Here's the current METAR from CYYZ:
CYYZ 140700Z 26011KT 15SM FEW025 BKN045 BKN080 M05/M08 A2984 RMK SC1SC5AC1 AC TR SLP116
Does anyone know what each section of text of the remarks section means?
Aviation Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for aircraft pilots, mechanics, and enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityHere's the current METAR from CYYZ:
CYYZ 140700Z 26011KT 15SM FEW025 BKN045 BKN080 M05/M08 A2984 RMK SC1SC5AC1 AC TR SLP116
Does anyone know what each section of text of the remarks section means?
So the posted parts means the following:
RMK = REMARKS
SC = Stratocumulus Clouds
1 = 1/8 (0/8 = no clouds / 8/8 = overcast clouds)`
SC = Again Stratocumulus Clouds
5 = 5/8
AC = Altocumulus Clouds
1 = 1/8
AC TR = Traces of Altocumulus
SLP116 = Sea Level Pressure of 1011.6 mBar (just add a 10 before the given number and divide by 10)
Cloud Types:
(Source: Wikipedia)
Octas:
(Source: Navcanada)
The digit after the cloud layer type is the amount in oktas. See chapter "16.3.13.1 Layer type and amount (oktas)" in the canadian MANOBS Manual of Surface Weather Observations.
Amended 2019-02-16 to add:
Above manual also notes that the layer types and amounts in the RMK section correspond to the cloud layers aloft reported in the main section, and that the amount for layers aloft is reported as summation amount (as seen from the ground) while in the RMK section the amount is only for this layer, i.e. for your example:
To just decode the remarks you could also use metaf2xml with this link:
Remarks: ======== SC1SC5AC1 phenomenon w. opacity: 1/8 (1/10) or less, but not 0/8 (0/10) stratocumulus 5/8 (6/10) stratocumulus 1/8 (1/10) or less, but not 0/8 (0/10) altocumulus AC TR traces of: altocumulus SLP116 sea level pressure: 1011.6 hPa = 29.87 in. Hg = 759 mmHg