Casara

Weather for the CASARA Navigator

CASARA NATIONAL

NAVIGATOR COURSE

Casara

Weather ReviewContents: METARs

TAFs

Upper winds (FD)

NOTAMS

PIREPS

SIGMETs

Casara

Weather Review

Nav Canada Web Site

Casara

METAR Station actual weather report

Taken at airports (FSS/ATC or Auto)

Standard reports hourly, top of the hour

Special reports for significant changes

Casara

METAR’sFour letter identification of aerodrome CYYT - St. John’s

CYFC - Fredericton

CYQB - Ville de Québec

CYYZ - Toronto

Casara

METAR’s

CYYZ - Toronto

CYWG - Winnipeg

CYED - Edmonton

CYVR - Vancouver

Casara

METAR’s

Date/Time Group in six figures Day/Hour

Time is in UTC, universal time coordinated or commonly called Zulu

Casara

METAR’s

Wind the nearest 10 degrees.

Speed to the nearest knot.

Gusts are noted only if they are five knots or more above the mean.

Casara

METARMETAR CYWG 182300Z 26004KT 10SM -SHRA

OVC038 07/02 A3002 RMK SC8 SLP169=Winnipeg Airport at 2300 UTC wind is 260 at 4 kts

METAR CYYT 190000Z 36020KT 12SM BKN038 05/04 A3003 RMK SC7 SLP170= St John’s Airport at 0000 UTC wind is 360 at 20 kts

METAR CYED 190100Z 00000KT 15SM SCT038 BKN080 02/02 A3002 RMK SC3AC2 SLP168Edmonton Airport at 0100 UTC wind is calm

Note the location, the time and the wind in italics

Casara

Decoding METARs

Type Station Date/Time Wind

METAR CYND 182300Z 26004KT

Vis Weather Sky Cond. Temp Altimeter

10SM -SHRA OVC038 07/02 A3002

Remarks

RMK SC8 SLP169

Casara

TAF’s

Terminal Area Forecasts (TAF) give: Station identification.

Time of issue ( day and time ).

Valid time ( usually 12 - 24 hours ) .

Valid time may change due to uncertainty of the weather.

Casara

TAF’s WIND - same as in METAR’s. (TRUE)

VRB - if wind less than 3kts.

WS012/17050KT - low level wind shear by giving the wind direction and speed at height AGL (above ground level).

WS012/17050KT Wind Shear: wind at 1200 feet AGL is 170T at 50

kts.

Casara

TAF'sTAFs also give changes in conditions and winds TEMPO 1801 - temporary between 18 & 01Z

PROB30 2022 - probability 30% - 40% between 20 & 22Z

FM0130Z - from 0130Z onward

BECMG 0608 - becoming between 06 & 08Z

Casara

Decoding TAFs

Type Station Issued Valid Wind Vis SkyTAF CYND 181958Z 182002 21008KT P6SM BKN040

Temporary condition Wind Vis. Weather Sky TEMPO 2024 35020KT P6SM -SHRA BKN030

From Time Wind Vis. SkyFM0000Z 16008KT P6SM SCT020 BKN030 TEMPO 0002 P6SM -SHRA BKN020

RMK NXT FCST WILL BE ISSUED AT 191145Z=

Casara

FDs and GFDs FDs: Forecast upper winds at various altitudes over

major reporting sites.

GFDs: Graphical depiction of the winds for a specific altitude over a large area.

All winds are True.

Based on twice daily observations.

Valid for the periods indicated.

Casara

FDs and GFDs Temperatures are indicated for levels above 3000’

(Temperature below 3000’ is too variable).

Six numbers: wind direction / speed and temperature.

Eg:2533-10 means wind is 250T at 33Kts, temperature at this altitude is –10C.

Casara

Example FD

OTTAWA. ONT

STN YOW -

for use

3000 6000 9000 12000 18000

FDCN01 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000 DATA VALID 190600

05-09 19112225-

032430-

082538-

142668-

23

FDCN02 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000 DATA VALID 191200

09-18 20412438 +00

2438-04

2547-09

2470-21

FDCN03 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000 DATA VALID 200000

18-05 27352931-

022830-

082742-

132754-

26

Casara

Example GFD (Graphic Forecast upper winds)

Casara

NOTAMS

A notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard.

Distributed on the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network.

Casara

NOTAMS

NOTAM decode:CG CYZZNYOW (priority & address)141736 CYNDYFYX (originator time and address)05007 NOTAM CYOW OTTAWA / (number) (new NOTAM) (originator) (name of aerodrome or facility)

MACDONALD CARTIER INTNL CYOW (name of aerodrome or facility) (identifier)

ILS 07 U/S TIL 0501191200(Type of facility) (condition) (until approximately)

Casara

PIREPS

A pilot weather report pertaining to current weather conditions encountered in flight.

They are codified by FIR and FSS allowing easy retrieval by flight crews.

Casara

PIREPS

UACN10 CYXU 032133 (Msg Type “urgent”, office & time)

YZ (FIR)

UA/OV YXU 090010 / TM 2120 / FL080 / (United airlines / over London VOR radial 090/10 nm / at Time 2120 / altitude 8,000

ft)

TP PA31 / SK 020BKNO40 / TA-12 /(type is Piper Navajo / smoke at 2000ft topped at 4000ft / temp -12 /

WV 030045(wind is 030 deg true at 45 kts)

Casara

SIGMETS

Short term warning of certain potentially hazardous weather phenomena.

Issued for active thunderstorms, hail, severe turbulence or icing, marked wind shear and a number of other threats.

Casara

SIGMETSDecode:WSCN33 CWTO 171805Issued by Toronto Forecast Centre for Graphic area 33 at 171805 UTC

SIGMET A5 VALID 171805/172205CWTOSIGMET A5 (superceded A4) is valid from 171805 UTC to 172205 UTC

WTN 30 NM OF LN / 4622N/07925W NORTHBAY/ 4458N/07918W/MUSKOKA /4302N/08109W/LONDON

Weather radar observed thunderstorms within 30 nm of a line from North Bay to Muskoka to London

TS MAX TOPS 3000 OBSD ON RADAR. LN MOVG EWD AT 20 KTS. LTL CHG IN INTSTY.

Maximum tops of the line is 30,000 ft. The line is moving eastward at 20 kts. Little change in intensity is expected during the period

Casara

Nav Canada WEB Site The Aviation Weather WEB site can be

accessed at www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca

It provides: AIRMETs, SIGMETs, METARs, TAFs, Upper

Winds and NOTAMs as well as the whole catalogue of graphical products

Casara