Weather Reports - QT
Updated: Apr 20, 2021
Lesson Quicktakes cover the items that should be memorized from each of the wifiCFI Lessons. They do not cover all of the lesson details in-depth.
WEATHER BRIEFINGS:
Can be obtained by calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
Standard Briefing Contents:
Adverse Conditions.
VFR Flight Recommendation.
Synopsis.
Current Conditions.
En-Route Forecast.
Destination Forecast.
Forecast Winds and Temperatures Aloft.
NOTAMs.
A standard briefing should always be obtained prior to a cross country flight.
Abbreviated Briefing:
Shortened version of the Standard Briefing.
Should be requested when original departure time has been delayed.
Outlook Briefing:
This is a forecast briefing.
Should be obtained when planned departure time is 6 hours or more in the future.
HIWAS
Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Service
Can be listened to over navaids with the appropriate symbol.
METAR
Aviation Routine Weather Report
Current surface weather observations.
KOGD = Station Identifier.
091753Z = Time and Date of Report.
VRB05KT = Wind Direction and Velocity.
10SM = Reported Visibility.
CLR = Sky Condition.
Broken, Overcast, and Vertical Visibility Count as “Ceilings.”
09/M02 = Temperature/Dewpoint in Celsius.
RMK = Remarks.
A02 = Automated Station Type 2.
SLP257 = Sea Level Pressure in Millibars.
T00941022 = Temperature and Dewpoint to the 10th of a Degree.
PIREPs
Pilot Reports. Weather conditions reported by pilots in flight.
UA = Routine Report.
UUA = Urgent Report.
TM = Time.
FL = Flight Level.
TP = Type of Aircraft.
SK = Cloud Coverage (Sky Condition).
WX = Weather.
TA = Air Temperature in Celsius.
WV = Wind direction and velocity.
TB = Turbulence
IC = Icing.
RM = Remarks.
TAF
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast.
Forecasted weather for a 5 mile radius around an airport.
Each TAF is valid for 24 or 30 hours.
Issued 4 times per day at: 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z.
AIRMETS
Significant weather reports pertinent to smaller aircraft.
Types of Airmets:
Sierra = IFR Conditions and Mountain Obscuration.
Tango = Turbulence.
Zulu = Icing.
SIGMETS
Significant weather reports pertinent to all aircraft.
CONVECTIVE SIGMETS
SIGMETS in correlation with a thunderstorm.
WIND SYMBOLS:
WIND AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT:
SURFACE ANALYSIS CHARTS:
LOW LEVEL PROGNOSTIC CHARTS:
Forecasted weather covering the 48 states from the surface to 24,000 feet.
Issued 4 times daily at: 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z.
RADAR SUMMARY CHARTS:
Show precipitation. NOT cloud coverage.
SATELLITE IMAGERY CHARTS:
Show cloud coverage. NOT precipitation.