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Training Guide in Surface Weather Observations - Multiple Choices

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There are two categories of criteria for tak<strong>in</strong>g SPECIs. The first is applicable to all stations across the<br />

United States. The second category of criteria for tak<strong>in</strong>g SPECIs is determ<strong>in</strong>ed by you the observer. It<br />

allows you to take a SPECI observation to report any phenomenon that <strong>in</strong> your op<strong>in</strong>ion is operationally<br />

significant at your station. In mak<strong>in</strong>g these SPECI reports, there are no limits. Even if no provision is<br />

made for report<strong>in</strong>g a particular occurrence, take a SPECI and report the phenomenon even if it is<br />

necessary to use pla<strong>in</strong> language <strong>in</strong> Remarks.<br />

1.4 Station Identifier - CCCC<br />

The second element of the transmitted coded aviation weather report is the Station Identifier:<br />

This is entered on MF1M-10 <strong>in</strong> the head<strong>in</strong>g block labeled SID.<br />

The METAR/SPECI uses the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) four-letter station<br />

identifier. All airports <strong>in</strong> the 48 contiguous states beg<strong>in</strong> with the letter “K” followed by the three-letter<br />

identifier for the airport. Alaskan stations all beg<strong>in</strong> with “PA” for Pacific-Alaskan, Hawaiian stations<br />

beg<strong>in</strong> with “PH” for Pacific-Hawaiian. The “PA” or “PH” is followed by the <strong>in</strong>ternational two-letter<br />

identifier for that station.<br />

Stations <strong>in</strong> the Eastern Caribbean beg<strong>in</strong> with the letter “T”; Western Caribbean stations beg<strong>in</strong> with the<br />

letter “M”; Guam stations beg<strong>in</strong> with the letters “PG.”<br />

Examples: New Iberia, LA - KARA Alexandria, LA - KAEX<br />

Sugar Land, TX - KSGR Anchorage, AK - PANC<br />

Nome, AK - PAOM Honolulu, HI - PHNL<br />

Keahole Po<strong>in</strong>t, HI - PHKO<br />

1.5 Date/Time Group - YYGGggZ<br />

The third element of the coded aviation weather observation is the Date/Time group.<br />

YY - two-digit date GG - two-digit hour gg - two-digit m<strong>in</strong>utes Z - letter <strong>in</strong>dicator for UTC<br />

In the METAR/SPECI, the day and time of observation is a six-character field plus the letter “Z.” The<br />

first two digits “YY” are the day of the month and the next four digits “GGgg” are the time. The times<br />

entered are <strong>in</strong> reference to the 24-hour clock. The letter “Z” is added to the end of the group to <strong>in</strong>dicate<br />

the date and time are <strong>in</strong> Coord<strong>in</strong>ated Universal Time.<br />

The date and time are <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> all reports. The actual time of a METAR report is the time the last<br />

element of the observation was observed. The actual time of a SPECI report is when the criterion for<br />

a SPECI is met or noted. If the report is a correction to a previously dissem<strong>in</strong>ated report, the time of the<br />

corrected report shall be the same time used <strong>in</strong> the report be<strong>in</strong>g corrected.<br />

Examples: An observation taken on the 23rd of the month at 1955 UTC<br />

METAR KARA 231955Z<br />

An observation taken on the 1st of the month at 0550 UTC<br />

METAR KAEX 010550Z<br />

An observation taken on the 10th of the month at 0005 UTC<br />

SPECI PAOM 100005Z<br />

1-3

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