VARIABLE NAMES USED IN SFCREAD.F -------------------------------- (--- means used in code) name unit description ----- ------ ----------------------------- AT Tenth of degree C AIR TEMPERATURE ATMN Tenth of degree C MINIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE ATMX Tenth of degree C MAXIMUM AIR TEMPERATURE DDD Degree WIND DIRECTION DPD Tenth of degree C DEWPOINT DEPRESSION FFF Knot WIND SPEED IC1 code table 0513 IR FLAG IC2 code table 0313 IW FLAG IC3 code table 0600 IX FLAG ICPT code table 0200 CHARACTERISTIC OF PRESSURE TENDENCY IDY --- DAY IHR --- HOUR IMO --- MONTH IN code table 2700 FRACTION OF CELESTIAL DOME COVERED BY CLOUD INH code table 2700 FRACTION OF CELESTIAL DOME COVERED BY ALL THE CL OR CM CLOUDS PRESENT IPT Tenth of millibar PRESSURE TENDENCY IPW code table 4677 PRESENT WEATHER IRTYP --- REPORT TYPE IVV code table 4377 HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY IW1 code table 4500 PAST WEATHER IYR --- YEAR IZCB code table 1600 HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND OF THE BASE OF THE CLOUD LTH --- TOTAL LENGTH OF REPORT QAT from table Q.51 AIR TEMPERATURE QUALITY MARK QDDFF '' WIND QUALITY MARK QDWX code table 4500 (IW2) 2ND CHARACTER OF PAST WEATHER (IW1 IS 1ST) code table Q.51 or QUALITY MARK for depression QSLP from table Q.51 QUALITY MARK (SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE) QSTP from table Q.51 QUALITY MARK (STATION PRESSURE) SLP Tenth of millibar SEA-LEVEL PRESSURE STP Tenth of millibar STATION PRESSURE XELEV --- ELEVATION XHR --- HOUR XLAT --- LATITUDE -negative in the southern hemisphere XLON --- WEST LONGITUDE ===================================================================== table SM.51 --------------- ===================================================================== code table 0200 --------------- ICPT Characteristic of Pressure Tendency During the 3 Hours Preceding the Time of Observation. Code Figure Description --------------------------------------------------- 0 Increasing, then decreasing; atmospheric pressure the same or higher than 3 hrs. ago. 1-3 Atmospheric pressure now higher than 3 hours ago. 1 Increasing, then steady; or increasing, then increasing more slowly. 2 Increasing (steadily or unsteadily). 3 Decreasing or steady, then increasing; or increasing, then increasing more rapidly. 4 Steady, atmospheric pressure the same as 3 hours ago. 5 Decreasing, then increasing; atmospheric pressure the same or lower than 3 hrs. ago. 6-8 Atmospheric pressure now lower than 3 hours ago. 6 Decreasing, then steady; or decreasing, then decreasing more slowly. 7 Decreasing (steadily or unsteadily). 8 Steady or increasing, then decreasing; or decreasing, then decreasing more rapidly. 9 Indicator figure ----------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Code figure 9 is used to signify that the amount of pressure tendency is the 24-hour pressure change p24p24 (See Code 470). ----------------------------------------------------------------- Code 470 IF characteristic of pressure tendency is 9 and pressure tendency is not 999 (error) then: Symbol p24p24 = Amount of Pressure Change at the Station During the Past 24 Hours. ----------------------------------------------------- Code Figure Amount of Pressure Change ------ -------------------------------------- 00 No change; pressure same as 24 hours ago 01 Pressure has risen 0.1 mb 02 " " " 0.2 mb 03 " " " 0.3 mb 04 " " " 0.4 mb 05 " " " 0.5 mb 06 " " " 0.6 mb 07 " " " 0.7 mb 08 " " " 0.8 mb 09 " " " 0.9 mb 10 " " " 1.0 mb 11 " " " 1.1 mb etc. etc. 39 " " " 3.9 mb 40 " " " 4 mb 41 " " " 5 mb 42 " " " 6 mb 43 " " " 7 mb 44 " " " 8 mb 45 " " " 9 mb 46 " " " 10 mb 47 " " " 11 mb 48 " " " 12 mb 49 " " " 13 mb or more 50 Not used 51 Pressure has fallen 0.1 mb 52 " " " 0.2 mb 53 " " " 0.3 mb 54 " " " 0.4 mb 55 " " " 0.5 mb 56 " " " 0.6 mb 57 " " " 0.7 mb 58 " " " 0.8 mb 59 " " " 0.9 mb 60 " " " 1.0 mb 61 " " " 1.1 mb etc. " " " 89 " " " 3.9 mb 90 " " " 4 mb 91 " " " 5 mb 92 " " " 6 mb 93 " " " 7 mb 94 " " " 8 mb 95 " " " 9 mb ===================================================================== code table 0600 --------------- Symbol IC3 (Ch = Clouds of Genera Ci, Cc, Cs) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Code Figure Technical Specifications Nontechnical Specifications ------ ------------------------- -------------------------------------- 0 No Ch clouds No Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, or Cirrostratus 1 Cirrus fibratus, sometimes Cirrus in the form of filaments, strands, uncinus, not progressive- or hooks, not progressively invading ly invading the sky. the sky. 2 Cirrus spissatus, in patch- Dense Cirrus in patches or entangled es or entangled sheaves, sheaves, which usually do not increase which usually do not in- and sometimes seem to be the upper re- crease and sometimes seem mains of a Cumulonimbus; or Cirrus with to be the remains of the sproutings in the form of small turrets upper part of a Cumulo- or battlements, or Cirrus having the nimbus; or Cirrus castel- appearance of cumuliform tufts. lanus or floccus. 3 Cirrus spissatus cumulonim- Dense Cirrus, often in the form of an bogenitus. anvil, being the remains of the upper parts of Cumulonimbus. 4 Cirrus uncinus or fibratus, Cirrus in the form of hooks or filaments or both, progressively or both, progressively invading the invading the sky; they sky; they generally become denser as a generally thicken as a whole. whole. 5 Cirrus (often in bands), Cirrus (often in bands converging towards and Cirrostratus, or Cir- one or two opposite points of the rostratus alone, progres- horizon) and Cirrostratus, or Cirro- sively invading the sky; stratus alone; in either case, they are they generally thicken as progressively invading the sky, and a whole, but the continu- generally growing denser as a whole, but ous veil does not reach the continuous veil does not reach 45 45 degrees above the degrees above the horizon. horizon. 6 Cirrus (often in bands), Cirrus (often in bands converging towards and Cirrostratus, or Cir- one or two opposite points of the rostratus alone, progres- horizon) and Cirrostratus, or Cirro- sively invading the sky; stratus alone; in either case, they are they generally thicken as progressively invading the sky, and a whole, the continuous generally growing denser as a whole, the veil extends more than continuous veil extends more than 45 45 degrees above the degrees above the horizon, without the horizon, without the sky sky being totally covered. being totally covered. 7 Cirrostratus covering the Veil of Cirrostratus covering the celest- whole sky. ial dome. 8 Cirrostratus not progres- Cirrostratus not progressively invading sively invading the sky the sky and not completely covering the and not entirely covering celestial dome. it. 9 Cirrocumulus alone, or Cir- Cirrocumulus alone, or Cirrocumulus ac- rocumulus predominant companied by Cirrus or Cirrostratus, or among the Ch clouds. both, but Cirrocumulus is predominant. 10 Ch clouds invisible owing Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, and Cirrostratus to darkness, fog, blowing invisible owing to darkness, fog, blow- dust or sand, or other ing dust or sand or other similar phe- similar phenomena, or nomena, or more often because of the because of a continuous presence of a continuous layer of lower layer of lower clouds. clouds. ===================================================================== code table 0513 --------------- Symbol ICl = Clouds of Genera Sc, St, Cu, Cb Code Figure Technical Specifications Nontechnical Specifications --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0 No Cl clouds No Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, or Cumulonimbus 1 Cumulus humilis or Cumulus Cumulus with little vertical extent and fractus other than of seemingly flattened, or ragged Cumulus bad weather (1), or both. other than of bad weather (1) or both. 2 Cumulus mediocris or con- Cumulus of moderate or strong vertical gestus, with or without extent generally with protuberances Cumulus of species in the form of domes or towers either fractus or humilis, or accompanied or not by other Cumulus or Stratocumulus, all having by Stratocumulus; all having their their bases at the same bases at the same level. level. 3 Cumulonimbus calvus, with Cumulonimbus, the summits of which, at or without Cumulus, least partially, lack sharp outlines, Stratocumulus or Stratus. but are neither clearly fibrous (cirri- form) nor in the form of an anvil; Cumulus, Stratocumulus or Stratus may also be present. 4 Stratocumulus cumulogenitus Stratocumulus formed by the spreading out of Cumulus; Cumulus may be present. 5 Stratocumulus other than Stratocumulus not resulting from the Stratocumulus cumulo- spreading out of Cumulus. genitus. 6 Stratus nebulosus or Stratus in a more or less continuous sheet Stratus fractus other or layer, or in ragged shreds, or both, than of bad weather (1), but no Stratus fractus of bad weather or both. (1) 7 Stratus fractus or Cumulus Stratus fractus of bad weather (1) or fractus of bad weather Cumulus fractus of bad weather (1), or (1), or both (pannus), both (pannus), usually below Altostra- usually below Altostratus tus or Nimbostratus. or Nimbostratus. 8 Cumulus and Stratocumulus Cumulus and Stratocumulus other than that other than Stratocumulus formed from the spreading out of Cumu- cumulogenitus, with bases lus; the base of the Cumulus is at a at different levels. different level from that of the Stratocumulus. 9 Cumulonimbus capillatus Cumulonimbus, the upper part of which is (often with an anvil), clearly fibrous (cirriform), often in with or without Cumulo- the form of an anvil, either accompan- nimbus calvus, Cumulus, ied or not by Cumulonimbus without Stratocumulus, Stratus anvil or fibrous upper part, by Cumu- or pannus. lus, Stratocumulus, Stratus or pannus. 10 Cl clouds invisible owing Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, or Cumu- to darkness, fog, blowing lonimbus invisible owing to darkness, dust or sand, or other fog, blowing dust or sand, or other similar phenomena. similar phenomena. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) "Bad weather" denotes the conditions which generally exist during precipi- tation and a short time before and after. ===================================================================== code table 0313 --------------- Symbol IC2 (Cm = Clouds of Genera Ac, As, Ns) Code Figure Technical Specifications Nontechnical Specifications ------ ------------------------ ------------------------------------------- 0 No Cm clouds No Altocumulus, Altostratus, or Nimbo- Stratus 1 Altostratus translucidus Altostratus, the greater part of which is semitransparent; through which this part that sun or moon may be seen weak- ly visible as through ground glass. 2 Altostratus opacus or Altostratus, the greater part of which is Nimbostratus sufficiently dense to hide the sun or moon, or Nimbostratus. 3 Altocumulus translucidus at Altocumulus, the greater part of which is a single level. semitransparent, the various elements of the cloud change only slowly and are all at a single level. 4 Patches (often lenticular) Patches (often in the form of almonds or of Altocumulus transluci- fishes) of Altocumulus, the greater dus, continually changing part of which is semitransparent; the and occurring at one or clouds occur at one or more levels and more levels. the elements are continually changing in appearance. 5 Altocumulus translucidus in Semitransparent Altocumulus in bands, or bands, or one or more Altocumulus in one or more fairly con- layers of Altocumulus tinuous layers (semitransparent or translucidus or opacus, opaque), progressively invading the progressively invading sky; these Altocumulus clouds generally the sky; these Altocumu- thicken as a whole. lus clouds generally thicken as a whole. 6 Altocumulus cumulogenitus Altocumulus resulting from the spreading (or cumulonimbogenitus). out of Cumulus (or Cumulonimbus). 7 Altocumulus translucidus or Altocumulus in two or more layers, usual- opacus in two or more ly opaque in places, and not progres- layers, or Altocumulus sively invading the sky; or opaque opacus in a single layer layer of Altocumulus, not progressively not progressively inva- invading the sky; or Altocumulus to- ding the sky, or Altocu- gether with Altostratus or Nimbostratus mulus with Altostratus or Nimbostratus. 8 Altocumulus castellanus or Altocumulus with sproutings in the form floccus. of small towers or battlements, or Altocumulus having the appearance of cumuliform tufts. 9 Altocumulus of a chaotic Altocumulus of a chaotic sky, generally sky, generally at several at several levels. levels. 10 Cm clouds invisible owing Altocumulus, Altostratus and Nimbostratus to darkness, fog, blowing invisible owing to darkness, fog, blow- dust or sand, or other ing dust or sand or other similar phe- similar phenomena, or nomena, or more often because of the because of a continuous presence of a continuous layer of lower layer of lower clouds. clouds. ===================================================================== code table 1600 --------------- IZCB is a code from 0 to 10 meaning: Code Height in Feet Height in Meters ---- -------------- ---------------- 0 0- 149 0- 49 1 150- 299 50- 99 2 300- 599 100- 199 3 600- 999 200- 299 4 1,000-1,999 300- 599 5 2,000-3,499 600- 999 6 3,500-4,999 1,000-1,499 7 5,000-6,499 1,500-1,999 8 6,500-7,999 2,000-2,499 9 8,000 or higher, 2,500 or higher, or no clouds or no clouds 10 / was encoded / was encoded ===================================================================== code table 2700 --------------- IN and INH are a code from 0 to 10 meaning: Fraction Covered Fraction Covered Code in Tenths in Oktas ---- ---------------- ---------------- 0 Zero Zero 1 1 or less but not zero 1 Okta or less but not zero 2 2 and 3 2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 7 and 8 6 7 9 or more, but not 10 7 or more, but not 8 8 10 8 9 Celestial dome obscured, or cloud amount can not be estimated 10 / was encoded in report / was encoded in report ===================================================================== code table 4377 --------------- IVV = Horizontal Visibility ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Code Statute Code Statute Code Statute Code Statute Figure Miles Yards Kilometers Figure Miles Yards Kilometers -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 00 Less than Less than Less than 50 3-1/8 5,500 5.0 1/16 110 0.1 51 Not spec. 01 1/16 110 0.1 52 Not spec. 02 1/8 220 0.2 53 Not spec. 03 3/16 330 0.3 54 Not spec. 04 1/4 440 0.4 55 Not spec. 05 5/16 550 0.5 56 3-3/4 6,600 6 06 3/8 660 0.6 57 4-3/8 7,700 7 07 7/16 770 0.7 58 5 etc 8 08 1/2 880 0.8 59 5-5/8 9 09 9/16 990 0.9 60 6-1/4 10 10 5/8 1,100 1.0 61 6-7/8 11 11 11/16 1,210 1.1 62 7-1/2 12 12 3/4 1,320 1.2 63 8-1/8 13 13 13/16 1,430 1.3 64 8-3/4 14 14 7/8 1,540 1.4 65 9-3/8 15 15 15/16 1,650 1.5 66 10 16 16 1 1.760 1.6 67 10-5/8 17 17 1-1/16 1,870 1.7 68 11-1/4 18 18 1-1/8 1,980 1.8 69 11-7/8 19 19 1-3/16 2,090 1.9 70 12-1/2 20 20 1-1/4 2,200 2.0 71 13-1/8 21 21 1-5/16 2,310 2.1 72 13-3/4 22 22 1-3/8 2,420 2.2 73 14-3/8 23 23 1-7/16 2,530 2.3 74 15 24 24 1-1/2 2,640 2.4 75 15-5/8 25 25 1-9/16 2,750 2.5 76 16-1/4 26 26 1-5/8 2,860 2.6 77 16-7/8 27 27 1-11/16 2,970 2.7 78 17-1/2 28 28 1-3/4 3,080 2.8 79 18-1/8 29 29 1-13/16 3,190 2.9 80 18-3/4 30 30 1-7/8 3,300 3.0 81 21-7/8 35 31 1-15/16 3,410 3.1 82 25 40 32 2 3,520 3.2 83 28-1/8 45 33 2-1/16 3,630 3.3 84 31-1/4 50 34 2-1/8 3,740 3.4 85 34-3/8 55 35 2-3/16 3,850 3.5 86 37-1/2 60 36 2-1/4 3,960 3.6 87 40-5/8 65 37 2-5/16 4,070 3.7 88 43-3/4 70 38 2-3/8 4,180 3.8 89 > 43-3/4 > 70 39 2-7/16 4,290 3.9 90 < 55 < 50 m. 40 2-1/2 4,400 4.0 91 55 50 m. 41 2-9/16 4,510 4.1 92 1/8 220 200 m. 42 2-5/8 4,620 4.2 93 5/16 550 500 m. 43 2-11/16 4,730 4.3 94 5/8 1,100 1 km. 44 2-3/4 4,840 4.4 95 1-1/4 2,200 2 45 2-13/16 4,950 4.5 96 2-1/2 4,400 4 46 2-7/8 5,060 4.6 97 6-1/4 10 47 2-15/16 5,170 4.7 98 12-1/2 20 48 3 5,280 4.8 99 31-1/4 50 49 3-1/16 5,390 4.9 or more or more -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NOTES: (1) The values given are discrete values (i.e., not ranges). If the ob- served visibility is between two of the reportable distances as given in the table, the code figure of the lower reportable distance shall be reported. (2) Only the code figures 00-89 shall be used in reports from land stations. (3) In reporting visibility at sea, the decade 90-99 shall be used. ===================================================================== code table 4500 --------------- Symbol IW1 = Past Weather --------------------------------------------------------------- Code Figure Weather --------------------------------------------------------------- 0 Cloud covering 1/2 or less of the celestial dome throughout the appropriate period. 1 Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the celestial dome during part of the appropriate period and covering 1/2 or less during part of the period. 2 Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the celestial dome throughout the appropriate period. 3 Sandstorm, duststorm, or blowing snow. 4 Fog, ice fog, thick haze or thick smoke. 5 Drizzle. 6 Rain. 7 Snow, rain and snow mixed, or ice pellets. 8 Shower(s). 9 Thunderstorm, with or without precipitation. --------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE - The term "ice pellets" is synonymous with the U.S. term "sleet". ===================================================================== code table 4677 --------------- Symbol IPW = Present Weather 00-49: No precipitation at the station at the time of observation. 00-19: No precipitation, fog, ice fog (except for 11 and 12), duststorm, drifting or blowing snow at the station at the time of observation or, except for 09 and 17, during the preceding hour. 00-03: No meteors except photometeors. Characteristic change of the state of sky during past hour. 00 Cloud development not observed or not observable. 01 Clouds generally dissolving or becoming less developed. 02 State of sky on the whole unchanged. 03 Clouds generally forming or developing. 04-09: Haze, dust, sand or smoke. 04 Visibility reduced by smoke, e.g., veldt or forest fires, industrial smoke or volcanic ashes. 05 Haze. 06 Widespread dust in suspension in the air, not raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation. 07 Dust or sand raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation, but no well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s), and no duststorm or sandstorm seen: or, in the case of ships, blowing spray at the station. 08 Well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s) seen at or near the station during the preceding hour, or at the time of observation, but no duststorm or sandstorm. 09 Duststorm or sandstorm within sight at the time of observation or at station during the preceding hour. 10 Light fog. (Vis. 1,100 yds. or more) 1 11 Patches of shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 6 feet on land or 33 feet at sea. (Apparent vis. less than 1,100 yds.) 12 More or less continuous shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 6 feet on land or 33 feet at sea. (Apparent vis. less than 1,100 yds.) 13 Lightning visible, no thunder heard. 14 Precipitation within sight, but not reaching the ground or the surface of the sea. 15 Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea, but distant (i.e., estimated to be more than 3.1 miles) from the station. 16 Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea near to but not at the station. 17 Thunderstorm, but no precipitation at the time of observation. 18 Squalls at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation. 19 Funnel cloud(s) (i.e., tornado cloud or waterspout) at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation. 20-29: Precipitation, fog, ice fog or thunderstorm at the station during the preceding hour but not at the time of observation. 20-24: Not falling as showers. 20 Drizzle (not freezing) or snow grains. 21 Rain. 22 Snow. 23 Rain and snow or ice pellets (type a). 24 Freezing drizzle or freezing rain. 25 Shower(s) of rain. 26 Shower(s) of snow, or of rain and snow. 27 Shower(s) of hail, or of rain and hail (3). 28 Fog or ice fog. (Vis. less than 1,100 yds.). 29 Thunderstorm (with or without precipitation). 30-39: Duststorm, sandstorm, drifting or blowing snow. 30 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased during the preceding hour. 31 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, no appreciable change during the preceding hour. 32 Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or has increased during the preceding hour. 33 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has decreased during the preceding hour. 34 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, no appreciable change during the preceding hour. 35 Severe duststorm or sandstorm, has begun or has increased during the preceding hour. 36 Slight or moderate drifting snow, generally low. (Less than 6 ft.) 37 Heavy drifting snow, generally low. (Less than 6 ft.) 38 Slight or moderate blowing snow, generally high. (6 ft. or more.) 39 Heavy blowing snow, generally high. (6 ft. or more.) 40-49: Fog or ice fog at the time of observation. (Vis. less than 1,100 yds.) 40 Fog or ice fog at a distance at the time of observation, but not at the station during the preceding hour, the fog or ice fog extending to a level above that of the observer. 41 Fog or ice fog in patches. 42 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, has become thinner during the preceding hour. 43 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, has become thinner during the preceding hour. 44 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour. 45 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour. 46 Fog or ice fog, sky discernible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour. 47 Fog or ice fog, sky not discernible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour. 48 Fog, depositing rime, sky discernible. 49 Fog, depositing rime, sky not discernible. 50-59: Precipitation at the station at the time of observation. 50-59: Drizzle 50 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation. 51 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation. 52 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation. 53 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation. 54 Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 55 Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 56 Drizzle, freezing, slight. 57 Drizzle, freezing, moderate or heavy (dense). 58 Drizzle and rain, slight. 59 Drizzle and rain, moderate or heavy. 60-69: Rain 60 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation. 61 Rain, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation. 62 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation. 63 Rain, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation. 64 Rain, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 65 Rain, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 66 Rain, freezing, slight. 67 Rain, freezing, moderate or heavy. 68 Rain or drizzle and snow, slight. 69 Rain or drizzle and snow, moderate or heavy. 70-79: Solid precipitation not in showers 70 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, slight at time of observation. 71 Continuous fall of snow flakes, slight at time of observation. 72 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, moderate at time of observation. 73 Continuous fall of snow flakes, moderate at time of observation. 74 Intermittent fall of snow flakes, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 75 Continuous fall of snow flakes, heavy (dense) at time of observation. 76 Ice prisms (with or without fog). 77 Snow grains (with or without fog). 78 Isolated starlike snow crystals (with or without fog). 79 Ice pellets (type a) (sleet, U.S. definition). 80-99: Showery precipitation, or precipitation with current or recent thunderstorm. 80 Rain shower(s), slight. 81 Rain shower(s), moderate or heavy. 82 Rain shower(s), violent. 83 Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, slight. 84 Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy. 85 Snow shower(s), slight. 86 Snow shower(s), moderate or heavy. 87 Shower(s) of snow pellets, or ice pellets (type b) with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, slight. 88 Shower(s) of snow pellets, or ice pellets (type b) with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy. 89 Shower(s) of hail (3), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, slight. 90 Shower(s) of hail (3), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, moderate or heavy. 91-94: Thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation. 91 Slight rain at time of observation. 92 Moderate or heavy rain at time of observation. 93 Slight snow or rain and snow mixed or hail (3) at time of observation. 94 Moderate or heavy snow or rain and snow mixed or hail at time of ob- servation. 95-99: Thunderstorm at time of observation. 95 Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, without hail (3) but with rain and/or snow at time of observation. 96 Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, with hail (3) at time of observation. 97 Thunderstorm, heavy, without hail (3), but with rain and/or snow at time of observation. 98 Thunderstorm combined with duststorm or sandstorm at time of observa- tion. 99 Thunderstorm, heavy with hail (3) at time of observation. ----------------- 1 The U.S. term, "light fog" is synonymous with the European term "mist". 2 Refers to "hail" only. 3 Refers to snow pellets, ice pellets (type b), and hail. NOTE - With respect to precipitation, "at the station" means "at the point where the observation is normally taken." =====================================================================