question about TAF
Tony Shen
Two examples of TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) here:
Example 1. (book example)
TAF
KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
1. What's "TEMPO?" My book didn't explain that...
2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
Example 2. (a real world example)
http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/awc/taf/indtafhuf.html
ZCZC INDTAFHUF
TTAA00 KIND 291725 AAA
TAF
KHUF 291725Z 291818 18016G26KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 TEMPO 1822 BKN060
FM2200 19014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 2202 SCT040 BKN200
FM0900 20014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1014 5SM BR BKN020
FM1500 21014G24KT P6SM BKN040 PROB30 1618 4SM -SHRA OVC015=
NNNN
1. What's the ZCZC menas?
2. What's the TTAA00?
3. What's AAA?
4. Why there is a "-" before SHRA, does it mean anything other than
rain shower?" (my book didn't have that dash!)
Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could simply
call 1-800-WX-BRIEF before my long cross country and use the weather service
while enroute (using radio), I probably don't need to use TAF service at all.
Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super pilots?
Thanks for your help! Really appreciate that and hope
these are good questions. :)
AIRPLANEIT
>2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
>3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
Tempo means "Temoporarily" As in, it will be like that for a little while : )
the "P" In P6SM basically means "plus" 6 sm, at least that's how I remember it.
I'm at a loss with the = sign though, your explanation of it being the end of
the report sounds good to me
-Nick Stolley
PA-18-90 Super Cub
Woodbury, MN
Julian D Jones
>Example 1. (book example)
>
>TAF
>KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
>FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
>
TEMPO means temporarily. Changes expected to occur frequently, but briefly.
TEMPO 2124 means that brief, but frequent, changes may occur from 2100 to
2400Z. The times that follow TEMPO show the period during which conditions
will fluctuate. The first two digits are the nearest whole hour the weather
starts. The last two digits show the nearest whole hour when the weather
conditions end.
>2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
P means "in excess of", naturally. Specifically, it indicates visibility
greater than highest reportable sensor value.
>3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
That sounds good, but I can't answer for sure.
>
>Example 2. (a real world example)
>http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/awc/taf/indtafhuf.html
>
>ZCZC INDTAFHUF
>TTAA00 KIND 291725 AAA
>TAF
>KHUF 291725Z 291818 18016G26KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 TEMPO 1822 BKN060
> FM2200 19014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 2202 SCT040 BKN200
> FM0900 20014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1014 5SM BR BKN020
> FM1500 21014G24KT P6SM BKN040 PROB30 1618 4SM -SHRA OVC015=
>
>NNNN
>
>1. What's the ZCZC menas?
My guess is that it has something to do with the reporting station.
>2. What's the TTAA00?
Same guess as #1
>3. What's AAA?
Probably a code about the type of reprort
>4. Why there is a "-" before SHRA, does it mean anything other than
> rain shower?" (my book didn't have that dash!)
Light -
Moderate (no sign)
Heavy +
>
>Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could
simply
>call 1-800-WX-BRIEF before my long cross country and use the weather
service
>while enroute (using radio), I probably don't need to use TAF service at
all.
Probably Not
>Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
>So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super pilots?
I'm checking the TAF right now to see if I'll be able to takeoff at my
scheduled time tomorrow morning. There is no need to call anyone.
Timothy Walker
Prevailing visibility greater than 6 statute miles.
and Tempo is very important for IFR.
Look in your AIP under Tempo, Prob 30/40, and becom.....
Good reading
Julian D Jones wrote:
--
Timothy Walker
Mailto:ti...@intergate.bc.ca
Michael Gillespie
> 4. Why there is a "-" before SHRA, does it mean anything other than
> rain shower?" (my book didn't have that dash!)
"light"
Michael.
Grumman Cheetah C-GRCC
----------------------------------------------------+------------------------
Michael Gillespie | Voice/Fax 204.943.9000
President, The Gray Research Group | mich...@gray.mb.ca
Flying Colors Precision Flight Team | mich...@compuserve.com
----- No good deed will go unpunished. ------- Standard Disclaimers Apply ---
LFransson
In article <73sjko$so3$1...@jetsam.uits.indiana.edu>, ms...@indiana.edu wrote:
>2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
Many of the abbreviations used in TAFs and METARs are based on French words.
So it's my guess that P6SM is something along the lines of "plus que" (more
than) 6SM. This is based on two years of junior high school French (too many
years ago), so believe whatever you like.
>3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
I wish I could remember where I saw it, but I've seen something that says the
"=" means the end of the report.
>Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could simply
>call 1-800-WX-BRIEF.... So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super
pilots?
If you're getting all of your weather information from a FSS, then you're
probably not going to see a lot of value in printed reports and forecasts. But
that's what the FSS briefer is reading to you when you call.
I do most of my flight planning through DUATS, largely because I can print
everything for future reference, and because I can skim through a DUATS
briefing and get the really pertinent stuff much more quickly than if I have to
listen to a briefer and transcribe it all. TAFs give me a good idea of what
the weather at my departure and destination are going to be like so I can
decide whether or not I'm going to need an alternate, and what that alternate
will be so I can plan to carry enough fuel.
If you want enroute weather, you're looking for an area forecast (FA).
Larry L. Fransson - ATP (CE-500), CFMEII
Macon, Georgia
"Pilots are just plane people with a different air about them."
Mark Kolber
>1. What's "TEMPO?" My book didn't explain that...
You've gotten plenty of replies on some of the specifics, but really,
you need another book. Try AIM Paragraph 7-1-27 and 128
>
>
>Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could simply
>call 1-800-WX-BRIEF before my long cross country and use the weather service
>while enroute (using radio), I probably don't need to use TAF service at all.
>Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
The TAF is part of the information the briefers use when you call
WX_BRIEF. How useful it really is to know how to read them depends on
how you get weather information. For example, I use DUATS for my
primary briefing (calling a briefer for an abbreviated briefing if I
am left with any questions). Although both GTE and DTC provide
translations, I usually print out the untranslated version to being
with me so that I can compare the forecasts with conditions enroute
and get some accuracy/trend information.
======================================
______|______ Mark Kolber
\(o)/ Denver, Colorado
o O o mko...@nospam.usa.net
======================================
Remove "nospam" for e-mail
Roy Smith
> TAF
> KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
> FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
>
Temporary. It corresponds to the pre-METAR/TAF "occasionally"
> 2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
P for "Plus". M (for "Minus" means less than.
> 3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
Yes, although you often don't see it because the software presenting the
report to you strips it off.
> ZCZC INDTAFHUF
> TTAA00 KIND 291725 AAA
> TAF
> KHUF 291725Z 291818 18016G26KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 TEMPO 1822 BKN060
> FM2200 19014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 2202 SCT040 BKN200
> FM0900 20014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1014 5SM BR BKN020
> FM1500 21014G24KT P6SM BKN040 PROB30 1618 4SM -SHRA OVC015=
>
> NNNN
>
> 1. What's the ZCZC menas?
> 2. What's the TTAA00?
> 3. What's AAA?
Oh, yuck. All that stuff is just routing headers used to move the
messages around the weather data networks and databases. It encodes stuff
like where the message originated from, what time it was sent, where it
should be distributed, etc. It's not really part of the TAF proper.
> 4. Why there is a "-" before SHRA, does it mean anything other than
> rain shower?" (my book didn't have that dash!)
It means "Light", as in "Light rain showers". A "+" would mean "Heavy"
> Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could simply
> call 1-800-WX-BRIEF before my long cross country and use the weather service
> while enroute (using radio), I probably don't need to use TAF service at all.
If you call FSS to get a phone briefing, the briefer will be reading you
the TAF (or selected portions of it) over the phone. Personally, I find
it more convenient to get the raw TAF (and other information) from DUAT
and read it myself. Which works better for you is really something that
only you can decide for yourself.
> Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
> So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super pilots?
It's critical. If there's no TAF published for my destination, if where
I'm going is very close to someplace that does have a TAF, I'll just use
that instead. If it's not particularly close, I'll pick a couple of TAFs
closest to it in different directions and try to interpolate as best I
can.
> Thanks for your help! Really appreciate that and hope
> these are good questions. :)
They are excellent questions. A pilot can never know too much about the
weather.
--
Roy Smith <r...@popmail.med.nyu.edu>
New York University School of Medicine
John J. Miller
> ms...@indiana.edu (Tony Shen) wrote:
>> Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
>> So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super pilots?
>
>It's critical. If there's no TAF published for my destination, if where
>I'm going is very close to someplace that does have a TAF, I'll just use
>that instead. If it's not particularly close, I'll pick a couple of TAFs
>closest to it in different directions and try to interpolate as best I
>can.
>
Another option is to check for TWEBs that might include the airport of
interest.
And you can check any nearby AWOS or ASOS sites for the current
conditions and general weather trend for the last 24 hours. You can get this
information at:
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/ccus.html
John J. Miller
jo...@mcdata.com
John Stephens
On 29 Nov 1998 22:59:36 GMT, ms...@indiana.edu (Tony Shen) wrote:
>ok, superpilots, here is another question for ya!
>
>Two examples of TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) here:
>Example 1. (book example)
>
>TAF
>KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
>FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
>
>1. What's "TEMPO?" My book didn't explain that...
You got a bunch of good, constructive answers, but I just have to comment
that you really need to get a different book! The one you have doesn't seem
to be of much use.
>2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
>3. The "=" means the "end" of this report, right?
>
>Example 2. (a real world example)
>http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/awc/taf/indtafhuf.html
>
>ZCZC INDTAFHUF
>TTAA00 KIND 291725 AAA
>TAF
>KHUF 291725Z 291818 18016G26KT P6SM SCT060 BKN200 TEMPO 1822 BKN060
> FM2200 19014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 2202 SCT040 BKN200
> FM0900 20014KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1014 5SM BR BKN020
> FM1500 21014G24KT P6SM BKN040 PROB30 1618 4SM -SHRA OVC015=
>
>NNNN
>
>1. What's the ZCZC menas?
>2. What's the TTAA00?
>3. What's AAA?
>4. Why there is a "-" before SHRA, does it mean anything other than
> rain shower?" (my book didn't have that dash!)
>
>Final question: HOW useful are TAF? I mean I could imagine that I could simply
>call 1-800-WX-BRIEF before my long cross country and use the weather service
>while enroute (using radio), I probably don't need to use TAF service at all.
>Besides, TAF is simply weather "forecasts"for "selected airports" ONLY.
>So, HOW useful it is in real life for you super pilots?
>
>Thanks for your help! Really appreciate that and hope
>these are good questions. :)
--
John Stephens (remove spaces for legal email address)
s t e p h e n s @ p o b o x . c o m
cleare...@hotmail.com
Tony Shen wrote:
> ok, superpilots, here is another question for ya!
>
> Two examples of TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) here:
> Example 1. (book example)
>
> TAF
> KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
> FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
>
> 1. What's "TEMPO?" My book didn't explain that...
> 2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
>
Tony
Allow me to add to the P6SM quiz. My understanding of it is ' prevailing 6 statute
miles', meaning although vis may be better by far, it is maintaining at least 6
SM assuring VFR flights good vis conditions as they approach the landing site. 6SM
is used as the base giving pilots an automatic mental picture of good clear
conditions. My thoughts, not yours.
Regards,
Dennis
C-FBDH
Tom Turton
cleare...@hotmail.com wrote:
The official explanation is that P6SM means "Plus 6 Statute Miles" , i.e. greater than
6SM
TEMPO means it is "temporary" which supposedly means it will last for less than one
hour for less than one half the time during the start and ending hours, e.g.TEMPO 2124
means sometime during the time between 2100 and 2400 there will be rain showers.
If it is still there, check out:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1/oso12/document/guide.shtml
---Tom Turton
Ron Natalie
>
> Allow me to add to the P6SM quiz. My understanding of it is ' prevailing 6 statute
It means more than 6. The P is likely not PREVAILING but
PLUS (which is nice in both English and French).
Jean Richard
> > 2. the P6SM should mean "greater than 6 statue miles" right?
> > but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
> >
>
> Tony
>
> Allow me to add to the P6SM quiz. My understanding of it is ' prevailing 6 statute
> miles',
No, it's really "more than 6 miles" like many people suggest. In
Canada, forecasting P6SM means
- you don't need to have a weather obstruction or phenomena
- you don't need to amend a forecast for visibility as so long
the visibility remains ABOVE 6 miles.
Jean
Charlie Wendell
Tom Turton (ttu...@cowboys.anet-dfw.com) writes:
> cleare...@hotmail.com wrote:
>> Tony Shen wrote:
>> > ok, superpilots, here is another question for ya!
>> > KBRO 300545Z 300606 VRB04KT 3SM SCT040 OVC150 TEMPO 2124 SHRA
>> > FM0200 10010KT P6SM OVC020 BECMG0306 NSW BKN020=
>> > 1. What's "TEMPO?" My book didn't explain that...
>> > but why use "P" ?? Can't figure it out..
My 2 cents ..if I may ...
First of all , we should remember that the "new" Taf as we see it here in
North America replaced the old FT which was a North American "phenomena"
The TAF has, for many years used meters (metres) for visibility and
only used 4 figures ie two hundred meters vis (1/8 Statute mile)
was shown as 0200, 2KM was shown as 2000, 9 KM (5.6 or 6 rounded off
Statute miles) as 9000.
Now since they only used 4 figures in the code, 10 KM ( 6.25 Statute miles
.. or 6 plus, or greater than 6 ) would need 5 figures , so vis of 10 or
more KMs were indicated by 9999
I do believe that is the derivation of the P6SM.
If you look at other than North American Civilian Tafs, you will see the
999 being used for vis.
--
Cheers, Charlie