Manual on Codes Regional Codes and National Coding Practices Volume II 2011 edition Updated in 2017 WEATHER CLIMATE WATER WMO-No. 306
Manual on Codes Regional Codes and National Coding Practices Volume II 2011 edition Updated in 2017 WMO-No. 306
WMO-No. 306 World Meteorological Organization, 2011 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chairperson, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03 P.O. Box 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 17 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: publications@wmo.int ISBN 978-92-63-10306-2 NOTE The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised.
PUBLICATION REVISION TRACK RECORD Date Part/chapter/section Purpose of amendment Amendments to Russian Federation national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 12 SYNOP and FM 13 SHIP Amendments to Islamic Republic of Iran and Czech Republic national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 12 SYNOP and FM 13 SHIP, amendments to the Netherlands national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 15 METAR, FM 16 SPECI and FM 51 TAF, and amendments to Czech Republic national code form Amendment to Japan national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 15 METAR and FM 16 SPECI, amendments to Finland national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 15 METAR, FM 16 SPECI and FM 51 TAF and specification of sub-area for which GAFOR will be provided, and amendments to the Netherlands national coding procedures with regard to international code form FM 12 SYNOP and national code form NF01-AUTO KLIM Proposed by Approval Resolution 2012 Chapter II: Region II Asia, Section D and Chapter VI: Region VI Europe, Section D Russian Federation Not applicable 2014 Chapter II: Region II Asia, Section D and Chapter VI: Region VI - Europe, Sections D and E Islamic Republic of Iran, Czech Republic and the Netherlands Not applicable 2015 Chapter II: Region II Asia, Section D and Chapter VI: Region VI Europe, Sections D, E and G Finland, Japan and the Netherlands Not applicable 2017 Chapter VI: Region VI Europe, Section D Amendment to the Netherlands national coding procedures with regard to international code forms FM 15 METAR, FM 16 SPECI and FM 51 TAF Netherlands Not applicable
INTRODUCTION Several international code forms, in particular those needed for the functioning of basic systems in meteorology, contain provisions for regional or national options in the use of certain figure groups or the specification of certain symbolic letters. Volume II of the Manual on Codes contains information on the use made by regional associations and individual National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of these options. It also contains full descriptions of additional code forms adopted by regional associations for use within the Region and inventories of those national code forms which might be of interest to other countries. Unlike Volumes I.1 and I.2 of the Manual on Codes, Volume II is not considered an annex to the Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49). The word shall in the English text (and the equivalent term in the French, Russian and Spanish texts) has its dictionary meaning and does not have the regulatory character of shall (and the equivalent term) as in the Technical Regulations. Volume II consists of seven chapters, six of which are devoted each to a WMO Region, the seventh to the Antarctic. The regional coding procedures are adopted formally by the regional association concerned. Regional codes for use in the Antarctic are adopted by the Executive Council on the advice of the Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar and High-mountain Observations, Research and Services. The chapters are each divided into six sections (seven in the case of Region VI): Section A contains regional coding procedures and is subdivided into two subsections: Subsection A.1 contains regional coding procedures with regard to international code forms; Subsection A.2 contains regional code forms and corresponding coding procedures. The Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Volume I, Part II, 2.2 specifies that symbolic words, groups and letters (or groups of letters) required for regional or national purposes only shall be selected so as not to duplicate those used in international code forms. Section B contains lists of symbolic letters for regional use which are to be replaced, generally by figures in coded reports, analyses or forecasts, with their specifications. Definitions and coding procedures relating to the specification concerned are added, where appropriate, to the specifications in the form of notes. Where symbolic letters represent coded information, i.e. not just the scale of values as measured, the reference to the tables containing specifications of the code figures is added between brackets. Code tables with a three-figure number are for regional use and are given in Section C. Code tables which are numbered from 0100 to 5299 are part of the system of international code tables as given in Volume I.1, Section C. Whenever symbolic letters appearing in regional codes are already used in the international codes, they retain their international character. Their specifications remain unaltered and are to be found in Volume I.1, Section B. Section C contains the specifications of code figures for regional use in the form of code tables. The tables are preceded by a description of the numbering system of regional code tables included in the part concerned. Regional code tables are numbered with a three-figure number. Section D contains national coding procedures with regard to international code forms. Information on the various uses of groups in international code forms which are reserved for national use is printed in roman type. Information is given only for groups which are used. Countries are listed alphabetically under each FM code form. Information on national deviations from international or regional standard coding procedures, provided by Members following Article 9 (b) of the Convention, is included in italics. Section 5 of FM 12 SYNOP and FM 13 SHIP shall only contain data which are for national exchange or for exchange between a small group of Members. Section 5 shall not be included in the international exchange over the Global Telecommunication System. Therefore, national coding practices concerning the use of Section 5 of FM 12 SYNOP and FM 13 SHIP are normally not included in Volume II.
REGION VI NETHERLANDS Civil* stations: Military stations: FM 15-XV Ext. AUTO METAR and FM 15-XV Ext. METAR and FM 16-XV Ext. SPECI FM 15-XV Ext. AUTO METAR and FM 16-XV Ext. AUTO SPECI Both CIVIL* and MILITARY stations 15.4 With reference to fully automatically produced observations: If any element cannot be observed, the group in whict would have been encoded shall be replaced by the appropriate number of solidi, in accordance with the table below. * Also applicable, and as appropriate, for the Dutch Caribbean islands of Bonaire and Sint Eustatius. (AUTO) METAR reports are produced hourly. There are no aeronautical observation reports produced for the island of Saba. Encoding of missing values in reports of AUTO METAR and AUTO SPECI from 10 November 2016 Code group Reporting practice Total number* of solidi remarks * regular code group slashes included 1. Wind ///12KT 3 wind direction information not available 2. 230//KT 2 wind speed information not available 3. /////KT 5 wind speed and wind direction not available 4. Visibility //// 4 visibility information not available 5. RVR R//////// 8 RVR information not available; 1 group R//////// will replace all possible RVR groups 6. R13///// 5 RVR information not available for given touchdown zone; to be used when at least 1 other RVR value is available (in such case, R//////// cannot be used) 7. Present weather // 2 no PW sensor available or sensor defect; 1 group // will replace all possible present weather groups 8. Recent weather RE// 2 information on recent weather phenomena not available; 1 group RE// will replace all possible recent weather groups 9. Clouds (including vertical visibility) ///////// 9 no information on cloud amount, height and type; 1 group ///////// will replace all possible cloud groups 10. BKN020/// 3 cloud type not available for given layer 11.* (including vertical visibility) ////// (//////CB) 6 cloud amount and height not available; system is capable of detecting cloud type; 1 group ////// will replace all possible cloud groups 12. BKN////// 6 cloud height and type not available for given amount 13. BKN/// (BKN///CB) 3 cloud height not available; system is capable of detecting cloud type for the given cloud amount 14. ///020/// 6 cloud amount and type not available for given cloud height 15. ///020 (///020CB) 16. Air temperature and dewpoint temperature 3 cloud amount not available; system is capable of detecting cloud type for the given cloud height ///// 5 air temperature and dewpoint temperature not available; replaced by 2 times 2 // 17. 14/// 3 dewpoint temperature not available; replaced by 2 // 18. ///12 3 air temperature not available; replaced by 2 // 19. Atmospheric pressure Q//// 4 QNH information not available 20. Water temperature and significant wave height W///H/// 6 water temperature not available; replaced by 2 //and significant wave height not available; replaced by 3 /// (North Sea platforms) 21. W///H3 W///H104 3 water temperature not available; replaced by 2 // (H = 0.3 m) 3 water temperature not available; replaced by 2 // (H = 10.4 m) 22. W17/H/// 4 sigificant wave height not available; replaced by 3 /// 23. Runway State Message R///////// 2 to 9 manually inserted II 6 D 11
REGION VI NETHERLANDS (continued) * Additional remark with reference to the table, point 11: If the system is capable of detecting cloud type, but not to associate this type to a given cloud layer, two cases are possible: 1. If the system has not detected CB or TCU, cloud type is nevertheless considered as available For all cloud layers (the group of 3 /// is not added, as information about the absence of CB and TCU is available); 2. If the system has detected CB or TCU, an additional cloud group (//////CB or //////TCU) is included. 15.8.9 1. Reporting freezing fog in AUTO METAR In fully automatically generated reports, qualifier FZ shall only be used to report freezing fog (FZFG) in a situation witubzero temperatures (< 0 C) and a horizontal visibility of < 1 000 metres, whether rime ice is deposited or not. Fog types PRFG, BCFG, MIFG and VCFG cannot be detected by the system. 2. Reporting freezing fog in METAR In a manned situation (Amsterdam Schiphol only) the visible deposition of rime ice is used as an extra criterion. In a situation witubzero temperatures (< 0 C), observed rime ice and the fog types FG, PRFG and BCFG, qualifier FZ shall be used to report FZFG. Shallow fog and any fog in the vicinity of the aerodrome shall always be reported as MIFG and VCFG respectively, whether rime ice is deposited or not. 15.9.2 Vertical visibility V V The group V V shall be reported when no cloud base can be detected or observed due to fog or due to (intensive) precipitation, as where: In case of fog, the maximum reported value for shall be 500 ft or, In case of precipitation, the maximum reported value for shall be 1 000 ft. In the case of fully automatically generated reports, when information on vertical visibility is not available due to technical malfunction or as a result of (extremely) heavy precipitation, the group shall read V V///. 15.10 Code word CAVOK In fully automatically generated reports, the code word CAVOK shall not be used to replace the prescribed meteorological elements. However, when applicable, the code word CAVOK may be used in the TREND forecast of those reports. CIVIL stations only Notes: (1) Station Vlissingen Fully automated observation station Vlissingen (EHFS) is not an aeronautical station. It produces AUTO METARs only, and no TREND. 15.14 Trend forecasts In the TREND the following criteria shall be used as a departure from the regulations: horizontal visibility: an extra criterion of 8 km; mean surface wind: a deviated criterion if the mean surface wind direction has changed by 30 or more and the mean speed before and/or after the change is 10 knots or more. Stations of the ROYAL AIR FORCE and the ROYAL NAVY only REMARK: The observations of all military stations are produced fully automatically. Notes: (4) AUTO SPECI reports are produced along with the routine semi-hourly AUTO METAR reports. II 6 D 12
REGION VI CZECH REPUBLIC The first line TAF will not be included at the beginning of the text of the TAF bulletins. FRANCE The code name TAF is not included as the first line of the text of the bulletins. The single word TAF will not be included at the beginning of each report. VV See FM 15 METAR and FM 16 SPECI. LATVIA 51.1.1 The code name TAF is not included as the first line of the text of the bulletins. The code name TAF is included at the beginning of each report. LITHUANIA Regulation Remarks 51.1.2 The group YYGGggZ is not included in eacndividual forecast. NETHERLANDS FM 51-XV Ext. TAF civil and military stations Both CIVIL and MILITARY stations 51.6.2 Vertical visibility V V When the sky is forecast to be obscured due to fog or intensive precipitation and clouds or a cloud base may not be specified, the group V V shall be used. In case of fog, the maximum value forecast for shall be 500 ft. In case of precipitation, the maximum value forecast for shall be 1 000 ft. 51.8 Change groups If conditions are forecast to change for mean surface wind, the following deviated criterion shall apply: if the wind direction is forecast to change by 30 or more and the wind speed before and/or after the change is expected to be 10 knots or more. 51.10 Forecast maximum and minimum temperatures The group (TXT F T F /Y F Y F Z TNT F T F /Y F Y F Z) shall not be included in the report. CIVIL stations only 51.8 Change groups If conditions are forecast to change for horizontal visibility, an additional criterion of 8 kilometres shall apply. Stations of the ROYAL AIR FORCE and the ROYAL NAVY only 51.8 Change groups If conditions are forecast to change for horizontal visibility and/or cloud height and/or cloud coverage or for vertical visibility, the following criteria shall apply: the group V V V V visibility improving and changing to, or passing through, or deteriorating and passing through the values 500, 800, 1 500, 3 000 or 5 000 metres; the group N s N s N s the amount of a layer or mass of cloud below 2 000 ft is forecast to change from FEW to SCT, BKN or OVC or from SCT, BKN or OVC to FEW; II 6 D 26
REGION VI NETHERLANDS (continued) the height of the base of a SCT, BKN or OVC cloud layer lifting and changing to, or passing through, or lowering and passing through the values 200, 300, 500, 1 000, 1500 or 2 000 ft; the group V V the vertical visibility improving and changing to, or passing through, or deteriorating and passing through the values 200, 300, 500 or 1 000 ft. NORWAY National deviation from the following global regulation: 51.4.3 Forecasted visibility will be given in 100 metres steps also for visibility up to 500 metres. ROMANIA National deviation from the following global regulations: 51.8, 51.9 and 51.12 The additional groups TT F T F / Z 6I c t L and 5Bh B h B h B t L are not used. SPAIN The code name TAF is not included. YYGGggZ This group is not included in the TAF report itself. The unit used for wind speed is the knot (kt). By regional air navigation agreement, the abbreviation NSC is used as provided for in Regulation 51.6.3 of the TAF code form. Groups TT F T F / Z (temperature forecast), 6I c t L (icing forecast) and 5Bh B h B h B t L (turbulence forecast) are not used. SWEDEN National deviations from the following global regulations: 51.1.2 The group YYGGggZ will not be included in eacndividual forecast. 51.4.1 No deviation, but the issue may be reconsidered after a six-month trial period. (See Regulation 15.6 FM 15 METAR and FM 16 SPECI). 51.5.1 The list of significant forecast weather phenomena (w w ) will be extended to include: Ice pellets, snow grains, and rain and snow mixed, independent of intensity; (inserted after the second clause: Moderate or heavy... rain and snow mixed;) The last clause will read: Other weather phenomena given in Code table 4678 which are expected to cause a reduction in visibility below 10 kilometres. Mist (BR) will be forecast when visibility is expected to be at least 1 000 metres but no more than 10 kilometres. Haze (HZ) and diamond dust (IC) will be forecast independent of the associate visibility. The combination freezing rain and snow (±FZRASN or ±FZSNRA) will be allowed. 51.6.1.5 Will read: The height of the base of forecast cloud layer (mass) shall be coded in units of 30 metres (100 feet) up to 3 000 metres (10 000 feet), and above 10 000 feet in units of 300 metres (1 000 feet), in the form (in alignment with Annex 3 (1/7/93), paragraph 4.9.5). 51.6.3 51.7 See Regulation 15.10 FM 15 METAR and FM 16 SPECI. II 6 D 27
REGION VI UKRAINE National deviations from the following global regulations: 51.7 The phenomena squall and spout are added under (c). 51.8 The following text is added: The forecast temperature shall be included in reports when it is expected that its value will be within the range 5 C to +5 C, +25 C, or 25 C. Notes to Code table 4678 (5) The following sentence is added: The intensity qualifier + is also used in coding supercooled fog accompanied by the formation of glaze. (6) This note is amended to read: As a rule, one descriptor shall be included in a w w group, for example BCFG or SHRA. The use of two descriptors is permitted when reporting supercooled fog: shallow (i.e. ground) MIFZFG, or patches BCFZFG, as well as supercooled rain showers FZSHRA. (9) The first sentence is amended to read: When blowing snow is observed witnow falling from cloud, both phenomena are reported, in such a way that the one which, in the observer s opinion, makes the greater contribution to the deterioration of horizontal visibility is given first: SN or BLSN. UNITED KINGDOM See FM 15 METAR and FM 16 SPECI. II 6 D 28
For more information, please contact: World Meteorological Organization 7 bis, avenue de la Paix P.O. Box 2300 CH 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland Communication and Public Affairs Office Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 83 14/15 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 27 E-mail: cpa@wmo.int public.wmo.int JN 171398