Page 47 - AFMAN 15-111, 12 MAR 2019

AFMAN15-111 12 MARCH 2019 47

Table 10.2. Present Weather Reporting Order.

10.3. Present Weather Qualifiers. Present weather groups are constructed by considering
columns 1 through 5 in Table 10.1 in sequence (e.g., heavy freezing rain is encoded +FZRA).

10.3.1. Intensity Qualifier (- , +). The intensity qualifier will be used to encode light (-),
moderate (no symbol), and heavy (+) intensities with all reportable precipitation types, to
include precipitation appended to showers, thunderstorms, and freezing precipitation. (T-1).
Ice crystals (IC), unknown precipitation (UP) and hail (GR), including those associated with a
TS and showers (SH), will not use intensity qualifiers. No intensity will be ascribed to the
obscurations of blowing dust (BLDU), blowing sand (BLSA), blowing snow (BLSN), blowing
spray (BLPY), well-developed dust/sand whirls (PO) and squalls (SQ). Tornados and
waterspouts are encoded as +FC, while a funnel cloud is always encoded as FC. Only moderate
or heavy intensity are ascribed to sandstorm (SS) and dust storm (DS). (T-0).
10.3.2. Proximity Qualifier. VC (weather phenomena observed in the vicinity of, but not at
the point of observation), will only be encoded in combination with FG, SH, PO, BLDU,
BLSA, BLSN, SS, DS and TS. Intensity qualifiers will not be encoded with VC. VCFG will
be encoded to report any type of fog in the vicinity of the point(s) of observation. Precipitation
not occurring at the point of observation but within 10SM will be encoded as showers in the
vicinity (VCSH). (T-0).
10.3.3. Descriptor Qualifier. Only one descriptor will be encoded for each weather phenomena
group (e.g., -FZDZ). Mist (BR), Haze (HZ), Smoke (FU), and Volcanic Ash (VA) will not be
encoded with any descriptor. (T-0).
10.3.3.1. The descriptors shallow (MI), partial (PR), and patches (BC) are only encoded
with FG (e.g., MIFG). For MIFG (shallow fog) to be encoded, FG must cover part of the
station, extend no higher than 6 feet above the ground, with visibility more than 6 feet
above the ground 5/8SM (1000 m) or more, while the apparent visibility in the FG layer is
less than 5/8SM (1000 m). For PRFG (partial fog) to be encoded, FG must cover a
substantial part of the station and extend to at least 6 feet above the ground with visibility
in the FG less than 5/8SM (1000 m). For BCFG (fog patches) to be encoded, FG must
randomly cover part of the station and extend to at least 6 feet above the ground with the
apparent visibility in the FG patch or bank less than 5/8SM (1000 m), while visibility over
other parts of the station is greater than or equal to 5/8SM (1000 m).