Met Decode METAR help please
 

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

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

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

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:

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.

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

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

:E

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