Complete WMO documentation in MSword can be downloaded from CODE TABLES AND FLAG TABLES ASSOCIATED WITH BUFR ...
sources www.bom.gov.au/weather.../IDY03000.doc
Data contained in IDY03000 and IDY03010 (Decoded synop data)
Heading name Description
WMO_id WMO station index number, uniquely identifies station
Name[31] Observing station name
Abbr[6] An abbeviated name (normally 4 characters) used for the station
Date Date, Year (4 digits), month (2 digits), day (2 digits)
Time Time, Hours (2 digits), minutes (2 digits), UTC
Lat Latitude, decimal degrees, S -ve, N +ve
Lon Longitude, decimal degrees, E +ve, W -ve
Stn_typ Station type
Stn_ht_m Station height (in metres)
Total_cld Total cloud cover in oktas, 9=Sky Obscured by smoke, fog, ...
Wdir Wind direction, degrees true
Wspd_mps Wind speed, metres per second
Vis_m Visibility, metres
Wx[9] Present weather, abbreviated
Pw1 Past weather (last 3-6 hours), see below
Pw2 Past weather (Used so more than one variation can be reported)
Msl_P Mean Sea Level Pressure, hPa
Stn_P Station level pressure, hPa
P_tend_typ Type of the pressure tendency, numerical code, see below
P_tend_val Pressure tendency (change) in last 3 hours, hPa
Cor_P_tend Pressure tendency in last 3 hours corrected for diurnal variation
T_DB Temperature (dry bulb), degrees C
DP Dew point, degrees C
Low_cld_amt Amount of low cloud, oktas, 9=Sky obscured by fog, smoke, ...
Low_cld_typ[4] Type of low cloud, abbreviation
Cld_base_m Base of lowest cloud, m
Cld_dir[4] Direction of motion of low cloud, compass point
Mid_cld_typ[4] Type of middle level cloud, abbreviation
Hi_cld_typ[4] Type of high cloud, abbreviation
Rf_int_h6 Interval for which rain is reported in next field, hours
Rainfall6 Rainfall, mm, usually at 9 or 3 AM/PM
Rf_int_h4 Interval for which rain is reported in next field, hours
Rainfall4 Rainfall, mm, usually since last observastion
Sea_state[5] Sea state, abbreviation
Swl_state[9] Swell state, abbreviation
Swl_dir[4] Swell direction, abbreviation
Max_T Maximum temperature, 24h to 9AM or 6h to 3PM local time, degree C
Min_T Minimum temperature, 24h to 9AM local time, degree C
Min_grnd_T Minimum ground temperature, 24 h to (AM local time, degree C
Snow_depth_m Depth of snow on ground, metres
Low_cld_code Code for low level cloud type, see below
Mid_cld_code Code for middle level cloud type, see below
Hi_cld_code Code for high level cloud type, see below
Max_T(Int) Maximum temperature for international exchange
Min_T(Int) Minimum temperature for international exchange
Plain_lang[51] Plain language comments
Codes:
P_tend_typ:
0 Increasing, then decreasing, current pressure same or higher
1 Increasing, then steady or increasing more slowly
2 Increasing
3 Decreasing or steady, then increasing, or
Increasing, then increasing more rapidly, current pressure higher
4 Steady
5 Decreasing, then increasing, current presure lower
6 Decreasing, then steady or decreasing more slowly
7 Decreasing
8 Steady or increasing, then then decreasing, current pressure lower, or
Decreasing, then decreasing more rapidly
Wx[9] - Present weather
This consists of a two or 3 digit code figure plus (when relevant)
a short, text abbreviation of the weather The abbreviations used (frequently
together, eg XXRA for heavy rain, FZDZ for freezing drizzle) include
BL Blowing (usually of sand or snow)
DR Drifting (usually of sand or snow)
DZ Drizzle
FC Funnel cloud (tornado, water spout)
FG Fog
FU Smoke (from the French for smoke)
FZ Freezing (usually of rain or fog)
GR Hail (from the French for hail)
HZ Haze
MI Shallow (can be applied to Fog etc)
RE Ice pellets
PO Dust devils (I think this is from the Spanish for dust devils)
RA Rain
RE Recent (in the last hour, but not at the observation time)
SA Sand
SG Snow grains
SH Showers
SN Snow
SQ Squall
TS Thunderstorm
XX Heavy or intense (usually of rain or snow)
Also, some other abbreviations used include
lightn Lightning
virga Virga
RIA<5k Precipitation in the area, less then 5km distant
Code figures
(This is a subset of a larger table, not all values of which are used)
WMO international BUFR code table 0 20 003, CREX code table B 20 003
00 Clouds not observed
01 Cloud decreasing
02 State of sky generally unchangeing
03 Cloud increasing
04 Smoke or volcanic ash
05 Haze
06 Widespread dust suspended in the air, not raised locally at the
time of observation
07 Dust or sand raised locally by the wind at the time of observation,
but no well developed dust devils, sandstorm, or duststorm
08 Well developed dust devils, but no sandstorm or duststorm
09 Duststorm or sandstorm
10 Mist
11 Paches of shallow fog
12 More or less continuous shallow fog
13 Lightning visible, but no thunder heard
14 Precipitation in sight, but not reaching the ground or sea (virga)
15 Precipitation in sight, reaching the ground, but more than 5km away
16 Precipitation in sight, reaching the ground, near but not at the
observing station
17 Thunderstorm without precipitation
18 Squalls
19 Funnel clouds (tornado, water spout)
20 Recent (within the last hour) drizzle
21 Recent (within the last hour) rain, but not freezing rain
22 Recent (within the last hour) snow
23 Recent (within the last hour) mixed raion and snow or ice pellets
24 Recent (within the last hour) freezing drizzle or freezing rain
25 Recent (within the last hour) showers of rain
26 Recent (within the last hour) showers of snow or mixed rain and snow
27 Recent (within the last hour) showers of hail or mixed rain and hai
28 Recent (within the last hour) Fog or ice fog
29 Recent (within the last hour) thunderstorm
30 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased in the
last hour
31 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, with no appreciable
change in the last hour
32 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or
increased in the last hour
33 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased in the last hour
34 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, with no appreciable change in the
last hour
35 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or increased in the
last hour
36 Slight or moderate drifting snow, generally below eye level
37 Heavy drifting snow, generally below eye level
38 Slight or moderate blowing snow, generally above eye level
39 Heavy blowing snow, generally above eye level
40 Fog or ice fog at a distance but not at the station
41 Patches of fog or ice fog
42 Fog or ice fog, sky visible, has become thinner in the last hour
43 Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has become thinner in the last hour
44 Fog or ice fog, sky visible, no appreciable change in the last hour
45 Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, no appreciable change in the last
hour
46 Fog or ice fog, sky visible, has become thicker in the last hour
47 Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has become thicker in the last hour
48 Fog, depositing rime (freezing fog), sky visible
49 Fog, depositing rime (freezing fog), sky invisible
50 Slight intermittent drizzle, not freezing
51 Continuous slight drizzle, not freezing
52 Moderate intermittent drizzle, not freezing
53 Continuous moderate drizzle, not freezing
54 Heavy intermittent drizzle, not freezing
55 Continuous heavy drizzle, not freezing
56 Slight freezing drizzle
57 Moderate or heavy freezing drizzle
58 Slight drizzle and rain (mixed)
59 Moderate or heavy drizzle and rain (mixed)
60 Slight intermittent rain, not freezing
61 Continuous slight rain, not freezing
62 Moderate intermittent rain, not freezing
63 Continuous moderate rain, not freezing
64 Heavy intermittent rain, not freezing
65 Continuous heavy rain, not freezing
66 Slight freezing rain
67 Moderate or heavy freezing rain
68 Slight rain and snow or drizzle and snow (mixed)
69 Moderate or heavy rain and snow or drizzle and snow (mixed)
70 Slight intermittent snow
71 Continuous slight snow
72 Moderate intermittent snow
73 Continuous moderate snow
74 Heavy intermittent snow
75 Continuous heavy snow
76 Diamond dust, with or without fog
77 Snow grains, with or without fog
78 Isolated star like ice crystals, with or without fog
79 Ice pellets
80 Slight rain showers or shower
81 Moderate or heavy rain shower or showers
82 Violent rain shower or showers
83 Slight shower or showers of mixed rain and snow
84 Moderate or heavy shower or showers of mixed rain and snow
85 Slight shower or showers of snow
86 Moderate or heavy shower or showers of snow
87 Slight shower or showers of snow pellets or small hail, with
or without rain or mixed rain and snow
88 Moderate or heavy shower or showers of snow pellets or small
hail, with or without rain or mixed rain and snow
89 Slight shower or showers of hail, with or without rain or
mixed rain and snow, but no thunder
90 Moderate or heavy shower or showers of hail, with or without
rain or mixed rain and snow, but no thunder
91 Slight rain now, with thunder during the last hour
92 Moderate or heavy rain now, with thunder during the last hour
93 Slight snow, mixed rain and snow, or hail now, with thunder
during the last hour
94 Moderate or heavy snow, mixed rain and snow, or hail now, with
thunder during the last hour
95 Slight or moderate thunderstorm with rain or snow but no hail
96 Slight or moderate thunderstorm with hail
97 Heavy thunderstorm with rain or snow but no hail
98 Thunderstorm combu=ined with a sandstorm or duststorm
99 Heavy thunderstorm with hail
100 No significant weather
101 Cloud decreasing
102 State of sky generally unchangeing
103 Cloud increasing
104 Haze or smoke or suspended dust, visibility >= 1km
105 Haze or smoke or suspended dust, visibility < 1km
110 Mist
111 Diamond dust
112 Distant lightning
118 Squalls
120 Recent (during the last hour) fog
121 Recent (during the last hour) precipitation
122 Recent (during the last hour) drizzle, not freezing, or snow grains
123 Recent (during the last hour) rain, not freezing
124 Recent (during the last hour) snow
125 Recent (during the last hour) freezing drizzle or freezing rain
126 Recent (during the last hour) thunderstorm
127 Blowing or drifting snow or sand
128 Blowing or drifting snow or sand, visibility >= 1km
129 Blowing or drifting snow or sand, visibility < 1km
130 Fog
131 Patches of fog or ice fog
132 Fog or ice fog, has become thinner in the last hour
133 Fog or ice fog, no appreciable change in the last hour
134 Fog or ice fog, has become thicker in the last hour
135 Fog, depositing rime (freezing fog)
140 Precipitation
141 Slight or moderate precipitation
142 Heavy precipitation
143 Slight or moderate liquid precipitation
144 Heavy liquid precipitation
145 Slight or moderate solid precipitation
146 Heavy solid precipitation
147 Slight or moderate freezing precipitation
148 Heavy freezing precipitation
150 Drizzle
151 Slight drizzle, not freezing
152 Moderate drizzle, not freezing
153 Heavy drizzle, not freezing
154 Slight freezing drizzle
155 Moderate freezing drizzle
156 Heavy freezing drizzle
157 Slight drizzle and rain
158 Moderate or heavy drizzle and rain
160 Rain
161 Slight rain, not freezing
162 Moderate rain, not freezing
163 Heavy rain, not freezing
164 Slight freezing rain
165 Moderate freezing rain
166 Heavy freezing rain
167 Slight rain and snow or drizzle and snow
168 Moderate or heavy rain and snow or drizzle and snow
170 Snow
171 Slight snow
172 Moderate snow
173 Heavy snow
174 Slight ice pellets
175 Moderate ice pellets
176 Heavy ice pellets
180 Shower or showers or intermittent precipitation
181 Slight rain shower or showers or slight intermittent rain
182 Moderate rain shower or showers or moderate intermittent rain
183 Heavy rain shower or showers or heavy intermittent rain
184 Violent rain shower or showers or violent intermittent rain
185 Slight snow shower or showers or slight intermittent snow
186 Moderate snow shower or showers or moderate intermittent snow
187 Heavy snow shower or showers or heavy intermittent snow
190 Thunderstorm
191 Slight or moderate thunderstorm without precipitation
192 Slight or moderate thunderstorm with rain showers and/or snow
showers
193 Slight or moderate thunderstorm with hail
194 Heavy thunderstorm without precipitation
195 Heavy thunderstorm with rain showers and/or snow showers
196 Heavy thunderstorm with hail
199 Tornado
508 No significant weather
509 Data not available
510 Data should have been reported but wasn't
Pw1 and Pw2 - Past weather
WMO international BUFR code table 0 20 004, CREX code table B 20 004
If only one type of weather has occurred in the last 3-6 hours,
only Pw1 and Pw2 will be the same. If there has been more than one, Pw1
and Pw2 should be different, with Pw1 reflecting the "more important" past
weather. Code figures 0-9 normally apply to manned stations, 10-19 to
automated weather stations.
0 Cloud covering less than 1/2 the sky
1 Cloud covering more than 1/2 the sky part of the time
and less than 1/2 the sky part of the time
2 Cloud covering more than 1/2 the sky
3 Sandstorm, dustorm or blowing snow
4 Fog, ice fog, or thick haze
5 Drizzle
6 Rain
7 Snow, or mixed rain and snow
8 Showers
9 Thunderstorm
10 Nothing significant detected
11 Reduced visibility
12 Blowing phenomena (sand, dust, snow, ...) reducing visibility
13 Fog
14 Precipitation (rain, snow, hail, ...)
15 Drizzle
16 Rain
17 Snow or ice pellets
18 Showers or intermittent precipitation
19 Thunderstorm
Low_cld_code:
(This is a subset of a larger table, not all values of which are used)
WMO international BUFR code table 0 20 012, CREX code table B 20 012
30 No low level cloud
31 Cumulus humilis, or Cumulus fractus (not of bad weather), or both
32 Cumulus mediocris or congestus, with or without Cumulus humilis
or fractus or Stratocumulus, all bases at the same level
33 Cumulonimbus calvus, with or without Cumulus, Stratocumulus
or Stratus
34 Stratocumulus cumulogenitus
35 Stratocumulus other than stratocumulus cumulogenitus
36 Stratus nebulosis or Stratus fractus (not of bad weather), or both
37 Stratus fractus or Cumulus fractus of bad weather or both (pannus)
38 Cumulus and Stratocumulus other than stratocumulus cumulogenitus,
with bases at different levels
39 Cumulonimbus capillatus with or without Cumulonimbus calvus
Cumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus or pannus
Mid_cld_code:
(This is a subset of a larger table, not all values of which are used)
WMO international BUFR code table 0 20 012, CREX code table B 20 012
20 No middle level cloud
21 Altostratus translucidus
22 Altostratus opacus or Nimbostratus
23 Altocumulus translucidus at a single level
24 Patches (often lenticular) of Altocumulus translucidus, continually
changing and at one or more levels
25 Altocumulus translucidus in bands, or one or more layers of
Altocumulus translucidus or opacus, progressively invading the
sky
26 Altocumulus cumulogenitus or cumulonimbogenitus
27 Altocumulus translucidus or opacus in two or more layers, or
Altocumulus opacus in a single layer, not progressively invading
the sky, or Altocumulus with Altostratus or Nimbostratus
28 Altocumulus castellanus or floccus
29 Altocumulus of a chaotic sky, usually at several levels
Hi_cld_code:
(This is a subset of a larger table, not all values of which are used)
WMO international BUFR code table 0 20 012, CREX code table B 20 012
10 No high level cloud
11 Cirrus fibratus, sometimes unicus, not progressively invading
the sky
12 Cirrus spissatus in patches or entangled sheaves. which usually
do not increase
13 Cirrus spissatus cumulonimbogenitus
14 Cirrus unicus or fibratus or both, progressively invading the sky
15 Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus or Cirrostratus alone,
progressively invading the sky, but continuous cloud less than
45 degrees above the horizon.
16 Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus or Cirrostratus alone,
progressively invading the sky, but continuous cloud more than
45 degrees above the horizon without covering the entire sky
17 Cirrostratus covering the entire sky
18 Cirrostratus not covering the entire sky and not progressively
invading it
19 Cirrocumulus alone, or Cirrocumulus predominant