5. Wind. The wind is reported as a five digit group (six digits if speed is over 99 knots). The first three digits are the direction the wind is blowing from, in tens of degrees referenced to true north, or “VRB” if the direction is variable. The next two digits is the wind speed in knots, or if over 99 knots, the next three digits. If the wind is gusty, it is reported as a “G” after the speed followed by the highest gust reported. The abbreviation “KT” is appended to denote the use of knots for wind speed. 

## EXAMPLE − 

13008KT −  wind from 130 degrees at 8 knots 08032G45KT −  wind from 080 degrees at 32 knots with gusts to 45 knots VRB04KT −  wind variable in direction at 4 knots 00000KT  wind calm 210103G130KT −  wind from 210 degrees at 103 knots with gusts to 130 knots If the wind direction is variable by 60 degrees or more and the speed is greater than 6 knots, a variable group consisting of the extremes of the wind direction separated by a “v” will follow the prevailing wind group. 32012G22KT 280V350 

(a) Peak Wind. Whenever the peak wind exceeds 25 knots “PK WND” will be included in Remarks, e.g., PK WND 28045/1955 “Peak wind two eight zero at four five occurred at one niner five five.” If the hour can be inferred from the report time, only the minutes will be appended, e.g., PK WND 34050/38 “Peak wind three four zero at five zero occurred at three eight past the hour.” 

(b) Wind shift. Whenever a wind shift occurs, “WSHFT” will be included in remarks followed by the time the wind shift began, e.g., WSHFT 30 FROPA “Wind shift at three zero due to frontal passage.” 

6. Visibility. Prevailing visibility is reported in statute miles with “SM” appended to it. 

## EXAMPLE − 

7SM −  seven statute miles 15SM  fifteen statute miles $^{1}$/$_{2}$SM −  one − half statute mile 

(a) Tower/surface visibility. If either visi- bility (tower or surface) is below four statute miles, 

the lesser of the two will be reported in the body of the report; the greater will be reported in remarks. 

(b) Automated visibility. ASOS/AWOS visibility stations will show visibility 10 or greater than 10 miles as “10SM.” AWOS visibility stations will show visibility less than $^{1}$/$_{4}$ statute mile as “M$^{1}$/$_{4}$SM” and visibility 10 or greater than 10 miles as “10SM.” 

## NOTE − 

Automated sites that are augmented by human observer to meet service level requirements can report 0, 1/16 SM, and 1/8 SM visibility increments. 

(c) Variable visibility. Variable visibility is shown in remarks (when rapid increase or decrease by $^{1}$/$_{2}$ statute mile or more and the average prevailing visibility is less than three miles) e.g., VIS 1V2 “visibility variable between one and two.” 

(d) Sector visibility. Sector visibility is shown in remarks when it differs from the prevailing visibility, and either the prevailing or sector visibility is less than three miles. 

## EXAMPLE − 

VIS N2 −  visibility north two 

7. Runway Visual Range (When Reported). “R” identifies the group followed by the runway heading (and parallel runway designator, if needed) “/” and the visual range in feet (meters in other countries) followed with “FT” (feet is not spoken). 

(a) Variability Values. When RVR varies (by more than on reportable value), the lowest and highest values are shown with “V” between them. 

(b) Maximum/Minimum Range. “P” indi- cates an observed RVR is above the maximum value for this system (spoken as “more than”). “M” indicates an observed RVR is below the minimum value which can be determined by the system (spoken as “less than”). 

## EXAMPLE − 

R32L/1200FT −  runway three two left R − V − R one thousand two hundred. R27R/M1000V4000FT −  runway two seven right R − V − R variable from less than one thousand to four thousand. 

