A = Altimeter Setting Ac = Altocumulus cloud AcCast = Altocumulus Castellenas cloud AcLent = Altocumulus Lenticularis cloud ACSL = Altocumulus Standing Lenticular cloud AGL = Above Ground Level Aireps = Aircraft Reports ANAPROP = Anomalous Propagation As = Altostratus cloud ASDAR = Aircraft to Satellite Data Relay ASL = Above Sea Level atm = Standard Atmosphere (101325 Pa) AUTO = Automatic (Weather Station) AVN = A type of NWP model AWS = Automatic Weather Station
B
BC = Patches (usually used with FG) BECMG = Becoming Bf = Beaufort force BKN = Broken cloud (5/8, 6/8 or 7/8 cover) BL = Blowing BR = Mist
C
cP = Polar Continental Airmass (Pc also used) cT = Tropical Continental Airmass (Tc also used) C = Centigrade CA = Cloud to air ligtning (usually used in conjunction with the LTG abbreviation) CAT = Clear Air Turbulence Cb = Cumulonimubus cloud CbMam = Cumulonimbus Mamatus cloud Cc = Cirrocumulus cloud CC = Cloud to cloud ligtning (usually used in conjunction with the LTG abbreviation) CCSL = Cirrocumulus Standing Lenticular cloud CG = Cloud to ground ligtning (usually used in conjunction with the LTG abbreviation) CH = High level clouds (or Ch) Ci = Cirrus cloud CIG = Cloud ceiling height CL = Low level clouds (or Cl) CLD = Cloud CLR = Sky Clear CM = Medium level clouds (or Cm) CONS = Constant COR = Corrected Report Cs = Cirrostratus cloud Cu = Cumulus cloud CuCon = Cumulus Congestus cloud (sometimes called Towering Cumulus and given abbrev. Cu2) CuHu = Cumulus Humilis cloud CuMed = Cumulus Medicoris cloud
D
DALR = Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate DR = Drifting DS = Duststorm DSNT = Distant DU = Dust in suspension in the air DZ = Drizzle
E
ECMWF = European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts ELR = Environmental Lapse Rate EMBD = Embedded ENSO = El Nino/a Southern Oscillation ERS = Earth Resources Satellite EUMETSAT = European Meteorological Satellite
F
F = Fahrenheit Fc = Fractocumulus cloud FC = Funnel cloud (includes Tornado & Waterspout) FEW = Few clouds (1/8 or 2/8 cover) FG = Fog FLOP = Floating Point Operation FM = From FPS = Feet per second FROPA = Frontal passage FRQ = Frequent Fs = Fractostratus cloud FU = Smoke FZ = Freezing
G
g = Acceleraion due to gravity GARP = Global Atmospheric Research Programme GCM = Global Computer Model GF = Ground Frost GMT = Grenwich Mean Time GOES = Geostationary Satellite GR = Hail GS = Small Hail or Soft Hail GTS = Global Telecommunications System
H
H = High HI = Heat Index hPa = Hectopascals HZ = Haze
I
IC = Ice Crystals IC = In cloud ligtning (usually used in conjunction with the LTG abbreviation) ICAO = International Civil Aviation Organization IMO = International Meteorological Organization (now WMO) INSAT = Indian Satellite IR = Infra-Red ITCZ = Inter-Tropical Convergance Zone
J
K
K = Kelvin KT = Knots
L
L = Low LAM = Limited Area model Loran = Long Range Navigation LTG = Lightning
M
mA = Arctic Maritime Airmass (Am also used) mb = millibars mbar = millibars mP = Polar Maritime Airmass (Pm also used) mT = Tropical Maritime Airmass (Tm also used) M = Less than (when used with visibility) or minus (when used with temperatures) METAR = Meteorological Actual Report METEOSAT = Meteorological Satellite MI = Shallow (usually used with FG) MO = Met Office (usually UKMO) MOS = Model Output Statistics MOV(G) = Moving MPS = Metres per second MRF = Medium Range Forecast MSL = Mean Seal Level MSLP = Mean Sea Level Pressure MTW = Mountain Waves
N
NLC = Noctilucent Cloud NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOGAPS = National Oceanographic Global Atmospheric Prediction System Ns = Nimbostratus cloud NWP = Numerical Weather Predication (A computer model) NWS = National Weather Service (USA)
P = More than Pa = Pascal(s) PE = Ice Pellets PK = Peak PO = Dust Devils PPI = Plan Position Indicator (a type of rainfall radar system) PR = Partial (usually used with FG) PRESSFR = Pressure Falling Rapidly PRESSRR = Pressure Rising Rapidly PROB = Probability PY = Spray
Q
QBO = Quasi-biennial Oscillation
R
rmP = Returning Polar Maritime Airmass (or rPm) RE = Recent RH = Relative Humidity RHI = Range Height Indicator (a type of rainfall radar system) RMK = Remarks
S
SA = Sand in suspension in the air SALR = Saturated Adiabatic Laspe Rate Sc = Stratocumulus SCSL = Stratocumulus Standing Lenticular cloud SCT = Scattered cloud (3/8 or 4/8 cover) SF = Sferic (radio interference caused by lightning strikes) SFC = Surface SFLOC = Sferic Location SG = Snowgrains SIGMET = Significant Met. (used in aviation reports) SKC = Sky Clear SM = Statute Mile(s) SN = Snow SNINCR = Snow Increasing Rapidly SPECI = Special (METAR) Report SQ = Squall SS = Sandstorm SST = Sea Surface Temperature St = Stratus cloud STWS = Storm Tide Warning Service SYNOP = Synoptic Report
T
TAF = Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (used in aviation reports) TCU = Towering Cumulus cloud Td = Dewpoint Temperature TEMPO = Temporarily THI = Temperature-Humidity index TIL = Until TS = Thunderstorm Tt = Air Temperature
U
UHIE = Urban Heat Island Effect UKMO = UK Met Office UP = Unknown Precipitation UTC = Universal Time Co-ordinate (GMT) UV = Ultra-Violet
V
V = Varying VA = Volcanic Ash VC = (in the) vicinity VIS = Visible (when associated with satellite images) or Visibility (when associated with surface obs.) VOLMET = Flying (vol is French for fly) Met. (a voice weather broadcast for pilots) VRB = Variable VV = Vertical Visibility
W
WMO = World Meteorological Office WSHFT = Wind shift WV = Water vapour (reffering to satellite images) WWW = World Weather Watch Wx = Weather
X
Y
Z
Z = Zulu (Grenwich Mean Time)
Symbols
+ = Heavy - = Light / = Not measured $ = weather station maintainence due
