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From the Wikipedia page on the Swiss International Airlines Flight 850 crash investigation, it was stated that the initial METAR did not reflect the situation and the METAR less than an hour (a moment before the approach was started) was drastically different.

Initial METAR:

EDDT 04001KT CAVOK 30/17 Q1002 A2959 0998 2947 NOSIG.

Later:

EDDT VRB01KT 9999 FEW040CB SCT120 BKN260 29/17 Q1002 A2959 0998 2947 TEMPO 27025G55KT 2000 +TSRA BKN009 BKN015CB COMMENTS: OCNL LTNG AND CB SW OF STN.

I'm not very familiar with these reports, or how they are generated. From some research it sounds like the second report is much more serious, however I'm having trouble understanding a few things:

VRB01KT

This seems to suggest variable visible range, but I'm not sure what the 01KT means.

  • Can someone clarify?

The later report first mentions scattered cumulonimbus clouds, but then says the coverage is up to broken.

  • Why are there multiple mentions of the same types of clouds?
  • Are they talking about different height/direction?

The Wikipedia article seems to suggest that there was a massive storm moving rapidly into the area. My understanding is that NOSIG means the weather is not expected to significantly change in the next two hours.

  • What would cause the initial report to include NOSIG?
  • Given how much worse the weather seems to be in the later report, why would it take the station almost an hour to file a new report?
  • Why wouldn't they file a new report as soon as it seemed like the weather was degrading?
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    $\begingroup$ VRB01KT is about the wind - "Variable at 1 knot" $\endgroup$
    – Jon Story
    Mar 22, 2016 at 11:55
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    $\begingroup$ You've got 6 questions in there, though 2 of them are based on the incorrect assumption in the first question (as addressed by @JonStory), so that really leaves you with the last 3... $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Mar 22, 2016 at 12:57
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    $\begingroup$ You can decode METAR data online if you wish, see this answer: What is the meaning of this information provided by Air Traffic Control? $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Mar 22, 2016 at 18:02
  • $\begingroup$ The metars are incomplete- they lack the time stamp right after the icao location indicator. $\endgroup$
    – cavver
    Jul 15, 2016 at 13:34

1 Answer 1

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Can someone clarify?

I can try to clarify the METAR report:

From the Wikipedia source link on METAR:

  • EDDT: METAR for Tegel Airport
  • VRB01KT: Wind variable at 1 knot (1.9 km/h)
  • 9999: visibility in excess of 10 kilometres (5.4 nmi)
  • FEW040CB: few clouds at 4000 ft. including cumulonimbus
  • SCT120: scattered clouds at 12000 ft
  • BKN260: broken clouds at 26000 ft
  • 29/17: temperature 29 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius
  • Q1002: current altimeter setting (in QNH) is 1002 hPa
  • A2959 0998 2947: current altimeter setting 29.59 in.Hg, falling to 998 HPa, 29.47 in.Hg.
  • TEMPO: Temporarily
    • 27025G55KT: Temporarily winds from 270° at 25 knots (46 km/h), gusting to 55 knots (102 km/h)
    • 2000 +TSRA: visibility 2000 meters (1.1 nmi)
    • +TSRA: heavy thunderstorm and rain
    • BKN009: broken clouds at 900 ft
    • BKN015CB: broken clouds at 1500 ft including cumulonimbus
  • COMMENTS: OCNL LTNG AND CB SW OF STN: Occasional lightning and cumulonimbus clouds south west of the station

Why are there multiple mentions of the same types of clouds?

The TEMPO group is used for any conditions in wind, visibility, weather, or sky condition which are expected to last for generally less than an hour at a time (occasional), and are expected to occur during less than half the time period.

Are they talking about different height/direction?

The Sky Condition (i.e.:FEW040CB SCT120 BKN260 ) reports the sky coverage and is given for different height, the following three-digit height is given in hundreds of feet.

For further clarification of METAR convention I find this useful!

My understanding is that NOSIG means the weather is not expected to significantly change in the next two hours.

Correct, NOSIG stands for NO SIGnificant change, doesn't mean that the weather will not change!

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  • $\begingroup$ This is an excellent translation of the METAR, but it doesn't address the other questions. Of course, it may be that the only realistic answer is "because weather"... $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Mar 22, 2016 at 12:46
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    $\begingroup$ Your cloud bases are out by a factor of 10: FEW040 is few at 4000, not 400, etc. $\endgroup$
    – Pondlife
    Mar 22, 2016 at 12:58
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    $\begingroup$ Also, I just noticed that you don't offer a translation for Q1002. That's the barometric pressure, isn't it? $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Mar 22, 2016 at 12:59
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you @FreeMan, well spotted, and correct, I added it! $\endgroup$
    – GHB
    Mar 22, 2016 at 13:05
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    $\begingroup$ +TSRA is Thunderstorm with heavy rain. (The "+" modifies the RA, never the TS... a TS is a TS, but the RA can be light, moderate, or heavy.) $\endgroup$
    – Ralph J ♦
    Mar 22, 2016 at 14:23

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