Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) nautical miles south of Cleveland, Ohio to 20 nautical miles northeast of Beckley, West Virginia by 19002.
Anchorage CWSU Seattle Chi/S U Minneapolis CI/SU evelar Salt Lake Dir CIrsU Dakland Denver Ci/SU Chicago C/SU * D.C.
Los Ang * Memphis C/SU Abuquerque Chi/S U * Fort Worth Chi:
Honclulu CYSU * Houston CISU Figure 9-26. Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) Areas of Responsibility - CONUS Figure 9-27. CWSU Anchorage, AK (PAZA) Area of Responsibility AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Section 9: Supplementary Products Page 9-35
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) 10 APPENDIX A: DEFINITION OF COMMON TERMS USED IN
EN ROUTE FORECASTS AND ADVISORIES Table A-1. Definition of Common Terms Used in En route Forecasts and Advisories (FA, SIGMET, AIRMET, TCA, VAA, ROFOR) Contraction Translation Definition EMBD Embedded thunderstorms or cumulonimbus Thunderstorms or cumulonimbus (CB) clouds that are embedded in cloud layers or concealed by haze.
EXTREME TURB Extreme Turbulence Turbulence in which aircraft is violently tossed about and is practically impossible to control. It may cause structural damage.
FIR Flight Information Region An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting service are provided.
FL Flight Level A surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum, 1013.2 hectopascals (hPa), and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals.
FRQ Frequent thunderstorms or cumulonimbus Consisting of elements with little or no separation between adjacent thunderstorms with a maximum spatial coverage greater than 75 percent of the area affected by the phenomena at a fixed time or during the period of validity.
IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions Ceiling greater than or equal to 500 feet to less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility greater than or equal to 1 to less than 3 miles. LIMC is a sub-category of IMC, thus, IMC conditions are ceiling less than 1,000 feet and /or visibility less than 3 miles.
ISOL Isolated thunderstorms or cumulonimbus Consisting of individual features affecting an area with a maximum spatial coverage less than 50 percent of the area affected by the phenomena at a fixed time or during the period of validity.
LINE TS Line (of thunderstorms) A line of thunderstorms being at least 60 miles long with thunderstorms affecting at least 40 percent of its length LIMC Low Instrument Meteorological Conditions Ceiling less than 500 feet and/or visibility less than 1 SM. LIMC is a sub-category of Instrument Meteorological Conditions.
MVMC Marginal Visual Meteorological Conditions Ceiling greater than or equal to 1,000 feet to less than or equal to 3,000 feet and/or visibility greater than or equal to 3 to less than or equal to 5 miles.
MOD ICE Moderate Icing The rate of accumulation is such that even short encounters become potentially hazardous and use of deicing/anti-icing equipment or diversion is necessary.
MOD TURB Moderate Turbulence Turbulence that causes changes in attitude (pitch, roll, yaw) and/or altitude, but the aircraft remains in positive control at all times. It usually causes variations in indicated airspeed.
AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix A: Definition of Common Terms Used In… Page 10-1
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix A: Definition of Common Terms Used In… Page 10-2 Contraction Translation Definition MT OBSC Mountain Obscuration Conditions over significant portions of mountainous geographical areas are such that pilots in flight should not expect to maintain visual meteorological conditions or visual contact with mountains or mountain ridges near their route of flight.
OBSC Obscured thunderstorm or cumulonimbus Obscured by haze, smoke or cloud or cannot be readily seen due to darkness.
OCNL Occasional thunderstorms or cumulonimbus An area with a maximum spatial coverage between 50 and 75 percent of the area affected by the phenomena at a fixed time of during the period of validity.
SCT Scattered 25 to 50 percent of area affected.
SEV ICE Severe Icing The rate of accumulation is such that normal deicing/anti-icing equipment fails to reduce or control the hazard. Immediate diversion is necessary.
SEV TURB Severe Turbulence Turbulence that causes large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude. It usually causes large variations in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control.
VMC Visual Meteorological Conditions Ceiling greater than 3,000 feet and visibility greater than 5 miles.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION Volcanic Eruption A volcano eruption has occurred when an eruption report is received from a volcano observatory. A volcanic eruption is also considered to have occurred regardless of volcano observatory notification if reported by PIREP, or ground observer, or if remote sensing data indicates that an eruption has occurred based on satellite imagery or WSR-88D radar data or any other reliable sources are identified.
VOLCANIC ASH Volcanic Ash Any ash that can be seen by any one or more of the following: satellite imagery (visible, IR, multi channel or TOMS), PIREPs, ground observations, radar and VAFTAD (In the event volcanic ash is entrained in clouds, the volcanic ash will be treated as visible using the VAFTAD as guidance).
WDLY SCT Widely Scattered Less than 25 percent of area affected WDSPR Widespread 50 percent or greater of the area affected
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) 11 APPENDIX B: CONTRACTIONS AND ACRONYMS
A
AAA (or AAB, AAC…etc., in sequence) Amended meteorological message (message type designator) AAWU Alaskan Aviation Weather Unit ABNDT Abundant ABNML Abnormal ABT About ABV Above AC Altocumulus or Convective Outlook ACARS Aircraft communication and addressing system ACC Altocumulus Castellanus ACCID Notification of an aircraft accident ACCUM Accumulate ACFT Aircraft ACPY Accompany ACRS Across ACSL Altocumulus Standing Lenticular ACT Active or activated or activity ACYC Anticyclone ADA Advisory area ADDN Addition or additional ADJ Adjacent ADQT Adequate ADQTLY Adequately ADRNDCK Adirondack ADVCT Advect ADVCTD Advected ADVCTG Advecting ADVCTN Advection ADVCTS Advects ADVN Advance ADVNG Advancing ADVY Advisory ADVYS Advisories AFCT Affect AFCTD Affected AFCTG Affecting AFT After…(time or place) AFTN Afternoon AFSS Automated Flight Service Station AGL Above ground level AGN Again AGRD Agreed AGRS Agrees AGRMT Agreement AHD Ahead AIREP Air-report AIRMET Airman’s Meteorological Information (Information concerning en-route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of low-level aircraft operations) AK Alaska AL Alabama ALF Aloft ALG Along ALGHNY Allegheny ALQDS All quadrants ALSTG Altimeter setting ALT Altitude ALTA Alberta ALTHO Although ALTM Altimeter ALUTN Aleutian AMD Amend or amended (used to indicate amended meteorological message;
message type designator) AMDG Amending AMDT Amendment AMP Amplify AMPG Amplifying AMPLTD Amplitude AMS AMSL Above mean sea level AMT Amount ANLYS Analysis ANS Answer AOA At or above AOB At or below AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-1
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009)
AP
Airport or anomalous propagation APCH Approach APCHG Approaching APCHS Approaches APLCN Appalachian APLCNS Appalachians APPR Appear APPRG Appearing APPRS Appears APR April APRNT Apparent APRX Approximate or approximately AR Arkansas ARFOR Area Forecast (in aeronautical meteorological code) ARND Around AS Altostratus ASC Ascend to or ascending to ASSOCD Associated ASSOCN Association AT… At (followed by time at which weather change is forecast to occur) ATLC Atlantic ATP At…(time or place) ATTM At this time ATTN Attention AUG August AVBL Available or availability AVG Average AWC Aviation Weather Center AWT Awaiting AZ Arizona AZM Azimuth
B
BACLIN Baroclinic BAJA Baja, California BASE Cloud base BATROP Barotropic BC British Columbia BCFG Fog patches BCH Beach BCKG Backing BDA Bermuda BDRY Boundary BECMG Becoming BFR Before BGN Begin BGNG Beginning BGN Begins BHND Behind BINOVC Breaks in overcast BKN Broken BL… Blowing (followed by DU = dust, SA = sand or SN = snow) BLD Build BLDG Building BLDUP Buildup BLKHLS Black Hills BLKT Blanket BLKTG Blanketing BLKTS Blankets BLO Below clouds BLW Below… BLZD Blizzard BND Bound BNTH Beneath BR Mist BRF Brief BRK Break BRKG Breaking BRKHIC Breaks in higher clouds BRKS Breaks BRKSHR Berkshire BRM Barometer BLDU Blowing Dust BLSA Blowing Sand BLSN Blowing Snow BTL Between layers BTN Between BYD Beyond
C
C Degrees Celsius (Centigrade) or centre (runway identification) CA California CAA Cold air advection
CAPE
Convective Available AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-2
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) Potential Energy CARIB Caribbean CASCDS Cascades CAT Category or Clear air turbulence CAVO Visibility, cloud and present weather better than prescribed values or conditions CB Cumulonimbus CC Cirrocumulus CCA (or CCB, CCC…etc., in sequence) Corrected meteorological message CCLDS Clear of clouds CC Counterclockwise CCSL Cirrocumulus Standing Lenticular CDFNT Cold front CDN Coordination CFP Cold front passage CHC Chance CHCS Chances CHG Modification (message type designator) CHGD Changed CHGG Changing CHGS Changes CHSPK Chesapeake CI Cirrus CIG Ceiling CIGS Ceilings CIT Near or over large towns CLA Clear type of ice formation CLD Cloud CLDNS Cloudiness CLDS Clouds CLKWS Clockwise CLR Clear(s) or cleared to…or clearance CLRG Clearing CLRS Clears CLSD Close or closed or closing CM Centimeter CMPLX Complex CNL Cancel or cancelled CNDN Canadian CNTR Center CNTRD Centered CNTRL Central CNTY County CNTYS Counties CNVG Converge CNVGG Converging CNVGNC Convergence CNVTN Convection CNVTV Convective CNVTVLY Convectively CONFDC Confidence CO Colorado COMPR Compare COMPRG Comparing COMPRD Compared COMPRS Compares COND Condition CONS Continuous CONT Continue(s) or continued CONTLY Continually CONTG Continuing CONTRAILS Condensation trails CONTDVD Continental Divide CONUS Continental U.S.
COORD Coordinates COR Correct or correction or corrected (used to indicate corrected meteorological message; message type designator COT At the coast COV Cover or covered or covering CPBL Capable CPC Climate Prediction Center CRLC Circulate CRLN Circulation CRNR Corner CRNRS Corners CRS Course CS Cirrostratus CSDR Consider CSDRBL Considerable CST Coast CSTL Coastal CT Connecticut CTSKLS Catskills CU Cumulus CUFRA Cumulus Fractus COV Cover or covered or covering CWSU Center Weather Service Unit AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-3
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) CYC Cyclonic CYCLGN Cyclogenesis
D
D Downward (tendency in RVR during previous 10 minutes) DABRK Daybreak DALGT Daylight DBL Double DC District of Columbia DCR Decrease DCRD Decreased DCRG Decreasing DCRGLY Decreasingly DCRS Decreases DE Delaware or from (used to precede the call sign of the calling station) (to be used in AFS as a procedure signal) DEC December DEG Degrees DELMARVA Delaware-Maryland-Virginia DFCLT Difficult DFCLTY Difficulty DFNT Definite DFNTLY Definitely DFRS Differs DGNL Diagonal DGNLLY Diagonally DIF Diffuse DIGG Digging DIR Direction DISC Discontinue DISCD Discontinued DISCG Discontinuing DISRE Disregard DISRED Disregarded DISREG Disregarding DIST Distance DKTS Dakotas DLA Delay or delayed or delay (message type designator) DLT Delete DLTD Deleted DLTG Deleting DLY Daily DMG Damage DMGD Damaged DMGG Damaging DMNT Dominant DMSH Diminish DMSHD Diminished DMSHG Diminishing DMSHS Diminishes DNG Danger or dangerous DNS Dense DNSLP Downslope DNSTRM Downstream DNWND Downwind DOM Domestic DP Dew point temperature DPND Deepened DPNG Deepening DPNS Deepens DPR Deeper DPT Depth DR… Low drifting (followed by DU =dust, SA = sand or SN = snow) DRFT Drift DRFTD Drifted DRFTG Drifting DRFTS Drift DRG During DS Duststorm DSCNT Descent DSIPT Dissipate DSIPTD Dissipated DSIPTG Dissipating DSIPTN Dissipation DSIPTS Dissipates DSND Descend DSNDG Descending DSNDS Descends DSNT Distant DSTBLZ Destabilize DSTBLZD Destabilized DSTBLZG Destabilizing DSTBLZS Destabilizes DSTBLZN Destabilization DTG Date-time group DTRT Deteriorate or deteriorating DU Dust DUC Dense upper cloud DUR Duration DURC During climb AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-4
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) DURD During descent DVLP Develop DVLPD Developed DVLPG Developing DVLPMT Development DVLPS Develops DVRG Diverge DVRGG Diverging DVRGNC Divergence DVRGS Diverges DVV Downward vertical velocity DWNDFTS Downdrafts DZ Drizzle
E
E East or eastern longitude EB Eastbound EFCT Effect ELEV Elevation ELNGT Elongate ELNGTD Elongated ELSW Elsewhere EMBD Embedded in a layer (to indicate cumulonimbus embedded in layers of clouds) EMC Environmental Modeling Center EMERG Emergency ENCTR Encounter ENDG Ending ENE East-northeast ENELY East-northeasterly ENERN East-northeastern ENEWD East-northeastward ENHNC Enhance ENHNCD Enhanced ENHNCG Enhancing ENHNCS Enhances ENHNCMNT Enhancement ENR En route ENTR Entire EQPT Equipment ERN Eastern ERY Early ERYR Earlier ESE East-southeast ESELY East-southeasterly ESERN East-southeastern ESEWD East-southeastward ESNTL Essential ESTAB Establish EST Estimate or estimated or estimate (message type designator) ETA Estimated time of arrival or estimating arrival ETC Et cetera ETD Estimated time of departure or estimating departure ETIM Elapsed time EV Every EVE Evening EWD Eastward EXCLV Exclusive EXCLVLY Exclusively EXC Except EXP Expect or expected or expecting EXTD Extend or extending EXTRAP Extrapolate EXTRAPD Extrapolated EXTRM Extreme EXTRMLY Extremely EXTSV Extensive
F
F Degrees Fahrenheit or fixed FA Area Forecast (U.S.
domestic) FAA Federal Aviation Administration FAM Familiar FAX Facsimile transmission FBL Light (used to indicate the intensity of weather phenomena, interference or static reports, e.g. FBL RA = light rains) FC Funnel cloud (tornado or waterspout) FCST Forecast FEB February FEW Few FG Fog FIG Figure AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-5
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) FILG Filling FIR Flight information region FIRAV First available FL Florida or Flight Level FLD Field FLRY Flurry FLRYS Flurries FLT Flight FLUC Fluctuating or fluctuation or fluctuated FLW Follow(s) or following FLY Fly or flying FM From FM… From (followed by time weather change is forecast to begin) FMT Format FNCTN Function FNTGNS Frontogenesis FNTLYS Frontolysis FORNN Forenoon FPM Feet per minute FQTLY Frequently FRI Friday FRM Form FRMG Forming FRMN Formation FRNG Firing FRONT Front (relating to weather) FROPA Frontal passage FROSFC Frontal surface FRQ Frequent FRST Frost FRWF Forecast wind factor FSS Flight Service Station FST First FT Feet (dimensional unit) FTHR Further FU Smoke FVRBL Favorable FWD Forward FYI For your information FZ Freezing FZ LVL Freezing level FZDZ Freezing drizzle FZFG Freezing fog FZRA Freezing rain
G
G Gust or green GA Georgia GAMET Area forecast for low level flights GEN General GENLY Generally GEO Geographic or true GEOREF Geographical reference GFS Global Forecast System (model) GLFALSK Gulf of Alaska GLFCAL Gulf of California GLFMEX Gulf of Mexico GLFSTLAWR Gulf of St. Lawrence GND Ground GR Hail GRAD Gradient GRDL Gradual GRDLY Gradually GRIB Processed meteorological data in the form of grid point values expressed in binary form (aeronautical meteorological code) GRT Great GRTLY Greatly GRTLKS Great Lakes GS Small hail and/or snow pellets GSTS Gusts GSTY Gusty GTS Global Telecommunication System
H
HAZ Hazard HDFRZ Hard freeze HDSVLY Hudson Valley HDWND Head wind HGT Height HI Hawaii or high HIFOR High level forecast HJ Sunrise to sunset HLDG Holding HLF Half HLTP Hilltop HN Sunset to sunrise AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-6
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) HND Hundred HOL Holiday HPA Hectopascal HPC Hydrometeorological Prediction Center HR Hours HRZN Horizon HTG Heating HURCN Hurricane HUREP Hurricane report HVY Heavy or heavy (used to indicate the intensity of weather phenomena, e.g.
heavy rain = HVY RA) HVYR Heavier HVYST Heaviest HWVR However HWY Highway HYR Higher HZ Haze
I
IA Iowa IAO In and out of clouds IC Icing (PIREPs only) or ice crystals (very small ice crystals in suspension, also known as diamond dust) ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICE Icing ICGIC Icing in clouds ICGICIP Icing in clouds and in precipitation ICGIP Icing in precipitation ID Idaho or identifier or identity IDENT Identification IFR Instrument flight rules IGA International general aviation IL Illinois ILS Instrument landing system IMC Instrument meteorological conditions IMD Immediate or immediately IMPL Impulse IMPLS Impulses IMPR Improve or improving IMT Immediate or immediately IMPT Important INC In cloud INCL Include INCLD Included INCLG Including INCLS Includes INCR Increase INCRD Increased INCRG Increasing INCRGLY Increasingly INCRS Increases INDC Indicate INDCD Indicated INDCG Indicating INDCS Indicates INDEF Indefinite INFO Information INOP Inoperative INPR In progress INSTR Instrument INSTBY Instability INTCNTL Intercontinental INTL International INTMD Intermediate INTMT Intermittent INTMTLY Intermittently INTR Interior INTRP Interrupt or interruption or interrupted INTRMTRGN Intermountain region INT Intersection INTS Intense INTSFCN Intensification INTSF Intensify or intensifying INTST Intensity INTVL Interval INVRN Inversion IOVC In overcast INVOF In vicinity of IPV Improve IPVG Improving ISA International standard atmosphere ISOL Isolated
J
JAN January AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-7
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) JCTN Junction JTST Jet stream JUL July JUN June
K
KFRST Killing frost KG Kilograms KLYR Smoke layer aloft KM Kilometers KMH Kilometers per hour KOCTY Smoke over city KPA Kilopascals KS Kansas KT Knots KY Kentucky
L
L Left (runway identification) LA Louisiana LABRDR Labrador LAN Inland LAT Latitude LAWRS Limited aviation weather reporting station LCTMP Little change in temperature LFTG Lifting LGT Light or lighting LGWV Long wave LI Lifted Index LIS Lifted indices LK Lake LKS Lakes LKLY Likely LLJ Low level jet LLWAS Low-level wind shear alert system LLWS Low-level wind shear LN Line LOC Local or locally or location or located LONG Longitude LONGL Longitudinal LRG Long range LRGLY Largely LRGR Larger LRGST Largest LST Local standard time LTD Limited LTG Lightning LTGCC Lightning cloud-to-cloud LTGCG Lightning cloud-to-ground LTGCCCG Lightning cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-ground LTGCW Lightning cloud-to-water LTGIC Lightning in cloud LTL Little LTLCG Little change LTR Later LTST Latest LV Light and variable (relating to wind) LVE Leave or Leaving LVL Level LWR Lower LWRD Lowered LWRG Lowering LRY Layer or layered
M
M Meters (preceded by figures) or Mach number (followed by figures) MA Massachusetts MAG Magnetic MAINT Maintenance MAN Manitoba MAR March MAX Maximum MAY May MB Millibar MBST Microburst MCD Mesoscale discussion MD Maryland MDFY Modify MDFYD Modified MDFYG Modifying MDL Model MDLS Models MDTLY Moderately ME Maine MED Medium MEGG Merging MESO Mesoscale AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-8
Aviation Weather Services, Advisory Circular 00-45F, Change 2 (March 2009) MET Meteorological or meteorology METAR Aviation routine weather report (in aeronautical meteorological code) METRO Metropolitan MEX Mexico MHKVLY Mohawk Valley MI Michigan MID Mid-point (related to RVR) MIDN Midnight MIFG Shallow fog MIL Military MIN Minutes MISG Missing MLTLVL Melting level MN Minnesota MNLD Mainland MNM Minimum MNLY Mainly MNT Monitor or monitoring or monitored MNTN Maintain MO Missouri MOD Moderate (used to indicate the intensity of weather phenomena, interference or static reports, e.g.
moderate rain = MOD RA) MOGR Moderate or greater MON Monday or above mountains MOPS Minimum operational performance standards MOV Move or moving or movement MPH Miles per hour MPS Meters per second MRG Medium range MRGL Marginal MRGLLY Marginally MRNG Morning MRTM Maritime MS Mississippi or minus MSG Message MSL Mean sea level MST Most MSTLY Mostly MSTR Moisture MT Montana or mountain MTW Mountain waves MULT Multiple MULTILVL Multilevel MWO Meteorological watch office MX Mixed type of ice formation (white and clear)
N
N North or northern latitude or no distinct tendency (in RVR during previous 10 minutes) NAB Not above NAM North American Mesoscale (model) NAT North Atlantic NAV Navigation NB New Brunswick or northbound NBFR Not before NBRHD Neighborhood NC North Carolina or no change NCEP National Center of Environmental Prediction NCO NCEP Central Operations NCWX No change in weather ND North Dakota NE Nebraska or northeast NEB Northeast bound NEC Necessary NEG No or negative or permission not granted or that is not correct NEGLY Negatively NELY Northeasterly NERN Northeastern NEWD Northeastward NEW ENG New England NFLD Newfoundland NGT Night NH New Hampshire NHC National Hurricane Center NIL None or I have nothing to send to you NJ New Jersey NL No layers NLT Not later than AC 00-45F, CHG 2 Appendix B: Contractions and Acronyms Page 11-9