weather

RA

Rain

SN

Snow

FG

Fog

BR

Mist

HZ

Haze

TS

Thunderstorm

SH

Showers

DZ

Drizzle

FZ

Freezing

GR

Hail

UP

Unknown precipitation

DU

Dust

SA

Sand

FU

Smoke

SKC/CLR

Sky clear

BKN

Broken clouds (5/8 to 7/8 coverage)

FEW

FEW clouds (1/8 to 2/8 coverage)

OVC

Overcast (8/8 coverage)

SCT

Scattered clouds (3/8 to 4/8 coverage)

VV

Vertical visibility

—

Light intensity

+

Heavy intensity

No sign

Moderate intensity

VC

In the vicinity (5-10 sm)

RVR

Runway visual range

CIG

Ceiling

WS

Wind shear

VIS

Visibility

LLWS

Low-level wind shear

WX

Weather

VRB

Variable wind direction

SLP

Sea level pressure

Cumulus- low level

Heaped or piled

Stratus- low level

Layered

Cirrus- high level

Wispy, thin, high

Nimbus- varied

Rain-bearing

Lenticular- varied

Lens-shaper, forms over mountains

Cirrostratus-high level

Thin transparent, veil-like sheet that can create a halo around the sun or moon, often bringing rain or snow within 24h

Cirrocumulus- high level

Small, white, patchy ripples or puffs, often signaling cold weather

Altocumulus- mid level

Gray or white patchy rolls and heaps that can mean fair weather or thunderstorms

Altostratus- mid level

A gray or blue sheet that covers most of the sky and brings continuous rain or snow

Nimbostratus

A dark, thick, uniform layer that rains or snows non-stop

Stratocumulus

Low, chunky, or rolling masses or honeycomb like patterns with potential for light storms.

Cumulonimbus

Towering, massive storm clouds with anvil shaped tops that produce heavy downpour, lightning, and tornados.

Mammatus- varied

Pouch or bubble like lobes hanging from the underside of a cloud linked to servere weather.

Cold front- blue line with triangles

Fast moving air drops temperature rapidly, triggering severe thunderstorms or heavy rain.

Warm front- red line with semi circles

Slow moving air rides over cold air, bringing gradual long lasting drizzle, fog, and light rain.

Stationary front- alternative red triangles and blue semi circles

Two air masses stalled out against each other, causing gray, damp weather and continuous light precipitation for days.

Occluded front- purple line with alternating shapes

A fast cold front traps a warm air mass, lifting it off the ground to produce a mix of heavy precipitation.

Cold occlusion

Happens when advancing cold air behind the front is colder and denser than the stagnant air mass ahead of it. It lifts both warm front and Ir aloft.

Warm occlusion

Happens when advancing cold air behind the front is warmer than the frozen air trapped ahead of it. Slides over the cooler ground air mass.