Notices to Airmen
Contractions
NOTAM CONTRACTIONS
This list contains most of the commonly used contractions currently in use in Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) and the
standard aviation weather products, such as METAR/TAF, area forecasts, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, etc.
Contraction
Decode
A
Contraction
BRG
Bearing
Decode
ABN
ABV
ACC
ACCUM
Airport Beacon
Above
Area Control Center (ARTCC)
Accumulate
BYD
Beyond
CAAS
Class A Airspace
ACFT
ACR
ACT
ADJ
Aircraft
Air Carrier
Active
Adjacent
CAT
CBAS
CBSA
CCAS
Category
Class B Airspace
Class B Surface Area
Class C Airspace
ADZD
AFD
AGL
ALS
ALT
ALTM
ALTN
ALTNLY
ALSTG
AMDT
AMGR
AMOS
AP
Advised
Airport Facility Directory
Above ground level
Approach Light System
Altitude
Altimeter
Alternate
Alternately
Altimeter Setting
Amendment
Airport Manager
Automatic Meteorological Observing System
Airport
CCLKWS
CCSA
CD
CDAS
CDSA
CEAS
CESA
CFR
CGAS
CHG
CIG
CK
CL
Counterclockwise
Class C Surface Area
Clearance Delivery
Class D Airspace
Class D Surface Area
Class E Airspace
Class E Surface Area
Code of Federal Regulations
Class G Airspace
Change
Ceiling
Check
Centerline
APCH
AP LGT
APP
ARFF
Approach
Airport Lights
Approach control
Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting
CLKWS
CLR
CLSD
CMB
Clockwise
Clearance, clear(s), cleared to
Closed
Climb
ARR
ASOS
ASPH
ATC
ATCSCC
Arrive, arrival
Automated Surface Observing System
Asphalt
Air Traffic Control
Air Traffic Control System Command Center
CMSND
CNL
COM
CONC
CPD
Commissioned
Cancel
Communications
Concrete
Coupled
ATIS
AUTH
AUTOB
AVBL
AWOS
AWY
AZM
Automatic Terminal Information Service
Authority
Automatic Weather Reporting System
Available
Automatic Weather Observing/Reporting System
Airway
Azimuth
CRS
CTC
CTL
Course
Contact
Control
BA FAIR
BA NIL
BA POOR
BC
BCN
BERM
Braking action fair
Braking action nil
Braking action poor
Back Course
Beacon
Snowbank(s) Containing Earth/Gravel
DALGT
DCMSND
DCT
DEGS
DEP
DEPPROC
DH
DISABLD
DIST
DLA
Daylight
Decommissioned
Direct
Degrees
Depart/Departure
Departure procedures
Decision Height
Disabled
Distance
Delay or delayed
BLW
BND
Below
Bound
DLT
DLY
Delete
Daily
B
C
D
1
Contractions
Contraction
DME
DMSTN
DP
DRFT
DSPLCD
Notices to Airmen
Decode
Distance Measuring Equipment
Demonstration
Dew Point Temperature
Snowbank(s) Caused By Wind Action
Displaced
E
E
EB
EFAS
ELEV
ENG
ENRT
East
Eastbound
En Route Flight Advisory Service
Elevation
Engine
En route
ENTR
EXC
Entire
Except
FAC
FAF
Facility or facilities
Final Approach fix
FAN MKR
FDC
Fan Marker
Flight Data Center
FI/T
FI/P
FM
FREQ
FNA
Flight inspection temporary
Flight inspection permanent
From
Frequency
Final approach
F
Contraction
HR
Hour
Decode
IAF
IAP
Initial approach fix
Instrument Approach Procedure
INBD
ID
IDENT
IF
ILS
IM
IMC
IN
Inbound
Identification
Identify/Identifier/Identification
Intermediate fix
Instrument Landing System
Inner Marker
Instrument Meteorological Conditions
Inch/Inches
INDEFLY
INFO
INOP
Indefinitely
Information
Inoperative
INSTR
INT
INTL
INTST
Instrument
Intersection
International
Intensity
IR
Ice On Runway(s)
KT
Knots
L
LAA
LAT
LAWRS
LB
LC
Left
Local Airport Advisory
Latitude
Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Station
Pound/Pounds
Local Control
Local/Locally/Location
Located
Localizer Type Directional Aid
Light or lighting
I
K
L
FPM
FREQ
FRH
Feet per minute
Frequency
Fly Runway Heading
FRI
FRZN
FSS
FT
Friday
Frozen
Automated/Flight Service Station
Foot, feet
GC
Ground Control
LOC
LCTD
LDA
LGT
GCA
GOVT
Ground Control Approach
Government
LGTD
LIRL
Lighted
Low Intensity Runway Lights
GP
GPS
GRVL
Glide Path
Global Positioning System
Gravel
LLWAS
LM
LDG
LLZ
LO
Low Level Wind Shear Alert System
Compass Locator at ILS Middle Marker
Landing
Localizer
Compass Locator at ILS Outer Marker
HAA
HAT
HDG
HEL
HELI
HIRL
HIWAS
HLDG
HOL
HP
Height Above Airport
Height Above Touchdown
Heading
Helicopter
Heliport
High Intensity Runway Lights
Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
Holding
Holiday
Holding Pattern
LONG
LRN
LSR
LT
Longitude
Loran
Loose Snow on Runway(s)
Left Turn
MAG
MAINT
MALS
Magnetic
Maintain, maintenance
Medium Intensity Approach Light System
G
H
2
M
Notices to Airmen
Contraction
MALSF
Contractions
Decode
Medium Intensity Approach Light System with
Sequenced Flashers
MALSR
Medium Intensity Approach Light System with
Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
MAPT
MCA
MDA
MEA
Missed Approach Point
Minimum Crossing Altitude
Minimum Descent Altitude
Minimum Enroute Altitude
MED
MIN
MIRL
MLS
Medium
Minute
Medium Intensity Runway Lights
Microwave Landing System
MM
MNM
MNT
MOC
MON
Middle Marker
Minimum
Monitor/Monitoring/Monitored
Minimum Obstruction Clearance
Monday
MRA
MSA
MSAW
MSG
MSL
MU
MUD
MUNI
Minimum reception altitude
Minimum Safe Altitude/Minimum Sector Altitude
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
Message
Mean Sea Level
MU meters
Mud
Municipal
N
Contraction
Decode
P
PAEW
PAPI
PAR
PARL
Personnel and Equipment Working
Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision Approach Radar
Parallel
PAT
PAX
PCL
PERM
PJE
PLA
PLW
PN
Pattern
Passenger
Pilot Controlled Lighting
Permanent/Permanently
Parachute jumping exercise
Practice Low Approach
Plow/Plowed
Prior Notice Required
PPR
PREV
PRN
Prior Permission Required
Previous
Psuedo random noise
PROC
PROP
PSR
PTCHY
Procedure
Propeller
Packed Snow on Runway(s)
Patchy
PTN
PVT
Procedure Turn
Private
RAIL
Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
Remote Automatic Meteorological Observing
System
R
RAMOS
N
NA
NAV
NB
North
Not Authorized
Navigation
Northbound
RCAG
RCL
RCLL
RCO
Remote Communication Air/Ground Facility
Runway Centerline
Runway Centerline Light System
Remote Communication Outlet
NDB
NE
Nondirectional Radio Beacon
Northeast
REC
RELCTD
Receive/Receiver
Relocated
NGT
NM
NMR
Night
Nautical Mile(s)
Nautical Mile Radius
REIL
REP
RLLS
Runway End Identifier Lights
Report
Runway Leadïin Lights System
NONSTD
NOPT
NR
Nonstandard
No Procedure Turn Required
Number
RMNDR
RNAV
Remainder
Area Navigation
NTAP
NW
Notice To Airmen Publication
Northwest
RPLC
RQRD
RRL
RSR
RSVN
Replace
Required
Runway Remaining Lights
En Route Surveillance Radar
Reservation
OBSC
Obscured
OBST
OM
OPR
OPS
ORIG
Obstruction
Outer Marker
Operate
Operation
Original
RT
RTE
RTR
RTS
RUF
Right Turn
Route
Remote Transmitter/Receiver
Return to Service
Rough
OTS
OVR
Out of Service
Over
RVR
RVRM
RVRR
RVRT
Runway Visual Range
Runway Visual Range Midpoint
Runway Visual Range Rollout
Runway Visual Range Touchdown
O
3
Contractions
Contraction
RWY
Runway
S
SA
SAT
South
Sand, sanded
Saturday
SAWR
SB
SDF
SE
SFL
SID
SIMUL
SIR
Notices to Airmen
Decode
Contraction
TIL
TKOF
TM
TMPA
TRML
Decode
Until
Takeoff
Traffic Management
Traffic Management Program Alert
Terminal
Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Station
Southbound
Simplified Directional Facility
Southeast
Sequence Flashing Lights
Standard Instrument Departure
Simultaneous
Packed or Compacted Snow and Ice on Runway(s)
TRNG
TRSN
TSNT
TUE
Training
Transition
Transient
Tuesday
TWR
TWY
Tower
Taxiway
SKED
SLR
SN
Scheduled
Slush on Runway(s)
Snow
UFN
UNAVBL
UNLGTD
Until further notice
Unavailable
Unlighted
SNBNK
SNGL
SPD
Snowbank(s) Caused by Plowing
Single
Speed
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with
Sequenced Flashers
UNMKD
UNMNT
UNREL
UNUSBL
Unmarked
Unmonitored
Unreliable
Unusable
VASI
VDP
VGSI
VIA
VICE
VIS
VMC
VOL
VOR
VORTAC
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
Visual Descent Point
Visual Glide Slope Indicator
By Way Of
Instead/Versus
Visibility
Visual Meteorological Conditions
Volume
VHF OmniïDirectional Radio Range
VOR and TACAN (colocated)
W
WB
WED
WEF
WI
West
Westbound
Wednesday
With effect from or effective from
Within
WIE
WKDAYS
WKEND
WND
WPT
With immediate effect or effective immediately
Monday through Friday
Saturday and Sunday
Wind
Waypoint
WSR
WTR
WX
Wet Snow on Runway(s)
Water on Runway(s)
Weather
S
SSALF
SSALR
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with
Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
SSALS
SSR
STA
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System
Secondary Surveillance Radar
Straightïin Approach
STAR
SUN
SVC
SW
SWEPT
Standard Terminal Arrival
Sunday
Service
Southwest
Swept or Broom/Broomed
T
TAA
TACAN
Temperature
Terminal Arrival Area
Tactical Air Navigational Aid
TAR
Terminal area surveillance radar
TDZ
TDZ LG
TEMPO
TFC
TFR
TGL
THN
Touchdown Zone
Touchdown zone lights
Temporary
Traffic
Temporary Flight Restriction
Touch and Go Landings
Thin
THR
THRU
THU
Threshold
Through
Thursday
T
4
U
V
W
Notices to Airmen
Contractions
WEATHER CONTRACTIONS
Contraction
Decode
A
A
A
A
A01
Absolute (temperature)
Alaskan Standard Time (time groups only)
Arctic (air mass)
Automated Observation without Precipitation
Discriminator (rain/snow) (METAR)
A02
Automated Observation with Precipitation
Discriminator (rain/snow) (METAR)
AAWF
AC
ACC
ACSL
ACYC
ADRNDCK
ADV
ADVCTN
ADVY
AFC
AFDK
ALF
ALGHNY
ALQDS
ALSEC
ALTA
ALUTN
ALWF
AM
AMD
AMPLTD
AMS
AMS
ANLYS
APLCN
AS
ASOS
ATLC
AURBO
AWP
Auxiliary Aviation Weather Facility
Altocumulus
Altocumulus Castellanus
Standing Lenticular Altocumulus
Anticyclonic
Adirondack
Advise
Advection
Advisory
Area Forecast Center
After Dark
Aloft
Allegheny
All Quadrants
All Sectors
Alberta
Aleutian
Actual Wind Factor
Ante Meridiem
Amended Forecast (TAF)
Amplitude
Air Mass
American Meteorological Society
Analysis
Appalachian
Altostratus
Automated Surface Observing System
Atlantic
Aurora Borealis
Aviation Weather Processors
B
Beginning of Precipitation (time in minutes)
(weather reports only)
B
BACLIN
BATROP
BC
BC
BCFG
BCH
BCKG
BDA
Bering Standard Time (time groups only)
Baroclinic or Baroclinic Prognosis
Barotropic or Barotropic Prognosis
Patches (METAR)
British Columbia
Patchy Fog (METAR)
Beach
Backing
Bermuda
B
Contraction
BECMG
Decode
Becoming (expected between 2 digit beginning
hour and 2 digit ending hour) (TAF)
BFDK
BINOVC
BKN
BL
BL
BLD
BLDUP
BLKHLS
BLKT
BLZD
BMS
BNDRY
BOVC
BR
BRF
BRKHIC
BRKSHR
BRM
BTWN
Before Dark
Breaks in Overcast
Broken
Between Layers
Blowing (METAR)
Build
Buildup
Black Hills
Blanket
Blizzard
Basic Meteorological Services
Boundary
Base of Overcast
Mist (METAR)
Brief
Breaks in Higher Overcast
Berkshire
Barometer
Between
C
C
CAN
CARIB
CASCDS
CAVOK
CAVU
Central Standard Time (time groups only)
Continental (air mass)
Canada
Caribbean
Cascades
Cloud and Visibility OK (METAR)
Clear or Scattered Clouds and Visibility Greater
Than Ten Miles
CAWS
CB
CBMAM
CC
CCLKWS
CCSL
CDFNT
CFP
CHARC
CHSPK
CI
CIG
CLD
CLR
Common Aviation Weather Subïsystem
Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus Mamma
Cirrocumulus
Counterclockwise
Standing Lenticular Cirrocumulus
Cold Front
Cold Front Passage
Characteristic
Chesapeake
Cirrus
Ceiling
Cloud
Clear at or below 12,000 feet (AWOS/ASOS
report) (METAR)
CLRS
CNCL
CNDN
CNVTV
CONFDC
Clear and Smooth
Cancel
Canadian
Convective
Confidence
C
5
Contractions
Notices to Airmen
Contraction
CONTDVD
CONTRAILS
COR
CS
CST
CTGY
CTSKLS
CU
CUFRA
CYC
CYCLGN
Decode
Continental Divide
Condensation Trails
Correction to the observation (METAR)
Cirrostratus
Coast
Category
Catskills
Cumulus
Cumulus Fractus
Cyclonic
Cyclogenesis
DABRK
DCAVU
Daybreak
Clear or Scattered Clouds and Visibility Greater
than Ten, Remainder of Report Missing (weather
reports only)
DKTS
DMSH
DNS
DNSLP
DNSTRM
DP
DPNG
DPTH
DR
DRFT
DS
DSIPT
DTLN
DTRT
DU
DVV
DWNDFTS
DWPNT
DZ
Dakotas
Diminish
Dense
Downslope
Downstream
Deep
Deepening
Depth
Low Drifting (METAR)
Drift
Dust Storm (METAR)
Dissipate
International Dateline
Deteriorate
Widespread Dust (METAR)
Downward Vertical Velocity
Downdrafts
Dew Point
Drizzle (METAR)
E
E
Eastern Standard Time (time groups only)
Ending of Precipitation (time in minutes) (weather
reports only)
E
E
ELNGT
EMBDD
EMSU
ENERN
ENEWD
EOF
ESERN
ESEWD
EXTRAP
Equatorial (air mass)
Estimated (weather reports only)
Elongate
Embedded
Environment Meteorological Support Unit
Eastïnortheastern (weather reports only)
Eastïnortheastward (weather reports only)
Expected Operations Forecast
Eastïsoutheastern (weather reports only)
Eastïsoutheastward (weather reports only)
Extrapolate
D
E
Contraction
EXTRM
Decode
Extreme
F
FA
FAH
FEW
FC
+FC
FG
FIBI
FILG
FINO
FL
FLDST
FLG
FLRY
FLWIS
FM
Area Forecast
Fahrenheit
1 or 2 octas (eighths) cloud coverage (METAR)
Funnel Cloud (METAR)
Tornado/ Water Spout (METAR)
Fog (METAR)
Filed but Impractical to Transmit
Filling
Weather Report Will Not Be Filed for Transmission
Flash Advisory
Flood Stage
Falling
Flurry
Flood Warning Issued
From (4 digit beginning time in hours and minutes)
(TAF)
FNT
FNTGNS
FNTLYS
FORNN
FRMG
FROPA
FROSFC
FRST
FRWF
FRZ
FRZLVL
FRZN
FT
FU
FULYR
FUOCTY
FWC
FZ
Front
Frontogenesis
Frontolysis
Forenoon
Forming
Frontal Passage
Frontal Surface
Frost
Forecast Wind Factor
Freeze
Freezing Level
Frozen
Terminal Forecast
Smoke (METAR)
Smoke Layer Aloft
Smoke Over City
Fleet Weather Central
Supercooled/freezing (METAR)
G
GLFALSK
GLFCAL
GLFMEX
GLFSTLAWR
GR
GRAD
GRBNKS
GRDL
GRTLKS
GS
GSTS
GSTY
Gusts Reaching (knots) (weather reports only)
Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of California
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of St. Lawrence
Hail (METAR)
Gradient
Grand Banks
Gradual
Great Lakes
Small Hail/Snow Pellets (METAR)
Gusts
Gusty
HCVIS
High Clouds Visible
G
H
6
Notices to Airmen
Contraction
HDFRZ
HDSVLY
HI
HIEAT
HIEFM
HIESE
HIESL
HIFOR
HITMP
HIXAT
HIXFM
HIXSE
HIXSL
HLSTO
HLTP
HLYR
HURCN
HUREP
HX
HZ
Contractions
Decode
Hard Freeze
Hudson Valley
Hi
Highest Temperature Equaled for All Time
Highest Temperature Equaled for The Month
Highest Temperature Equaled So Early
Highest Temperature Equaled So Late
High Level Forecast
Highest Temperature
Highest Temperature Exceeded for All Time
Highest Temperature Exceeded for The Month
Highest Temperature Exceeded So Early
Highest Temperature Exceeded So Late
Hailstones
Hilltop
Haze Layer Aloft
Hurricane
Hurricane Report
High Index
Haze (METAR)
Contraction
LOEAT
LOEFM
LOESE
LOESL
LOTMP
LOXAT
LOXFM
LOXSE
LOXSL
LSR
LTGCC
LTGCCCG
LTGCG
LTGCW
LTGIC
LTLCG
LTNG
LX
LYR
Decode
Lowest Temperature Equaled for All Time
Lowest Temperature Equaled for The Month
Lowest Temperature Equaled So Early
Lowest Temperature Equaled So Late
Lowest Temperature
Lowest Temperature Exceeded for All Time
Lowest Temperature Exceeded for The Month
Lowest Temperature Exceeded So Early
Lowest Temperature Exceeded So Late
Loose Snow on Runway
Lightning Cloud-to-Cloud
Lightning Cloud-to-Cloud, Cloud-to-Ground
Lightning Cloud-to-Ground
Lightning Cloud-to-Water
Lightning in Clouds
Little Change
Lightning
Low Index
Layer or Layered or Layers
M
M
Maritime (air mass)
In temperature field means ”minus” or below zero
(METAR)
M
In RVR Field, indicates visibility less than lowest
reportable sensor value (e.g. M0600FT)
M
M
MA
MAN
MEGG
MEX
MHKVLY
MI
MIDN
MIFG
Missing (weather reports only)
Mountain Standard Time (time groups only)
Map Analysis
Manitoba
Merging
Mexico
Mohawk Valley
Shallow (METAR)
Midnight
Patches of Shallow Fog Not Deeper Than Two
Meters (METAR)
MLTLVL
MMO
MNLD
MOGR
MONTR
MOV
MRGL
MRNG
MRTM
MS
MSTLY
MSTR
MTN
MVFR
MXD
Melting Level
Main Meteorological Office
Mainland
Moderate or Greater
Monitor
Move
Marginal
Morning
Maritime
Minus
Mostly
Moisture
Mountain
Marginal VFR
Mixed
M
I
IC
ICG
ICGIC
ICGICIP
ICGIP
IMDT
INLD
INSTBY
INTR
INTRMTRGN
INTS
INTSFY
INVRN
IOVC
IR
Ice Crystals (METAR)
Icing
Icing in Clouds
Icing in Clouds and Precipitation
Icing in Precipitation
Immediate
Inland
Instability
Interior
InterïMountain Region
Intense
Intensify
Inversion
In Overcast
Ice on Runway
JTSTR
Jet Stream
K
KFRST
Cold (air mass)
Killing Frost
LABRDR
LCTMP
LDG
LFT
LGRNG
LIFR
LK
Labrador
Little Change in Temperature
Landing
Lift
Long Range
Low IFR (weather reports only)
Lake
J
K
L
7
Contractions
Notices to Airmen
Contraction
Decode
N
NB
NCWX
NELY
NERN
NEW ENG
NFLD
NGT
NL
NMBR
NNERN
NNEWD
NNWRN
NNWWD
NO
NORPI
New Brunswick
No Change in Weather
Northeasterly (weather reports only)
Northeastern
New England
Newfoundland
Night
No Layers
Number
Northïnortheastern (weather reports only)
Northïnortheastward (weather reports only)
Northïnorthwestern (weather reports only)
Northwestward (weather reports only)
Not available (e.g. SLPNO, RVRNO)
No Pilot Balloon Observation Will Be Filed Next
Collection Unless Weather Changes Significantly
NPRS
NS
NS
NSCSWD
Nonpersistent
Nimbostratus
Nova Scotia
No Small Craft or Storm Warning are Being
Displayed
NSW
NVA
NWLY
NWRN
No Significant Weather (METAR)
Negative Vorticity Advection
Northwesterly (weather reports only)
Northwestern (weather reports only)
OBS
OBSC
OCFNT
OCLD
OCLN
OFP
OFSHR
OMTNS
ONSHR
ONT
ORGPHC
OSV
OTAS
OTLK
OVC
Observation
Obscure
Occluded Front
Occlude
Occlusion
Occluded Frontal Passage
Offshore
Over Mountains
On Shore
Ontario
Orographic
Ocean Station Vessel
On Top and Smooth
Outlook
Overcast
O
P
P
P
P
Pacific Standard Time (time group only)
Polar (air mass)
In RVR field, indicates visibility greater than
highest reportable sensor value (e.g. P6000FT)
P6SM
PAC
PBL
PCPN
PDMT
Visibility greater than 6 statute miles (TAF only)
Pacific
Probable
Precipitation
Predominant
8
Contraction
PDMT
PDW
PL
PEN
PGTSND
PIBAL
PISE
Decode
Predominate
Priority Delayed Weather
Ice Pellets (METAR)
Peninsula
Puget Sound
Pilot Balloon Observation
No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To Unfavorable
Sea Conditions
PISO
PIWI
No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To Snow
No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To High, or
Gusty, Surface Wind
PLW
PNHDL
PO
PPINA
Plow (snow)
Panhandle
Dust/Sand Whirls (METAR)
Radar Weather Report Not Available (or omitted
for a reason different than those otherwise stated)
PPINE
PPINO
Radar Weather Report No Echoes Observed
Radar Weather Report Equipment Inoperative Due
To Breakdown
PPIOK
Radar Weather Report Equipment Operation
Resumed
PPIOM
Radar Weather Report Equipment Inoperative Due
To Maintenance
PR
PRBLTY
PRESFR
PRESRR
PRJMP
PROB40
PROG
PRSNT
PS
PSG
PSG
PTCHY
PTLY
PVA
PY
Partial (METAR)
Probability
Pressure Falling Rapidly
Pressure Rising Rapidly
Pressure Jump (weather reports only)
Probability 40 percent (METAR)
Prognosis or Prognostic
Present
Plus
Passage
Passing
Patchy
Partly
Positive Vorticity Advection
Spray (METAR)
QSTNRY
QUE
Quasi-stationary
Quebec
R
RA
RABA
RABAL
RABAR
RACO
RADAT
RADNO
RAFI
RAFRZ
RAHE
Runway (used in RVR measurement)
Rain (METAR)
No RAWIN Obs., No Balloons Available
Radiosonde Balloon Wind Data
Radiosonde Balloon Release
No RAWIN Obs., Communications Out
Radiosonde Observation Data
Report Missing Account Radio Failure
Radiosonde Observation Not Filed
Radiosonde Observation Freezing Levels
No RAWIN Obs., No Gas Available
Q
R
Notices to Airmen
Contractions
Contraction
RAICG
RAOB
RAREP
RAVU
RAWE
RAWI
RAWIN
RCD
RCDNA
RCDNE
Decode
Radiosonde Observation Icing at
Radiosonde Observation
Radar Weather Report
Radiosonde Analysis and Verification Unit
No RAWIN obs., Unfavorable Weather
No RAWIN Obs., High and Gusty Winds
Upper Winds Obs. (by radio methods)
Radar Cloud Detection Report
Radar Cloud Detection Report Not Available
Radar Cloud Detection Report No Echoes
Observed
RCDNO
Radar Cloud Detector Inoperative Due to
Breakdown Until
RCDOM
Radar Cloud Detector Inoperative Due to
Maintenance Until
RCKY
RDG
RDWND
RESTR
RGD
RH
RHINO
RHINO
Rockies (mountains)
Ridge
Radar Dome Wind
Restrict
Ragged
Relative Humidity
Radar Echo Height Information Not Available
Radar Range Height Indicator Not Operating on
Scan
RIOGD
RMK
RNFL
ROBEPS
RPD
RSG
RUF
RY/RWY
Rio Grande
Remark(s)
Rainfall
Radar Operating Below Prescribed Standard
Rapid
Rising
Rough
Runway
SA
SASK
SBSD
SC
SCSL
SCT
SELS
SELY
SERN
SFERICS
SG
SGD
SH
SHFT
SHLW
SHRTLY
SHWR
SIERNEV
SIR
SKC
Sand (METAR)
Saskatchewan
Subside
Stratocumulus
Standing Lenticular Stratocumulus
Scattered
Severe Local Storms
Southeasterly (weather reports only)
Southeastern (weather reports only)
Atmospherics
Snow Grains (METAR)
SolarïGeophysical Data
Showers (METAR)
Shift (weather reports only)
Shallow
Shortly
Shower
Sierra Nevada
Snow and Ice on Runway
Sky Clear (METAR)
S
Contraction
SLD
SLP
SLR
SLT
SM
SMK
SMTH
SN
SNBNK
SNFLK
SNOINCR
SNW
SNWFL
SP
SPECI
SPKL
SPLNS
SPRD
SQ
SQAL
SQLN
SS
SSERN
SSEWD
SSWRN
SSWWD
ST
STAGN
STFR
STFRM
STG
STM
STNRY
SWLG
SWLY
SWRN
SX
SXN
SYNOP
SYNS
Decode
Solid
Sea Level pressure (e.g. 1013.2 reported as 132)
Slush on Runway
Sleet
Statute mile(s)
Smoke
Smooth
Snow (METAR)
Snowbank
Snowflake
Snow Depth Increase in Past Hour
Snow
Snowfall
Station Pressure
Special Report (METAR)
Sprinkle
South Plains
Spread
Squall (METAR)
Squall
Squall Line
Sandstorm (METAR)
South-southeastern (weather reports only)
South-southeastward (weather reports only)
South-southwestern (weather reports only)
Southïsouthwestward (weather reports only)
Stratus
Stagnation
Stratus Fractus
Stratiform
Strong
Storm
Stationary
Swelling
Southwesterly (weather reports only)
Southwestern (weather reports only)
Stability Index
Section
Synoptic
Synopsis
T
T
TCU
TEMPO
Trace (weather reports only)
Tropical (air mass)
Towering Cumulus
Temporary changes expected (between 2 digit
beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour) (TAF)
THD
THDR
THK
THN
TKOF
TOP
TOVC
Thunderhead (non METAR)
Thunder (non METAR)
Thick
Thin
Takeoff
Cloud Top
Top of Overcast
T
9
Contractions
Notices to Airmen
Contraction
TPG
TRIB
TROF
TROP
TRPCD
TRPCL
TRPLYR
TS
TSHWR
TSQLS
TSTM
TURBC
TURBT
TWRG
Decode
Topping
Tributary
Trough
Tropopause
Tropical Continental (air mass)
Tropical
Trapping Layer
Thunderstorm (METAR)
Thundershower (non METAR)
Thundersqualls (non METAR)
Thunderstorm (non METAR)
Turbulence
Turbulent
Towering
UAG
UDDF
UNSBL
UNSTBL
UNSTDY
UNSTL
UP
UPDFTS
UPR
UPSLP
UPSTRM
UVV
UWNDS
Upper Atmosphere Geophysics
Up and Down Drafts
Unseasonable
Unstable
Unsteady
Unsettle
Unknown Precipitation (Automated Observations)
Updrafts
Upper
Upslope
Upstream
Upward Vertical Velocity
Upper Winds
V
V
VA
VC
VLCTY
VLNT
VLY
VR
VRB
Varies (wind direction and RVR)
Variable (weather reports only)
Volcanic Ash (METAR)
Vicinity
Velocity
Violent
Valley
Veer
Variable wind direction when speed is less than or
equal to 6 knots
VRISL
VRT MOTN
VSBY
VSBYDR
Vancouver Island, BC
Vertical Motion
Visibility
Visibility Decreasing Rapidly
U
V
10
Contraction
VSBYIR
VV
Decode
Visibility Increasing Rapidly
Vertical Visibility (Indefinite Ceiling) (METAR)
W
WA
WDCï1
WDCï2
WDLY
WDSPRD
WEA
WFP
WINT
WND
WNWRN
WNWWD
WPLTO
WR
WRM
WRMFNT
WRNG
WS
Warm (air mass)
AIRMET
World Data Centers in Western Europe
World Data Centers Throughout Rest of World
Widely
Widespread
Weather
Warm Front Passage
Winter
Wind
Westïnorthwestern (weather reports only)
Westïnorthwestward (weather reports only)
Western Plateau
Wet Runway
Warm
Warm Front
Warning
Wind Shear (in TAFs, low level and not associated
with convective activity)
WS
WSHFT
WSOM
WSR
WSWRN
WSWWD
WTR
WTSPT
WV
WW
WXCON
SIGMET
Wind Shift
Weather Service Operations Manual
Wet Snow on Runway
Westïsouthwestern (weather reports only)
Westïsouthwestward (weather reports only)
Water
Waterspout
Wave
Severe Weather Forecast
Weather Reconnaissance Flight Pilot Report
XCP
XPC
Except
Expect
Y
YKN
YLSTN
Yukon Standard Time (time groups only)
Yukon
Yellowstone
ZI
ZI
Zonal Index
Zone of Interior
W
X
Y
Z