JO 7110.10 Flight ServicesJO 7110.10EE · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 2 · Section 4
Weather Phraseology
6 Paragraphs2-4-1–2-4-6
2-4-1 SURFACE OBSERVATIONS
Use the following phraseology and procedures for stating surface weather observations and for information similarly encoded in other aviation weather products and forecasts.
Location.
Announce the geographic name (not the identifier) once.
EXAMPLE
“Paducah.”
When the location name is duplicated within 500 miles, follow the location name with the state name.
EXAMPLE
“Columbus, Ohio.”
When weather reports originate at more than one airport at the same geographical location, identify the airport.
EXAMPLE
“Anchorage, Merrill.” “Chicago, O'Hare.”
Where it is considered necessary or is requested by the military base commander, broadcast military observations by stating the location, the name of the airport if different, and the controlling military branch.
EXAMPLE
“Joint Base Andrews.” “Elmendorf, Air Force Base.” “Fort Riley, Marshall Army Air Field.” “Norfolk Naval Station.”
Special and automated weather reports.
If a special report is the most recent observation available, follow the location with the words “SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT,” (last two digits of the time) “OBSERVATION.”
PHRASEOLOGY
(Location) SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION.
If “AUTO” appears after the date/time element and is presented as a singular report, follow the location with the word “AUTOMATED.”
PHRASEOLOGY
(Location) AUTOMATED.
If the current report is both a special report and automated, follow the location with the words “SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION AUTOMATED.”
PHRASEOLOGY
(Location) SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT, (last two digits of the time) OBSERVATION, AUTOMATED.
Missing weather data. If the weather data is not available, state the location and the word “MISSING.”
Wind direction and speed.
Announce surface wind direction and speed by stating the word “WIND” followed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the nearest 10 degrees and the separate digits of the speed.
A “G” between two wind speed values is announced as “GUSTS.”
A “V” between two wind direction values is announced as “VARIABLE.”
When indicated, preface the values with the words “VARIABLE BETWEEN,” followed by the first value, the word “AND,” and then the second value.
Announce the variability of wind at the end of the wind group.
| Wind | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 00000KT | WIND CALM |
| 26012KT | WIND TWO SIX ZERO AT ONE TWO |
| 29012KT 260V320 | WIND TWO NINER ZERO AT ONE TWO, VARIABLE BETWEEN TWO SIX ZERO AND THREE TWO ZERO |
| 30008KT | WIND THREE ZERO ZERO AT EIGHT |
| 36012G20KT | WIND THREE SIX ZERO AT ONE TWO, GUSTS TWO ZERO |
| VRB04KT | WIND VARIABLE AT FOUR |
Visibility. State the word “VISIBILITY” followed by the visibility values in miles and/or fractions of miles, except announce values indicated by the figure “0” as “ZERO.” When the reported value is indicated as less than (M), state the visibility as “LESS THAN” followed by the indicated value. Announce the separate digits of whole numbers as applicable.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 0 SM | VISIBILITY ZERO |
| 1/16 SM | VISIBILITY ONE SIXTEENTH |
| 1/8 SM | VISIBILITY ONE EIGHTH |
| M ¼ SM | VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER |
| ¾ SM | VISIBILITY THREE QUARTERS |
| 1 ½ SM | VISIBILITY ONE AND ONE-HALF |
| 8 SM | VISIBILITY EIGHT |
| 25 SM | VISIBILITY TWO FIVE |
NOTE
When visibility is less than three miles and variable, this information is reported in the remarks.
Runway visual range (RVR).
Provide RVR information by stating the runway, the abbreviation “R-V-R,” and the indicated value.
A “V” between two RVR values is announced as “VARIABLE.” When indicated, preface the values with the word “VARIABLE,” followed by the first value, the word “TO,” and then the second value.
When issued along with other weather elements, transmit these values in the normal sequence used for weather reporting.
| RVR | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| R18/2000V3000FT | RUNWAY ONE EIGHT, R-V-R VARIABLE TWO THOUSAND TO THREE THOUSAND |
| R26R/2400FT | RUNWAY TWO SIX RIGHT, R-V-R TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED |
When there is a requirement to issue an RVR value and a visibility condition greater than (P) or less than (M) the reportable values of the equipment is indicated, state the condition as “MORE THAN” or “LESS THAN” the appropriate minimum or maximum readable value.
| RVR | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| R16/M0600FT | RUNWAY ONE SIX, R-V-R LESS THAN SIX HUNDRED |
| R36L/M0600V2500FT | RUNWAY THREE SIX LEFT, R-V-R VARIABLE LESS THAN SIX HUNDRED TO TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED |
| R36/P6000FT | RUNWAY THREE SIX, R-V-R MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND |
Weather elements. TBL 2-4-1 depicts sample phraseology for weather element contractions. Intensity refers to precipitation, not descriptors. Announce proximity after the phenomenon to which it refers. Announce descriptors ahead of weather phenomena with the exception of “showers,” which are announced after precipitation. TBL 2-4-2 contains a complete list of weather elements and appropriate phraseology.
TBL 2-4-1 Examples of Combining Intensity, Descriptors, and Weather Phenomenon
| Contractions | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BLSN | BLOWING SNOW |
| -FZRAPL | LIGHT FREEZING RAIN, ICE PELLETS |
| FZRA | FREEZING RAIN |
| FZDZ | FREEZING DRIZZLE |
| MIFG | SHALLOW FOG |
| -SHRA | LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS |
| SHRA | RAIN SHOWERS |
| SHSN | SNOW SHOWERS |
| TSRA | THUNDERSTORM, RAIN |
| +TSRA | THUNDERSTORM, HEAVY RAIN (SHOWERS)¹ |
| +TSRAGR | THUNDERSTORM, HEAVY RAIN, HAIL |
| VCSH | SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY |
| ¹Since thunderstorms imply showery precipitation, “showers” may be used to describe precipitation that accompanies thunderstorms. | |
TBL 2-4-2 Weather Elements
| Intensity or Proximity1 | Descriptor2 | Precipitation3 | Obscuration4 | Other5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Light | MI | Shallow | DZ | Drizzle | BR | Mist | PO | Well-developed dust/sand whirls |
| BC | Patchy | RA | Rain | FG | Fog | SQ | Squalls | ||
| Moderate (no qualifier) | DR | Low Drifting | SN | Snow | FU | Smoke | FC+FC | Funnel cloud, tornado, orwaterspout | |
| BL | Blowing | SG | Snow grains | DU | Dust | SS | Sandstorm | ||
| + | Heavy | SH | Showers | IC | Ice crystals | SA | Sand | DS | Duststorm |
| TS | Thunderstorm | PL | Ice pellets | HZ | Haze | ||||
| VC | In the vicinity | FZ | Freezing | GR | Hail | PY | Spray | ||
| PR | Partial | GS | Snow pellets | VA | Volcanic Ash | ||||
| UP | *Unknown precipitation | ||||||||
| *Automated stations only. | |||||||||
Ceiling and sky coverage.
State sky coverage in the same order as reported on the weather observation. Announce ceiling as shown on TBL 2-4-3.
TBL 2-4-3 Ceiling and Sky Coverage
| Designator | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BKN000¹ | SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED |
| BKN000² | CEILING LESS THAN FIVE ZERO BROKEN |
| FEW000¹ | SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED |
| FEW000² | FEW CLOUDS AT LESS THAN FIVE ZERO |
| (lowest layer aloft) BKN/OVC | (precede with) CEILING |
| SCT000¹ | SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED |
| SCT000² | LESS THAN FIVE ZERO SCATTERED |
| VV | INDEFINITE CEILING |
| ¹Surface-based obscurations; requires remarks (for example, RMK FG SCT000, FU BKN000).²No remark means the layer is aloft. | |
State cloud heights in tens, hundreds and/or thousands of feet.
| Designator | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 000¹ | ZERO |
| 003 | THREE HUNDRED |
| 018 | ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED |
| 200 | TWO ZERO THOUSAND |
| ¹Spoken as zero only when used with VV. | |
NOTE
When the ceiling is less than 3,000 feet and variable, the variable limits will be reported in the remarks.
Announce sky conditions as indicated in TBL 2-4-4.
TBL 2-4-4 Sky Conditions
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BKN | (height) BROKEN |
| CLR¹ | CLEAR BELOW ONE TWO THOUSAND |
| FEW | FEW CLOUDS AT (height) |
| OVC | (height) OVERCAST |
| SCT | (height) SCATTERED |
| SKC | CLEAR |
| ¹Automated weather reports. | |
The following are examples of phraseology of ceiling and sky conditions.
| Condition | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BKN000 BKN010 BKN050 RMK FG BKN000 | SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, CEILING ONE THOUSAND BROKEN, FIVE THOUSAND BROKEN, FOG OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
| BKN010 | CEILING ONE THOUSAND BROKEN |
| SCT000 SCT020 OVC035 RMK FG SCT000 | SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED, CEILING THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED OVERCAST, FOG OBSCURING THREE TO FOUR EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
| SCT020 OVC250 | TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED, CEILING TWO FIVE THOUSAND OVERCAST |
| VV000 | INDEFINITE CEILING ZERO |
| VV012 | INDEFINITE CEILING ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED |
Temperature and dew point. Announce surface temperature and dew point by stating the words “TEMPERATURE” or “DEW POINT,” as appropriate, followed by the temperature in degrees Celsius. Announce temperatures below zero by prefixing the word “MINUS” before the values.
| Reading | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 02/M01 | TEMPERATURE TWO, DEW POINT MINUS ONE |
| 04/02 | TEMPERATURE FOUR, DEW POINT TWO |
| 18/13 | TEMPERATURE ONE EIGHT, DEW POINT ONE THREE |
Altimeter setting.
State the word “ALTIMETER” followed by the four digits of the altimeter setting.
| Altimeter Setting | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| A2989 | ALTIMETER TWO NINER EIGHT NINER |
| A3001 | ALTIMETER THREE ZERO ZERO ONE |
| A3025 | ALTIMETER THREE ZERO TWO FIVE |
Identify the source of all altimeter settings when issued, if not given as part of an identified surface observation. Provide the time of the report if more than one hour old.
PHRASEOLOGY
(airport name) (time of report if more than one hour old) ALTIMETER (setting).
If a request for the altimeter setting in millibars is received, announce the separate digits of the millibars equivalent value, using the millibars conversion chart, followed by the word “MILLIBARS.” If the millibars setting is not a whole number, always round down.
| Millibar Conversion | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 956.3 | ALTIMETER NINER FIVE SIX MILLIBARS |
| 1002.0 | ALTIMETER ONE ZERO ZERO TWO MILLIBARS |
| 1058.9 | ALTIMETER ONE ZERO FIVE EIGHT MILLIBARS |
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.10, Para 4-2-5, Routine Radio Contacts.
When altimeter is in excess of 31.00:
Advise all aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY
ALTIMETER GREATER THAN THREE ONE ZERO ZERO. HIGH PRESSURE ALTIMETER PROCEDURES ARE IN EFFECT.
Advise VFR aircraft to set altimeter to 31.00 en route.
PHRASEOLOGY
RECOMMEND YOU SET ALTIMETER THREE ONE ZERO ZERO EN ROUTE.
2-4-2 ANNOUNCING MISSING ITEMS
With the exception of the RVR, announce the word “MISSING” when any item or component of a weather report is not reported, or in place of unreadable or obviously incorrect items or portions of weather reports. When appropriate, instead of speaking the name of several locations with missing reports, announce “other scheduled reports missing.”
NOTE
On occasion, a parameter from an automated observation may be reported as missing in the body of the report but is available as a manually reported parameter in the remarks section. When speaking the report, include the manually reported element in its proper sequence within the report.
2-4-3 WEATHER REMARKS
Announce pertinent remarks from surface weather observations in accordance with FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions, and as shown in the following tables. Do not state additive data or other information intended for NWS analysis or processing that does not contribute to the description of the conditions occurring at the station.
Sky and ceiling.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| CIG 005V010 | CEILING VARIABLE BETWEEN FIVE HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND |
| CIG 020 RY11 | CEILING TWO THOUSAND AT RUNWAY ONE ONE |
| CB N MOV E | CUMULONIMBUS NORTH MOVING EAST |
| CBMAM DSNT S | CUMULONIMBUS MAMMATUS DISTANT SOUTH |
| CLDS TPG MT SW | CLOUDS TOPPING MOUNTAIN SOUTHWEST |
| CONTRAILS N FL420 | CONDENSATION TRAILS NORTH AT FLIGHT LEVEL FOUR TWO ZERO |
| FRQ LTCIC VC | FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN CLOUD IN THE VICINITY |
| LWR CLDS NE | LOWER CLOUDS NORTHEAST |
| OCNL LTGICCG NW | OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IN CLOUD AND CLOUD TO GROUND NORTHWEST |
| RDGS OBSCD W-N | RIDGES OBSCURED WEST THROUGH NORTH |
Obscuring phenomena.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BLSN SCT000 | BLOWING SNOW OBSCURING THREE TO FOUR-EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
| DU BKN000 | DUST OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN-EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
| FG FU FEW000 | FOG AND SMOKE OBSCURING ONE TO TWO-EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
| FU SCT020 | SMOKE LAYER TWO THOUSAND SCATTERED |
| SN BKN000 | SNOW OBSCURING FIVE TO SEVEN-EIGHTS OF THE SKY |
Visibility.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| SFC VIS 1/2 | SURFACE VISIBILITY ONE-HALF |
| SFC VIS 15 TWRINC | SURFACE VISIBILITY ONE FIVE, TOWER IN CLOUDS |
| TWR VIS 3/4 | TOWER VISIBILITY THREE-QUARTERS |
| VIS S 1 W 1/4 | VISIBILITY SOUTH ONE, WEST ONE-QUARTER |
| VIS 1V3 | VISIBILITY VARIABLE BETWEEN ONE AND THREE |
Weather and obstructions to visibility.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| BCFG S | PATCHY FOG SOUTH |
| DUST DEVILS NW | DUST DEVILS NORTHWEST |
| FG DSIPTG | FOG DISSIPATING |
| FU DRFTG OVR FLD | SMOKE DRIFTING OVER FIELD |
| FUOCTY | SMOKE OVER CITY |
| GR 2 | HAILSTONES TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER |
| INTMT -RA | INTERMITTENT LIGHT RAIN |
| OCNL LTG DSNTNW | OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING DISTANT NORTHWEST |
| OCNL SHRA | OCCASIONAL MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS |
| -RA OCNLY +RA | LIGHT RAIN OCCASIONALLY HEAVY |
| RAB30 | RAIN BEGAN AT THREE ZERO |
| SNB15E40 | SNOW BEGAN AT ONE FIVE, ENDED AT FOUR ZERO |
| SNINCR 5/10 | SNOW INCREASE FIVE INCHES DURING PAST HOUR, TEN INCHES ON THE GROUND |
| TS OHD MOV E | THUNDERSTORM OVERHEAD, MOVING EAST |
| FRQ LTGCG TS WMOV E | FREQUENT LIGHTNING CLOUD TO GROUND, THUNDERSTORM WEST MOVING EAST |
| UNCONFIRMED TORNADO 15W OKC MOV NE 2015 | UNCONFIRMED TORNADO ONE FIVE WEST OF OKLAHOMA CITY,MOVING NORTHEAST SIGHTED AT TWO ZERO ONE FIVE ZULU |
| WET SN | WET SNOW |
Wind.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| PK WND 33048/22 | PEAK WIND THREE THREE ZERO AT FOUR EIGHT OCCURRED AT TWO TWO PAST THE HOUR |
| WSHFT 30 | WIND SHIFTED AT THREE ZERO |
Pressure.
| Contraction | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| PRESFR | PRESSURE FALLING RAPIDLY |
| PRESRR | PRESSURE RISING RAPIDLY |
Maintenance data.
| RVR | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| PNO | PRECIPITATION AMOUNT NOT AVAILABLE |
| RVRNO | R-V-R INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE |
| TSNO | THUNDERSTORM/LIGHTNING INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE |
| VISNO | VISIBILITY SENSOR INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE |
2-4-4 WEATHER ADVISORIES
When announcing weather advisories, include the complete advisory description including the product name and alphanumeric identification. Specify eastern, central, or western section if applicable.
PHRASEOLOGY
AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING or AIRMET FOR ICING G-AIRMET FOR ICING or GRAPHICAL AIRMET FOR ICING or G-AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING or GRAPHICAL AIRMET ZULU FOR ICING ALERT WEATHER WATCH, ONE ZERO SEVEN FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONVECTIVE SIGMET TWO SEVEN EASTERN HOUSTON CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY ONE, ISSUANCE TWO SIGMET WHISKEY THREE
Do not read the OUTLOOK section of Convective SIGMETs when stating the advisory. Data contained in the OUTLOOK concerning convective activity location, movement, and intensity may be extracted for compilation in forecast summarizations.
EXAMPLE
“Convective SIGMET one seven eastern from five zero south of St. Petersburg to three zero south of Columbus, line of thunderstorms three five miles wide moving east at one five knots. Maximum tops four seven thousand.”
VFR Flight Not Recommended (VNR). When VFR flight is proposed and sky conditions or visibilities are reported or forecast, surface or aloft, that, in your judgment, would make flight under VFR doubtful, include one of the following statements:
PHRASEOLOGY
V-F-R FLIGHT NOT RECOMMENDED (location if applicable) DUE TO (conditions) or V-F-R NOT RECOMMENDED (location if applicable) DUE TO (conditions)
EXAMPLE
“There are broken clouds along the entire route between niner and one one thousand feet. With the approach of a cold front, these clouds are forecast to become overcast and to lower to below seven thousand with mountains and passes becoming obscured. V-F-R flight not recommended between Salt Lake City and Grand Junction after two two zero zero Zulu.” “V-F-R not recommended in the Seattle area until early afternoon. The current weather at Seattle is indefinite ceiling three hundred, visibility one, mist, and little improvement is expected before one eight zero zero Zulu.”
2-4-5 RADAR
When stating precipitation intensity from a radar display (for example, NEXRAD), use the following four categories as appropriate:
Light (equates to radar return levels of less than 30 dBZ).
Moderate (equates to radar return levels of 30 to 40 dBZ).
Heavy (equates to radar return levels of greater than 40 to 50 dBZ).
Extreme (equates to radar return levels of greater than 50 dBZ).
2-4-6 WINDS AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT FORECAST
When announcing the winds and temperatures aloft forecast, use the following phraseology and procedures:
State the altitude, then announce wind direction and speed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the 5- or 10-degree multiple, the word “AT,” and the separate digits of the speed.
NOTE
Announcing the wind direction in 5- or 10-degree multiples is dependent on the operating system of the specialist.
When the forecast speed is less than five knots, the coded group is 9900 and read “LIGHT AND VARIABLE.”
Encoded wind speed 100 to 199 knots have 50 added to the direction code and 100 subtracted from the speed.
If wind speed is forecast at 200 knots or greater, the wind group is coded as 199 knots.
EXAMPLE
7799 is decoded 270 degrees at 199 knots or greater.
A six-digit group includes forecast temperature. Provide temperatures on request only, stating the word ”TEMPERATURE,” followed by the word “MINUS,” as appropriate, and the separate digits.
| Coded | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 2707 | (altitude) TWO SEVEN ZERO AT SEVEN |
| 7799 | (altitude) TWO SEVEN ZERO AT ONE NINER NINER OR GREATER |
| 850552 | (altitude) THREE FIVE ZERO AT ONE ZERO FIVE, TEMPERATURE MINUS FIVE TWO |
| 9900+00 | (altitude) LIGHT AND VARIABLE, TEMPERATURE ZERO |