 deg C Dew point 11 Deg C. Altimeter 29.97" Hg. "Remarks" Reading taken by an automatic type 2 that has ability to discriminate precipitation. Sea Level Pressure is 1014.6Mb and Accurate temp is 15.0 Deg C and Accurate Dew Point is 11.1 Deg C

With the accurate temps if they were negative the would have a 1 in front of the numbers. i.e. in the example above for them to be negative would be T11501111 as the assumption is that nothing is going to be that high so must be negative.

Well hope that helps some and was just teasing Keygrip and the others about their mistakes.

Keygrip when you back in Phoenix? As we have to go for wings and a beer or 2.

-273