Aviation Weather Codes

- (Intensity)

Light.

+ (Intensity)

Heavy.

VC (Vicinity)

In the vicinity.

MI (Descriptor)

Shallow.

BC (Descriptor)

Patches.

PR (Descriptor)

Partial.

DR (Descriptor)

Drifting.

BL (Descriptor)

Blowing.

SH (Descriptor)

Shower(s).

TS (Descriptor)

Thunderstorm.

FZ (Descriptor)

Freezing.

DZ (Precipitation)

Drizzle.

RA (Precipitation)

Rain.

SN (Precipitation)

Snow.

SG (Precipitation)

Snow Grains.

IC (Precipitation)

Ice Crystals (Vis less than or equal to 6 SM).

PL (Precipitation)

Ice Pellets.

GR (Precipitation)

Hail.

GS (Precipitation)

Snow Pellets.

UP (Precipitation)

Unknown precipitation (AWOS only).

BR (Obscuration)

Mist (Vis greater than or equal to 5/8 SM).

FG (Obscuration)

Fog (Vis less than 5/8 SM).

FU (Obscuration)

Smoke (Vis less than or equal to 6 SM).

DU (Obscuration)

Dust (Vis less than or equal to 6 SM).

SA (Obscuration)

Sand (Vis less than or equal to 6 SM).

HZ (Obscuration)

Haze (Vis less than or equal to 6 SM).

VA (Obscuration)

Volcanic Ash.

PO (Other)

Dust/sand whirls (dust devils).

SQ (Other)

Squalls.

+FC (Other)

Tornado or Waterspout.

SS (Other)

Sandstorm (Vis less than 5/8 SM; +SS Vis less than 5/16 SM).

FC (Other)

Funnel Cloud.

DS (Other)

Dust storm (Vis less than 5/8 SM; +DS Vis less than 5/16 SM).

VV (Sky Cover)

Vertical Visibility. Used of obscured skies with indefinite ceilings.

SKC (Sky Cover)

Clear (0 okta).

FEW (Sky Cover)

Few (1-2 oktas).

SCT (Sky Cover)

Scattered (3-4 oktas).

BKN (Sky Cover)

Broken (5-7 oktas).

OVC (Sky Cover)

Overcast (8 oktas).

CU (Cloud Type)

Cumulus.

TCU (Cloud Type)

Towering cumulus.

CB (Cloud Type)

Cumulonimbus.

ACC (Cloud Type)

Altocumulus castellanus.

FM (Change Group)

From. There will be a rapid change in weather from a certain time onwards.

TEMPO (Change Group)

Temporary. There will be a temporary fluctuation during the specified period.

PROB30 or PROB40 (Change Group)

Probability. There is a 30 or 40 percent chance of an event during the specified period.

BECMG (Change Group)

Becoming. The weather will gradually change to a new condition.

/OV (PIREP)

Location. Must include.

/TM (PIREP)

Time of observation. Must include.

/FL (PIREP)

Flight level or altitude above sea level. Must include.

/TP (PIREP)

Type of aircraft. Must include.

/SK (PIREP)

Sky cover (condition).

/TA (PIREP)

Air temperature.

/WV (PIREP)

Wind velocity.

/TB (PIREP)

Turbulence.

/IC (PIREP)

Icing.

/RM (PIREP)

Remarks.

WS

Wind shear. Followed by runway.

SLP

Sea level pressure. Reported in remarks. Add 10 in front and add a decimal before last digit. Measured in hPa.

RVR

Runway Visual Range. Reported when visibility is less than 1 statute mile.

CZVR (FIR)

Vancouver.

CZEG (FIR)

Edmonton.

CZWG (FIR)

Winnipeg.

CZYZ (FIR)

Toronto.

CZUL (FIR)

Montreal.

CZQM (FIR)

Moncton.

CZQX (FIR)

Gander.