Decoding METAR, SAO and Other Weather Codes on the ARL/SORD Website

DRA Manual METAR Surface Observation (http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/products/DRA_METAR) (Full Code Breakdown)

Observation type, Station ID, Date/time (UCT), Wind (direction, speed, gusts), Visibility (Statute Miles) and Weather,

(Thunderstorm with Rain shower)

METAR DRA 161850Z 18027G42KT 20SM TSSHRA FEW065 BKN120 OVC250 25/07 A2959 RMK SLP982 T02480070 TSSHRAB49 W MOV E FQT LTG OVHD (AAA)

Clouds, Temperature/Dew point (°C), Altimeter, Remarks

Remarks section may contain:

Weather Begin and ending of weather (rain, snow, thunder), Peak Winds, Wind Shifts, Severe weather etc.

SLPxxx Sea level pressure in Millibars and tenths (without leading 8, 9 or 10; i.e., 982 = 998.2)

Ppppp Precipitation in one hundredths of an inch.

Tttttdddd Temperature and Dew Point in tenths of a degree Celsius. (Leading t or d=0 positive, Leading t or d=1 negative)

(AAA) Observer’s initials

METAR Observations Converted to Surface Airways Code (SAO) (http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/products/awips/saos/DRA.all)

Station ID, Date, Time (UCT), Clouds, Visibility (Statute Miles), Weather, Sea Level Pressure,

KDRA 17 1656 50 SCT 250 BKN 10RW- 074/65/29/3210/985 A02 T01831017 TSNO=

Temperature (°F), Dew Point (°F), Wind Direction (in 10’s of Degrees) and Speed (Knots), Altimeter, Remarks

RAW METAR Observations Converted to Columnar Format (http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/products/meso_obs/USA-lower-48/KDRA.all)

Station ID|Month|Date|Time(UCT)|Temperature|Dew Point|RH|Wind Direction|Speed|Gust|Visibility|Weather|Clouds Lo|Clouds Mid|Clouds Hi|Sea Level Pressure|Altimeter

KDRA 05 17 1650Z 69 30 23 170 11 22 10.0 R- -SCT080 SCT140 BKN200 994.1 29.55

Temperature/Dew Point in °F

RH in %

Wind Direction in Degrees

Wind Speed and Gusts in Knots

Visibility in Statute Miles

Cloud Heights in Hundred’s of Feet

Sea Level Pressure in Millibars (kPa)

Altimeter in Inches of Hg