METAR Help - Isafjordur, Iceland

[750XL]

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone here can explain the RMK of this METAR, it's been puzzling me for a while.

Thanks


BIIS 281410Z 04020G33KT 9000 -SHRASN FEW010 SCT015 OVC020 01/// Q0976 08620195 RMK ARNARNES 60 GR 30 G 50KN

[BOAC]

Arnarnes is the location of a lighthouse at the mouth of the sound on which Isafjordur town and airport sits, and I assume the lighthouse has some sort of automatic weather reporting system.

[darkroomsource]

I'll take a stab at it...

ARNARNES 60 GR 30 G 50KN

Arnarnes is a town (on the west coast of Iceland), it is overcast at 600 feet, with hail, and the wind there is 30 knots gusting to 50 knots

it might be a warning - this is what's coming...

[Dave Clarke Fife]

Nothing to do with cloud I don't think......the info above shows the cloud amount ( FEW BKN SCT OVC ) and height 010 ( 1000ft ) 025 ( 2500ft ) so the 60 makes no sense. Buggered if I know the answer though.

[BOAC]

I suspect '60' may well be the intensity of the hail, but the RMK does not appear to conform to normal aviation coding.

Just found this in the AIP - 'Automatic weather station 4 m NE of field by IS NDB'.

Near (or at) Arnanes lighthouse

[750XL]

Thanks for the replies :ok:

[BOAC]

Interesting little airport which would certainly eliminate at least 80% of the 'children of the magenta line' with its localiser offset 90 degrees from the runway.:D

[rogerg]

A bit like Kai Tak, only worse!!

[mcdhu]

Unlikely I know, but could it be that the wind direction remotely reported from the lighthouse is with reference to grid, rather than magnetic or true? But whose grid? Dunno!
mcdhu

[750XL]

Slight thread drift but I flew into Isafjordur myself a few weeks ago, great airport, great approach and a great town! Definitely recommended for anyone who is staying in Iceland for a few days as a day trip, only cost about 90EUR return.

Extreme Airport Approach in Iceland! (HD) - YouTube

[SR-22]

I believe its 060 gráður (degrees in Icelandic) 30 gust 50kts as a wind reading only from Arnarnes. I might be full of **** but believe it's the most likely explanation and would make sense to give that information given the surrounding area. Takeoff in this kind of wind would NOT be allowed.

Have been there a few times and it can be really tricky to fly in there in windy conditions... makes LPMA/FNC or Kai Tak seem to be a walk in the park.

[proxus]

RMK ARNARNES 60 GR 30 G 50KN

Basically means:
RMK = Remark
Arnarnes = The lighthouse as explained before
GR = Degrees. Shortened from gráður which is degrees in icelandic
30G50 = 30 Gusting 50 kts.

This is done basically because the fjord which the airport is in (Skutulsfjörður) is much narrower than the main fjord (Ísafjörður) and the added info can help flighcrew in the decision making as the approach is down the main fjord but then you have to visually fly into the fjord and make the landing which more than often requires a 180° turn in the bottom of it.

Here's a cockpit video from some years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDt-7Jegs0

[BOAC]

GR = degrees- simple! Thanks for the info AND the videos. Would love to have a go at that.

[750XL]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated, we got there in the end :ok: