Training Guide in Surface Weather Observations - Multiple Choices

When more than one type of present weather is reported at the same time, they are reported in the following
order:
Tornadic activity, i.e., Tornado (+FC), Waterspout (+FC), or Funnel Cloud (FC).
Thunderstorm(s) (TS) with or without associated precipitation.
Present weather in order of decreasing dominance, i.e., the most dominant type is reported first.
-- Precipitation is always reported before obscurations.
Left to right in table (column 1-5)
Reporting order of precipitation, obscurations, and other: (1) Precipitation in the order of decreasing
dominance (maximum of 3 types within this group) with or without qualifiers; (2) Obscuration(s) in the
order of decreasing dominance if more than one; (3) Other, excluding Funnel Cloud, Tornado, and
Waterspout. No more than three weather groups shall be used to report weather phenomena at or near the
station.
4.1.1 Intensity and Proximity
The coding of intensity for weather phenomena is placed in front of the associated weather and is used only
once. Intensity shall be coded with precipitation types, except ice crystals and hail, including those
associated with a thunderstorm (TS) and those of a showery nature (SH). No intensity is ascribed to the
obscuration of blowing dust (BLDU), blowing sand (BLSA), or blowing snow (BLSN). Only moderate or
heavy intensity is ascribed to a sandstorm (SS) or duststorm (DS).
When more than one type of precipitation is coded, the intensity refers to the first precipitation type. The
precipitation is entered in the order of dominance, so any precipitation that follows will be of equal or lesser
intensity.
Example: RA RASNDZ
In METAR, the observer considers dominance and enters the type in that order. In the example above, the
observer determined the snow was more dominate than the drizzle, so has coded it before the drizzle.
The intensity refers to the precipitation type, NOT to the descriptor that may separate them.
Example: SHSNRA
When blowing dust (BLDU) or blowing sand (BLSA) reduces visibility to 5/8SM, it is then reported as a
duststorm (DS) or sandstorm (SS), respectfively.
SS (sandstorm) is reported if the visibility is 5/16SM and 5/8SM, +SS is reported if the visibility is <
5/16SM. DS (duststorm) is reported if the visibility is 5/16SM and 5/8SM, +DS is reported if the
visibility is < 5/16SM.
The only exception to intensity is “+” used with “FC” which means “Tornado or Waterspout” instead of
“heavy funnel cloud.”
The proximity qualifier for vicinity, VC (weather phenomena observed in the vicinity, but not at the point
of observation), is coded in combination with fog (FG), shower(s) (SH), well-developed dust/sand whirls
(PO), blowing dust (BLDU), blowing sand (BLSA), blowing snow (BLSN), sandstorm (SS), and duststorm
(DS). Intensity qualifiers are not coded with VC.
4-2