CASARA NATIONAL
NAVIGATOR COURSE
Weather for the
CASARA Navigator
Casara
Weather Review
Contents:
 METARs
Casara

TAFs

Upper winds (FD)

NOTAMS

PIREPS

SIGMETs
Weather Review

Casara
Nav Canada Web Site
METAR
Casara

Station actual weather report

Taken at airports (FSS/ATC or Auto)

Standard reports hourly, top of the hour

Special reports for significant changes
METAR’s
Four letter identification of aerodrome
 CYYT - St. John’s
Casara

CYFC - Fredericton

CYQB - Ville de Québec

CYYZ - Toronto
METAR’s
Casara

CYYZ - Toronto

CYWG - Winnipeg

CYED - Edmonton

CYVR - Vancouver
METAR’s
Casara

Date/Time Group in six figures Day/Hour

Time is in UTC, universal time coordinated or commonly
called Zulu
METAR’s
Wind
 the nearest 10 degrees.
Casara

Speed to the nearest knot.

Gusts are noted only if they are five knots or more above
the mean.
METAR
METAR CYWG 182300Z 26004KT 10SM -SHRA
OVC038 07/02 A3002 RMK SC8 SLP169=
Winnipeg Airport at 2300 UTC wind is 260 at 4 kts
METAR CYYT 190000Z 36020KT 12SM BKN038 05/04
A3003 RMK SC7 SLP170=
St John’s Airport at 0000 UTC wind is 360 at 20 kts
METAR CYED 190100Z 00000KT 15SM SCT038
BKN080 02/02 A3002 RMK SC3AC2 SLP168
Edmonton Airport at 0100 UTC wind is calm
Note the location, the time and the wind in italics
Casara
Decoding METARs
Type
Station
Date/Time
Wind
METAR CYND 182300Z 26004KT
Vis
Weather
Sky Cond.
Temp
Altimeter
10SM -SHRA OVC038 07/02 A3002
Remarks
RMK SC8 SLP169
Casara
TAF’s
Terminal Area Forecasts (TAF) give:
 Station identification.
Casara

Time of issue ( day and time ).

Valid time ( usually 12 - 24 hours ) .

Valid time may change due to uncertainty of the
weather.
TAF’s

WIND - same as in METAR’s. (TRUE)

VRB - if wind less than 3kts.

WS012/17050KT - low level wind shear by giving the
wind direction and speed at height AGL (above
ground level).

WS012/17050KT
Wind Shear: wind at 1200 feet AGL is 170T at 50
kts.

Casara
TAF's
TAFs also give changes in conditions and winds
 TEMPO 1801 - temporary between 18 & 01Z
Casara

PROB30 2022 - probability 30% - 40% between 20 &
22Z

FM0130Z - from 0130Z onward

BECMG 0608 - becoming between 06 & 08Z
Decoding TAFs
Type Station Issued Valid
Wind
Vis
Sky
TAF CYND 181958Z 182002 21008KT P6SM BKN040
Temporary condition Wind
Vis.
Weather Sky
TEMPO 2024
35020KT P6SM -SHRA BKN030
From Time Wind
Vis.
Sky
FM0000Z 16008KT P6SM SCT020 BKN030 TEMPO 0002
P6SM -SHRA BKN020
RMK NXT FCST WILL BE ISSUED AT 191145Z=
Casara
FDs and GFDs
Casara

FDs: Forecast upper winds at various altitudes over
major reporting sites.

GFDs: Graphical depiction of the winds for a specific
altitude over a large area.

All winds are True.

Based on twice daily observations.

Valid for the periods indicated.
FDs and GFDs
Casara

Temperatures are indicated for levels above 3000’
(Temperature below 3000’ is too variable).

Six numbers: wind direction / speed and temperature.

Eg:2533-10 means wind is 250T at 33Kts,
temperature at this altitude is –10C.
Example FD
OTTAWA. ONT
for
use
3000
6000
9000
12000
18000
FDCN01 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000
DATA VALID 190600
05-09
1911
222503
243008
253814
266823
FDCN02 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000
DATA VALID 191200
09-18
2041
2438
+00
2438
-04
2547
-09
247021
FDCN03 CWAO FCST BASED ON 190000
DATA VALID 200000
18-05
2735
293102
283008
274213
275426
STN YOW -
Casara
Example GFD
(Graphic Forecast upper winds)
Casara
NOTAMS
Casara

A notice containing information concerning the
establishment, condition or change in any
aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard.

Distributed on the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed
Telecommunications Network.
NOTAMS
NOTAM decode:
CG CYZZNYOW (priority & address)
141736 CYNDYFYX (originator time and address)
05007 NOTAM CYOW OTTAWA /
(number)
(new NOTAM)
(originator)
(name of aerodrome or facility)
MACDONALD CARTIER INTNL CYOW
(name of aerodrome or facility)
ILS 07
U/S
(Type of facility) (condition)
Casara
TIL 0501191200
(until approximately)
(identifier)
PIREPS
Casara

A pilot weather report pertaining to current weather
conditions encountered in flight.

They are codified by FIR and FSS allowing easy
retrieval by flight crews.
PIREPS
UACN10 CYXU 032133 (Msg Type “urgent”, office & time)
YZ (FIR)
UA/OV YXU 090010 / TM 2120 / FL080 /
(United airlines / over London VOR radial 090/10 nm / at Time 2120 / altitude 8,000
ft)
TP PA31 / SK 020BKNO40 / TA-12 /
(type is Piper Navajo / smoke at 2000ft topped at 4000ft / temp -12 /
WV 030045
(wind is 030 deg true at 45 kts)
Casara
SIGMETS
Casara

Short term warning of certain potentially hazardous
weather phenomena.

Issued for active thunderstorms, hail, severe
turbulence or icing, marked wind shear and a number
of other threats.
SIGMETS
Decode:
WSCN33 CWTO 171805
Issued by Toronto Forecast Centre for Graphic area 33 at 171805 UTC
SIGMET A5 VALID 171805/172205CWTO
SIGMET A5 (superceded A4) is valid from 171805 UTC to 172205 UTC
WTN 30 NM OF LN / 4622N/07925W NORTHBAY/
4458N/07918W/MUSKOKA /4302N/08109W/LONDON
Weather radar observed thunderstorms within 30 nm of a line from North Bay to Muskoka to
London
TS MAX TOPS 3000 OBSD ON RADAR. LN MOVG EWD AT 20
KTS. LTL CHG IN INTSTY.
Maximum tops of the line is 30,000 ft. The line is moving eastward at 20 kts. Little change in
intensity is expected during the period
Casara
Nav Canada WEB Site
 The
Aviation Weather WEB site can be
accessed at
www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca
It provides:
 AIRMETs, SIGMETs, METARs, TAFs, Upper
Winds and NOTAMs as well as the whole
catalogue of graphical products
Casara
Casara