Wx is not looking good this morning so oral review time will keep me in the flying game today. Time to read read and more reading. I highlighted the Terminal Area Forcast notes that jump out and send up flags for me.Updated at 10:26 AM GMT on March 29, 2009 (6:26 AM EDT):
SPECI KILG 291026Z 05010KT 2 1/2SM BR OVC002 08/07 A2956
KILG 290853Z 2909/3006 08010KT P6SM VCSH OVC004
TEMPO 2910/2914 3SM -SHRA BR SCT004 OVC012
FM291400 11010KT P6SM -SHRA OVC012CB
FM291700 16012KT P6SM -SHRA VCTS BKN004 OVC010CB
FM292000 22012KT 5SM -SHRA BR VCTS SCT008 OVC020CB
FM292300 30012KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040
FM300300 28010KT P6SM SCT040
Some METAR reading helpful hints.....
05010KT-Winds
The 050 (the first three numbers) is the direction of 
the winds in degrees from 0 to 360 degrees (although you will never see 360 because after 350, it goes back to 0). The 10 (next two numbers) is the speed of the winds in knots. The KT simply means knots. It will always be at the end. For winds speeds below 7 knots, you might see VRB005KT which means the wind direction is variable. This is the idea of "light and variable" that you might see in a forecast. For winds greater than 6 knots you might see 18015KT 150V210. The winds are from 180 degrees at 15 knots, but the direction is actually variable between 150 degrees and 210 degrees. In order to be variable above 6 knots, the winds must have at least a 60 degree variation.
the winds in degrees from 0 to 360 degrees (although you will never see 360 because after 350, it goes back to 0). The 10 (next two numbers) is the speed of the winds in knots. The KT simply means knots. It will always be at the end. For winds speeds below 7 knots, you might see VRB005KT which means the wind direction is variable. This is the idea of "light and variable" that you might see in a forecast. For winds greater than 6 knots you might see 18015KT 150V210. The winds are from 180 degrees at 15 knots, but the direction is actually variable between 150 degrees and 210 degrees. In order to be variable above 6 knots, the winds must have at least a 60 degree variation. 2 1/2SM-Visibility
The 2 1/2SM simply means 2 1/2 Statute Miles. Occasionally you might see visibility up to 20 or 30 SM but for the most part it will go from less than 1/4 visibility up to 10SM.
The 2 1/2SM simply means 2 1/2 Statute Miles. Occasionally you might see visibility up to 20 or 30 SM but for the most part it will go from less than 1/4 visibility up to 10SM.
(-SHRA)-Present Weather and Obscurations
(-) is the designator for light. Precipitation will either be light/moderate
(-), or heavy (+) based on certain criteria that must be met. For now, just understand that it is simply the intensity of the snow, rain, hail, sleet, or freezing rain.
(-) is the designator for light. Precipitation will either be light/moderate
(-), or heavy (+) based on certain criteria that must be met. For now, just understand that it is simply the intensity of the snow, rain, hail, sleet, or freezing rain. SH means showers and RA means rain. So the present weather is BR mist. The forcast does show -SHRA (light/moderate rain showers) and also VCTS (Thunderstorms in the vicinity)
- Light Moderate, + Heavy , VC In the Vicinity, MI Shallow, PR Partial, BC Patches,DR Low Drifting,BL Blowing,SH Shower(s),TS Thunderstorm,FZ Freezing,DZ Drizzle,RA Rain,SN Snow,
SG Snow Grains,IC Ice Crystals,PL Ice Pellets,GR Hail,GS Small Hail and/or Snow Pellets,UP Unknown Precipitation,BR Mist,FG Fog,FU Smoke,VA Volcanic Ash,DU Widespread Dust,SA Sand,HZ Haze,PY Spray,PO Well-Developed Dust/Sand Whirls,SQ Squalls,FC Funnel Cloud.
SG Snow Grains,IC Ice Crystals,PL Ice Pellets,GR Hail,GS Small Hail and/or Snow Pellets,UP Unknown Precipitation,BR Mist,FG Fog,FU Smoke,VA Volcanic Ash,DU Widespread Dust,SA Sand,HZ Haze,PY Spray,PO Well-Developed Dust/Sand Whirls,SQ Squalls,FC Funnel Cloud.
OVC002-Sky Condition
OVC represents overcast. (The clouds cover 8/8 of the sky)
002 represents the clouds are at 200 feet (simply add 2 zeros to get the height).
The cloud cover will either be FEW (1/8 TO 2/8 cloud coverage), SCT (SCATTERED, 3/8 TO 4/8 cloud coverage, BKN (5/8-7/8 coverage), and OVC (OVERCAST, 8/8 Coverage). You will often have more than 1 designator (i.e. SCT035 BKN090 OVC140).
08/07-Temperature and Dewpoint
08 represents the temperature in Celcius 07represents the dewpoint in Celcius.If the temperature or dewpoint falls below 0 there will be an "M" before it (i.e. 03/M02). "M" means minus.
08 represents the temperature in Celcius 07represents the dewpoint in Celcius.If the temperature or dewpoint falls below 0 there will be an "M" before it (i.e. 03/M02). "M" means minus.
2 comments:
Learning to fly / getting an IR takes such dedication - if it's not finding the right CFI, its the plane, or the Wx. Kept it up Gary!! The stars will align.
I sure hope so!
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