Aviation weather product Height reference

TAF
METAR/SPECI
METAR AUTO

VOLMET
Takeoff & landing reports
ATIS

100s of feet above aerodrome level
AAW Feet above mean sea level
GNZSIGWX Flight levels
GRAFOR 100s of feet above mean sea level
SIGMET Feet above mean sea level up to 10,000 ft and flight levels at and above FL100
VAA Flight levels
ROFOR Flight levels
SIGWX charts Flight levels
WIND/TEMP charts Flight levels
SATPIX Flight levels
TC advisory Flight levels
SWX advisory Flight levels (indicated for radiation effects only)
Weather element Unit
Temperature Degrees celsius
Pressure Hectopascals (hPa)
TAF Within 8 km radius of the aerodrome reference point.
METAR/SPECI
METAR AUTO
Within 8 km radius of the aerodrome reference point. When the term Vicinity (VC) is used this applies to the area within an 8 to 16 km radius of the aerodrome reference point
AAW Within the named area, eg,  TM (Tamaki)
GNZSIGWX
GRAFOR
New Zealand (NZZC) FIR
SIGMET New Zealand (NZZC) and Auckland Oceanic (NZZO) FIRs
ROFOR Specific route(s) and levels indicated in a ROFOR
HI-Level SIGWX charts Within specific geographical areas and for the airspace between FL250 and FL630
Mid-Level SIGWX charts Within specific geographical areas and for the airspace between FL100 and FL250
WIND/TEMP charts Specific geographical areas and Flight Level noted on the charts
VAA, SWX advisory Polygons with vertices defined in standard latitude and longitude format, or latitude bands defined in product reference material
TC advisory Location of TC centre in standard latitude and longitude format, with associated CB cloud either in a specified distance from the TC centre or in a polygon with vertices defined in standard latitude and longitude format.

Wind

  Product Terminology
Speed

METAR
SPECI
METAR AUTO
TAF
VOLMET
AAW*
Take-off and landing reports
ATIS

Knots, with gusts indicated where they exceed the mean wind speed by 10 knots or more.
Gust information follows the mean wind speed separated by the letter G, eg,  24015G30KT

*Gusts not included in AAW

Calm is indicated by 00000KT

 Direction  METAR
SPECI
METAR AUTO
TAF
VOLMET
AAW
Degrees true

VRB indicates variable, eg, VRB02KT
Takeoff and landing reports
ATIS
Degrees magnetic
Direction Variability METAR
SPECI
When the direction varies by 60 degrees or more, the extreme directions are given, separated by the letter V, eg, 260V330

Visibility (for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch aerodromes only)

Prevailing Visibility is defined as the maximum visibility covering at least half of the total horizon (note: the sections of the horizon do not have to be adjoining).

METAR AUTO Prevailing visibility is reported in metres up to a maximum of 9999 metres. Prevailing visibilities of 10km or greater are reported as 9999.
TAF
VOLMET
Visibility is forecast in metres up to a maximum of 9999 metres.

Visibilities of 10 km or greater are forecast as 9999.
Takeoff & landing reports
ATIS
Visibility is forecast in metres up to a maximum of 9999 metres.

Visibilities of 10 km or greater are forecast as 9999.

Visibility (for domestic aerodromes other than NZAA, NZWN and NZCH)

Prevailing Visibility is defined as the maximum visibility covering at least half of the total horizon (note: the sections of the horizon do not have to be adjoining).

METAR*
SPECI*
METAR AUTO

Up to 9999 metres, prevailing visibility is reported in metres, eg 3000. Prevailing visibility above 9999 metres is reported in kilometres, eg 10 km, 20 km, etc.

* Where there is a marked variation in the visibility, the minimum visibility is added with a direction given, eg 7000 1200SW (where the prevailing visibility is 7000 metres).

TAF GRAFOR Up to 9999 metres, visibility is forecast in metres,
eg 7000.

Above 9999 metres, visibility is forecast in kilometres,
eg 20 km.
Takeoff & landing reports
ATIS
Reported in metres when the visibility is less than 5000 metres, eg 3000 m.

Visibilities of 5000 metres or more are reported in kilometres, eg 5 km.

Runway Visual Range (only reported at Auckland and Christchurch aerodromes)

Instrumented Runway Visual Range (IRVR) equipment has been installed at Auckland (RWY 05R/23L) and Christchurch (RWY 02/20) International Airports.  The equipment consists of three transmissometers located adjacent to the Touchdown zone, the runway Mid-point, and the runway Stop-end.

  Product Terminology
RVR METAR
AUTO

Reported when Runway Visual Range (RVR) or visibility is less than 1500 m.

Is reported for the touchdown zone of the runway(s) in use. The runway designator is reported followed by the RVR, eg, R05/1400.

If the RVR during the 10 minutes before the observation time shows a distinct upward or downward tendency, U for upward or D for downward is added. When it is not possible to determine the tendency N is used.

When the RVR exceeds 1500 m, it is reported as P1500 and when it is less than 50 m it is reported as M0050.

RVR ATIS

RVR is broadcast on the ATIS and is advised directly to the pilot by TOWER.

The Touchdown zone RVR will be reported whenever the observed value is less than 1500 m.

The Mid-point and Stop-end RVR will only be reported when the observed value is:
(a) Less than the Touchdown zone value; or
(b) Less than 600 m.

Cloud

  Product Cloud Type or amount Code
Cloud Type TAF
VOLMET
Cumulonimbus
Towering Cumulus
CB
TCU*
  METAR
SPECI
Takeoff & landing reports
METAR AUTO
ATIS
Cumulonimbus
Towering Cumulus
CB
TCU

*  Not included in VOLMET

Note: When Cumulonimbus cloud (CB) is included in meteorological information (observations, forecasts and all weather charts), this implies that there may be associated thunderstorms and the occurrence of severe icing, turbulence, and hail.  
  GNZSIGWX Cumulonimbus CB
Cloud Amount

METAR
SPECI
METAR AUTO
TAF
VOLMET
Takeoff & landing reports
ATIS

Sky clear
No significant cloud
No cloud detected
1 - 2 oktas (Few)
3 - 4 oktas (Scattered)
5 - 7 oktas (Broken)
8 oktas (Overcast)
SKC1
NSC2
NCD3
FEW
SCT
BKN
OVC4
  GNZSIGWX
GRAFOR
 

TCU and CB only
ISOL
OCNL
FRQ
EMBD

All Other cloud
OVC
BKN
SCT
NSC

Notes:

1. Not used in TAF for NZAA, NZWN and NZCH
2. Only used in TAF for NZAA, NZWN and NZCH
3. Only used in METAR AUTO and means no cloud detected (NCD) below 10,000 ft at NZAA, NZWN and NZCH, or no cloud detected at any level for all other domestic aerodromes.
4. When the sky is obscured, or forecast to be obscured (eg, because of fog), the cloud group will be shown as VV/// (vertical visibility unavailable)

Additional METAR/METAR AUTO/SPECI Terminology

Product Terminology Code
METAR
METAR AUTO
SPECI

Corrections to reports are indicated using the code letters, eg, METAR COR.

This implies that the text of the SPECI or METAR has been corrected

COR

Code for significant present and forecast weather at the aerodrome.

Aerodrome weather codes [PDF 143 KB]

 

Product Terminology Meaning/description
TAF AMD Amended: as in TAF AMD
  COR Corrected: as in TAF COR
  BECMG Used to describe changes where the meteorological conditions are expected to reach, or pass through, specified threshold values at a regular, or irregular, rate, and at an unspecified time within a period.
Example
BECMG 1523/1601
In this example, the period of time concerned is 2300 on the 15th to 0100 UTC on the 16th.
  FM Used when one set of prevailing weather conditions is expected to change significantly, and more or less completely, to a different set of conditions, with the change expected to occur at the time indicated.
Example FM052230 In this example, the time of the change is 2230 UTC on the 5th.
  TEMPO Used to describe expected frequent, or infrequent, temporary fluctuations in the meteorological conditions, which reach or pass specified threshold values, and last for a period of less than one hour in each instance. Such fluctuations take place sufficiently infrequently for the prevailing conditions to remain those originally forecast.
Example TEMPO 0602/0607 In this example, the temporary fluctuations are expected to occur between 0200 and 0700 UTC on the 6th.
  PROB Used to indicate the probability of the occurrence of an alternative forecast element over a specified time period.
Example 1:
PROB30 1117/1121 0500 FG
This example indicates that there is a 30% chance of visibility reducing to 500 m in fog between 1700 and 2100 UTC on the 11th.
Example 2:
PROB40 TEMPO 1402/1406 3000
+TSRA BKN018CB
This example indicates that there is a 40% chance that temporarily between 0200 and 0600 UTC on the 14th, the visibility will reduce to 3000 m in heavy thunder-storms and rain, with broken Cumulonimbus cloud at 1800 ft above aerodrome level.
GNZSIGWX

MOD ICE
MOD TURB
MTW
VA
RDOACT

Moderate icing
Moderate turbulence
Mountain waves
Volcanic ash
Radioactive cloud
GRAFOR

SH, TS, DZ, RA, GS, GR, SN, SG, BR, FG, HZ, FU, VA, DU, SA, SQ, PO, FC, SS, DS

Decode of the abbreviations [PDF 143 KB]
 

NSW

Nil Significant Weather
Terminology Definition
Known Ice/Icing Known ice/icing is the situation where ice formation on an aircraft is actually detected or observed.
Known Icing Conditions Known icing conditions are those where a pilot would expect a substantial likelihood of ice formation on an aircraft based on all the information available to a pilot, eg, weather reports, aircraft reports, forecasts and warnings.

AIP New Zealand Table GEN 3.5-1 Meteorological Terminology(external link) (Additional terminology applicable only to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch aerodromes)