Let's Play "CRAZY METARs!"

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

Touchdown! Greaser!
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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
To initiate a fun way for me to prepare for upcoming regional airline interviews, share with me some of the more challenging METARS you had to decode.

Gouge for more than one regional includes I will be asked to decode METARS including the remarks sections. I am expecting to be presented with examples that have items I don't routinely see.

Rules:
1. METARS must be in their "raw" form, including the remarks
2. Anyone can submit and anyone can attempt to decode.
3. The more crazy and lengthy, the better.
 
I'll start with an easy one...

KSLN 210553Z AUTO 02014KT 5SM BR OVC009 01/M01 A2982 RMK AO2 UPB11E12B44E47FZRAB29E44SNE11B12E14 CIG 007V014 SLP107 P0000 60005 T00061011 10011 20006 400330006 51016 TSNO
 
MauleSkinner said:
I’m not sure why times for U P-ing are important, but…:dunno:
Click to expand...

Probably true for almost anything after RMK in a METAR. Interviewers asking those types of questions are really just playing "Stump the Chump" to see how you react.
 
Zeldman said:
I'll start with an easy one...

KSLN 210553Z AUTO 02014KT 5SM BR OVC009 01/M01 A2982 RMK AO2 UPB11E12B44E47FZRAB29E44SNE11B12E14 CIG 007V014 SLP107 P0000 60005 T00061011 10011 20006 400330006 51016 TSNO
Click to expand...
(doing as much as possible without looking at AC 00-45H)

KSLN, issued 21st of month, 0553Z
  • Automated report (versus manual)
  • Wind 020 @ 14 knots
  • Visibility 5 SM, Mist
  • Ceilings 900feet overcast
  • Temp 01°C, Dewpoint -1°C
  • Altimeter 29.82 in Hg

REMARKS
  • Automated station with precipitation descrimeter
  • Unknown precipitation began @ 11 after the hour, ending @ 12 after the hour, began again at 44 after hour ending at 47 after the hour.
  • Freezing rain started at 29 after the hour ending at 44 after the hour
  • Snow began at 12 after the our and ended at 14 after the hour
  • Ceilings variable between 700 and 1400 feet
  • Sea level pressure 1010.7 minibars (or hPA)
  • Precipitation was light
  • 60005 (don't know this)
  • Temps +0.6°C, the "1" in this group means minus, so dew point was -1.1°C
  • The next 4 groups, I don't know.
  • TSNO means a lightning sensor is present, but not operating.
 
midwestpa24 said:
Interviewers asking those types of questions are really just playing "Stump the Chump" to see how you react
Click to expand...
And possibly determine if you actually studied for the interview.

Since my next interview is in CLT, I wonder if I get to use "phone a friend" and get ScottD on the line.
 
I'm from North Dakota, so I think I'm ineligible for league play on crazy weather. But here are a couple with an unusual entry or two:

CYXX 212100Z 23009KT 25SM FEW035 FEW040 SCT062 OVC075 19/13 A3028 RMK CU1SC2SC2AC4 CU TR SLP256 DENSITY ALT 400FT
CYWH 212100Z 18006KT 15SM FEW040 BKN070 BKN160 14/11 A3028 RMK CU2AC3AC2 SLP256
KSUU 212058Z AUTO 01009KT 10SM CLR 38/04 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP118 T03780035 57010 $
 
Nothing all that challenging to decipher, but from last Monday...
KFWA 140245Z 36064G85KT 1/4SM +TSRA SQ FEW014 OVC030CB
 
Todd82 said:
Nothing all that challenging to decipher, but from last Monday...
KFWA 140245Z 36064G85KT 1/4SM +TSRA SQ FEW014 OVC030CB
Click to expand...
I'm surprised the airport is still there....

Station: KFWA, Observation, 14th of month at 0245 Z

Wind 360, 64 knots gusting 85
Visibility 1/4 Statute Mile
Thunderstorms with Heavy Rain and Squalls
Few Clouds at 1,400 AGL, Overcast at 3000 AGL with cumulonimbus
 
AggieMike88 said:
I'm surprised the airport is still there....

Station: KFWA, Observation, 14th of month at 0245 Z

Wind 360, 64 knots gusting 85
Visibility 1/4 Statute Mile
Thunderstorms with Heavy Rain and Squalls
Few Clouds at 1,400 AGL, Overcast at 3000 AGL with cumulonimbus
Click to expand...
Skywest had a maintenance hangar get torn up on the field. Someone my wife knows lives near the field and had wood embedded into the side of their house like you'd see in actual tornadoes. This was all straight line from a big bow last Monday.
 
And the raw, undecoded (or would that be just "coded"? ) METARS are still used because????
 
Tarheelpilot said:
There is a slider in jeppview that turns on metar/taf decoding.
Click to expand...
Same idea with AeroWeather App.

Why they want to dig into the weeds of a METAR? Don’t know. But that is what the interview gouge says to expect.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Same idea with AeroWeather App.

Why they want to dig into the weeds of a METAR? Don’t know. But that is what the interview gouge says to expect.
Click to expand...
Are you sure it’s not just a hazing ritual to make you study obscure METAR codes? :)
 
We’re tracking off course… let’s return to the game.
 
AggieMike88 said:
We’re tracking off course… let’s return to the game.
Click to expand...


I took some pieces out and asked, because I have found some people are used to seeing them in a certain form, but don't know what individual bits mean. Can you answer my questions above?
 
Whitney said:
I took some pieces out and asked, because I have found some people are used to seeing them in a certain form, but don't know what individual bits mean. Can you answer my questions above?
Click to expand...
One was hail 0.5 inch in size.

The other I’ll need to reference the AC and will do so in the morning
 
AggieMike88 said:
(doing as much as possible without looking at AC 00-45H)
  • Sea level pressure 1010.7 minibars (or hPA)
  • Precipitation was light
  • 60005 (don't know this)
  • Temps +0.6°C, the "1" in this group means minus, so dew point was -1.1°C
  • The next 4 groups, I don't know.
  • TSNO means a lightning sensor is present, but not operating.
Click to expand...
"Minibars"? Like a regular bar, but smaller?
 
AggieMike88 said:
And possibly determine if you actually studied for the interview.

Since my next interview is in CLT, I wonder if I get to use "phone a friend" and get ScottD on the line.
Click to expand...
You could do that 'ask the audience' thing. Let us know when it's going to be. Then go into Chat here. We'll be waiting for you.
 
Last edited:
LesGawlik said:
"Minibars"? Like a regular bar, but smaller?
Click to expand...
Yes, and in comparison with a millibar, which is 1/1000th of a bar and probably not worth drinking at.
 
Been many years ago and I believe the format may have changed but… former coworker flying one of our essential airoutes through New Mexico had an hourly showing NOTROD. Ended up walking over to FSS after landing (back when you could do that) to ask about it. Was told it stood for “No Observation Taken, Rattlesnake On Doorstep”
 
Busflyer said:
Been many years ago and I believe the format may have changed but… former coworker flying one of our essential airoutes through New Mexico had an hourly showing NOTROD. Ended up walking over to FSS after landing (back when you could do that) to ask about it. Was told it stood for “No Observation Taken, Rattlesnake On Doorstep”
Click to expand...
I loved the good ol’ days! ;)
 
Busflyer said:
Been many years ago and I believe the format may have changed but… former coworker flying one of our essential airoutes through New Mexico had an hourly showing NOTROD. Ended up walking over to FSS after landing (back when you could do that) to ask about it. Was told it stood for “No Observation Taken, Rattlesnake On Doorstep”
Click to expand...


We have a winner!!!!!!!!!
 
Want a challenge?

10001000100000111010101110110001.
 
I did find a reference for 5-digit codes such as one of those I posted above, and you probably want to know at least some of the types of information they can convey. But one of the samples I found along the way had a 6-digit code that neither I nor the decoder web page I found could decode. For bonus points, you could learn those and stump the interviewer. Always a popular move.
 
KHWD 221654Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 24/13 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP141 T02440128

...only adding this because you people seem to live in some old-testament-grade cursed places. I'm bitching about the heat. :D
 
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