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Notices to Airmen

Contractions

NOTAM CONTRACTIONS
This list contains most of the commonly used contractions currently in use in Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) and the
standard aviation weather products, such as METAR/TAF, area forecasts, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, etc.
Contraction

Decode
A

Contraction
BRG

Bearing

Decode

ABN
ABV
ACC
ACCUM

Airport Beacon
Above
Area Control Center (ARTCC)
Accumulate

BYD

Beyond

CAAS

Class A Airspace

ACFT
ACR
ACT
ADJ

Aircraft
Air Carrier
Active
Adjacent

CAT
CBAS
CBSA
CCAS

Category
Class B Airspace
Class B Surface Area
Class C Airspace

ADZD
AFD
AGL
ALS
ALT
ALTM
ALTN
ALTNLY
ALSTG
AMDT
AMGR
AMOS
AP

Advised
Airport Facility Directory
Above ground level
Approach Light System
Altitude
Altimeter
Alternate
Alternately
Altimeter Setting
Amendment
Airport Manager
Automatic Meteorological Observing System
Airport

CCLKWS
CCSA
CD
CDAS
CDSA
CEAS
CESA
CFR
CGAS
CHG
CIG
CK
CL

Counterclockwise
Class C Surface Area
Clearance Delivery
Class D Airspace
Class D Surface Area
Class E Airspace
Class E Surface Area
Code of Federal Regulations
Class G Airspace
Change
Ceiling
Check
Centerline

APCH
AP LGT
APP
ARFF

Approach
Airport Lights
Approach control
Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting

CLKWS
CLR
CLSD
CMB

Clockwise
Clearance, clear(s), cleared to
Closed
Climb

ARR
ASOS
ASPH
ATC
ATCSCC

Arrive, arrival
Automated Surface Observing System
Asphalt
Air Traffic Control
Air Traffic Control System Command Center

CMSND
CNL
COM
CONC
CPD

Commissioned
Cancel
Communications
Concrete
Coupled

ATIS
AUTH
AUTOB
AVBL
AWOS
AWY
AZM

Automatic Terminal Information Service


Authority
Automatic Weather Reporting System
Available
Automatic Weather Observing/Reporting System
Airway
Azimuth

CRS
CTC
CTL

Course
Contact
Control

BA FAIR
BA NIL
BA POOR
BC
BCN
BERM

Braking action fair


Braking action nil
Braking action poor
Back Course
Beacon
Snowbank(s) Containing Earth/Gravel

DALGT
DCMSND
DCT
DEGS
DEP
DEPPROC
DH
DISABLD
DIST
DLA

Daylight
Decommissioned
Direct
Degrees
Depart/Departure
Departure procedures
Decision Height
Disabled
Distance
Delay or delayed

BLW
BND

Below
Bound

DLT
DLY

Delete
Daily

Contractions

Contraction
DME
DMSTN
DP
DRFT
DSPLCD

Notices to Airmen

Decode
Distance Measuring Equipment
Demonstration
Dew Point Temperature
Snowbank(s) Caused By Wind Action
Displaced
E

E
EB
EFAS
ELEV
ENG
ENRT

East
Eastbound
En Route Flight Advisory Service
Elevation
Engine
En route

ENTR
EXC

Entire
Except

FAC
FAF

Facility or facilities
Final Approach fix

FAN MKR
FDC

Fan Marker
Flight Data Center

FI/T
FI/P
FM
FREQ
FNA

Flight inspection temporary


Flight inspection permanent
From
Frequency
Final approach

Contraction
HR

Hour

Decode

IAF
IAP

Initial approach fix


Instrument Approach Procedure

INBD
ID
IDENT
IF
ILS
IM
IMC
IN

Inbound
Identification
Identify/Identifier/Identification
Intermediate fix
Instrument Landing System
Inner Marker
Instrument Meteorological Conditions
Inch/Inches

INDEFLY
INFO
INOP

Indefinitely
Information
Inoperative

INSTR
INT
INTL
INTST

Instrument
Intersection
International
Intensity

IR

Ice On Runway(s)

KT

Knots

L
LAA
LAT
LAWRS
LB
LC

Left
Local Airport Advisory
Latitude
Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Station
Pound/Pounds
Local Control
Local/Locally/Location
Located
Localizer Type Directional Aid
Light or lighting

FPM
FREQ
FRH

Feet per minute


Frequency
Fly Runway Heading

FRI
FRZN
FSS
FT

Friday
Frozen
Automated/Flight Service Station
Foot, feet

GC

Ground Control

LOC
LCTD
LDA
LGT

GCA
GOVT

Ground Control Approach


Government

LGTD
LIRL

Lighted
Low Intensity Runway Lights

GP
GPS
GRVL

Glide Path
Global Positioning System
Gravel

LLWAS
LM
LDG
LLZ
LO

Low Level Wind Shear Alert System


Compass Locator at ILS Middle Marker
Landing
Localizer
Compass Locator at ILS Outer Marker

HAA
HAT
HDG
HEL
HELI
HIRL
HIWAS
HLDG
HOL
HP

Height Above Airport


Height Above Touchdown
Heading
Helicopter
Heliport
High Intensity Runway Lights
Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service
Holding
Holiday
Holding Pattern

LONG
LRN
LSR
LT

Longitude
Loran
Loose Snow on Runway(s)
Left Turn

MAG
MAINT
MALS

Magnetic
Maintain, maintenance
Medium Intensity Approach Light System

Notices to Airmen

Contraction
MALSF

Contractions

Decode
Medium Intensity Approach Light System with
Sequenced Flashers

MALSR

Medium Intensity Approach Light System with


Runway Alignment Indicator Lights

MAPT
MCA
MDA
MEA

Missed Approach Point


Minimum Crossing Altitude
Minimum Descent Altitude
Minimum Enroute Altitude

MED
MIN
MIRL
MLS

Medium
Minute
Medium Intensity Runway Lights
Microwave Landing System

MM
MNM
MNT
MOC
MON

Middle Marker
Minimum
Monitor/Monitoring/Monitored
Minimum Obstruction Clearance
Monday

MRA
MSA
MSAW
MSG
MSL
MU
MUD
MUNI

Minimum reception altitude


Minimum Safe Altitude/Minimum Sector Altitude
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
Message
Mean Sea Level
MU meters
Mud
Municipal
N

Contraction

Decode
P

PAEW
PAPI
PAR
PARL

Personnel and Equipment Working


Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision Approach Radar
Parallel

PAT
PAX
PCL
PERM
PJE
PLA
PLW
PN

Pattern
Passenger
Pilot Controlled Lighting
Permanent/Permanently
Parachute jumping exercise
Practice Low Approach
Plow/Plowed
Prior Notice Required

PPR
PREV
PRN

Prior Permission Required


Previous
Psuedo random noise

PROC
PROP
PSR
PTCHY

Procedure
Propeller
Packed Snow on Runway(s)
Patchy

PTN
PVT

Procedure Turn
Private

RAIL

Runway Alignment Indicator Lights


Remote Automatic Meteorological Observing
System

RAMOS

N
NA
NAV
NB

North
Not Authorized
Navigation
Northbound

RCAG
RCL
RCLL
RCO

Remote Communication Air/Ground Facility


Runway Centerline
Runway Centerline Light System
Remote Communication Outlet

NDB
NE

Nondirectional Radio Beacon


Northeast

REC
RELCTD

Receive/Receiver
Relocated

NGT
NM
NMR

Night
Nautical Mile(s)
Nautical Mile Radius

REIL
REP
RLLS

Runway End Identifier Lights


Report
Runway Leadin Lights System

NONSTD
NOPT
NR

Nonstandard
No Procedure Turn Required
Number

RMNDR
RNAV

Remainder
Area Navigation

NTAP
NW

Notice To Airmen Publication


Northwest

RPLC
RQRD
RRL
RSR
RSVN

Replace
Required
Runway Remaining Lights
En Route Surveillance Radar
Reservation

OBSC

Obscured

OBST
OM
OPR
OPS
ORIG

Obstruction
Outer Marker
Operate
Operation
Original

RT
RTE
RTR
RTS
RUF

Right Turn
Route
Remote Transmitter/Receiver
Return to Service
Rough

OTS
OVR

Out of Service
Over

RVR
RVRM
RVRR
RVRT

Runway Visual Range


Runway Visual Range Midpoint
Runway Visual Range Rollout
Runway Visual Range Touchdown

Contractions

Contraction
RWY

Runway

S
SA
SAT

South
Sand, sanded
Saturday

SAWR
SB
SDF
SE
SFL
SID
SIMUL
SIR

Notices to Airmen

Decode

Contraction
TIL
TKOF
TM
TMPA
TRML

Decode
Until
Takeoff
Traffic Management
Traffic Management Program Alert
Terminal

Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Station


Southbound
Simplified Directional Facility
Southeast
Sequence Flashing Lights
Standard Instrument Departure
Simultaneous
Packed or Compacted Snow and Ice on Runway(s)

TRNG
TRSN
TSNT
TUE

Training
Transition
Transient
Tuesday

TWR
TWY

Tower
Taxiway

SKED
SLR
SN

Scheduled
Slush on Runway(s)
Snow

UFN
UNAVBL
UNLGTD

Until further notice


Unavailable
Unlighted

SNBNK
SNGL
SPD

Snowbank(s) Caused by Plowing


Single
Speed
Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with
Sequenced Flashers

UNMKD
UNMNT
UNREL
UNUSBL

Unmarked
Unmonitored
Unreliable
Unusable

VASI
VDP
VGSI
VIA
VICE
VIS
VMC
VOL
VOR
VORTAC

Visual Approach Slope Indicator


Visual Descent Point
Visual Glide Slope Indicator
By Way Of
Instead/Versus
Visibility
Visual Meteorological Conditions
Volume
VHF OmniDirectional Radio Range
VOR and TACAN (colocated)

W
WB
WED
WEF
WI

West
Westbound
Wednesday
With effect from or effective from
Within

WIE
WKDAYS
WKEND
WND
WPT

With immediate effect or effective immediately


Monday through Friday
Saturday and Sunday
Wind
Waypoint

WSR
WTR
WX

Wet Snow on Runway(s)


Water on Runway(s)
Weather

SSALF
SSALR

Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with


Runway Alignment Indicator Lights

SSALS
SSR
STA

Simplified Short Approach Lighting System


Secondary Surveillance Radar
Straightin Approach

STAR
SUN
SVC
SW
SWEPT

Standard Terminal Arrival


Sunday
Service
Southwest
Swept or Broom/Broomed

T
TAA
TACAN

Temperature
Terminal Arrival Area
Tactical Air Navigational Aid

TAR

Terminal area surveillance radar

TDZ
TDZ LG
TEMPO
TFC
TFR
TGL
THN

Touchdown Zone
Touchdown zone lights
Temporary
Traffic
Temporary Flight Restriction
Touch and Go Landings
Thin

THR
THRU
THU

Threshold
Through
Thursday

Notices to Airmen

Contractions

WEATHER CONTRACTIONS
Contraction

Decode
A

A
A
A
A01

Absolute (temperature)
Alaskan Standard Time (time groups only)
Arctic (air mass)
Automated Observation without Precipitation
Discriminator (rain/snow) (METAR)

A02

Automated Observation with Precipitation


Discriminator (rain/snow) (METAR)

AAWF
AC
ACC
ACSL
ACYC
ADRNDCK
ADV
ADVCTN
ADVY
AFC
AFDK
ALF
ALGHNY
ALQDS
ALSEC
ALTA
ALUTN
ALWF
AM
AMD
AMPLTD
AMS
AMS
ANLYS
APLCN
AS
ASOS
ATLC
AURBO
AWP

Auxiliary Aviation Weather Facility


Altocumulus
Altocumulus Castellanus
Standing Lenticular Altocumulus
Anticyclonic
Adirondack
Advise
Advection
Advisory
Area Forecast Center
After Dark
Aloft
Allegheny
All Quadrants
All Sectors
Alberta
Aleutian
Actual Wind Factor
Ante Meridiem
Amended Forecast (TAF)
Amplitude
Air Mass
American Meteorological Society
Analysis
Appalachian
Altostratus
Automated Surface Observing System
Atlantic
Aurora Borealis
Aviation Weather Processors

Beginning of Precipitation (time in minutes)


(weather reports only)

B
BACLIN
BATROP
BC
BC
BCFG
BCH
BCKG
BDA

Bering Standard Time (time groups only)


Baroclinic or Baroclinic Prognosis
Barotropic or Barotropic Prognosis
Patches (METAR)
British Columbia
Patchy Fog (METAR)
Beach
Backing
Bermuda

Contraction
BECMG

Decode
Becoming (expected between 2 digit beginning
hour and 2 digit ending hour) (TAF)

BFDK
BINOVC
BKN
BL
BL
BLD
BLDUP
BLKHLS
BLKT
BLZD
BMS
BNDRY
BOVC
BR
BRF
BRKHIC
BRKSHR
BRM
BTWN

Before Dark
Breaks in Overcast
Broken
Between Layers
Blowing (METAR)
Build
Buildup
Black Hills
Blanket
Blizzard
Basic Meteorological Services
Boundary
Base of Overcast
Mist (METAR)
Brief
Breaks in Higher Overcast
Berkshire
Barometer
Between

C
C
CAN
CARIB
CASCDS
CAVOK
CAVU

Central Standard Time (time groups only)


Continental (air mass)
Canada
Caribbean
Cascades
Cloud and Visibility OK (METAR)
Clear or Scattered Clouds and Visibility Greater
Than Ten Miles

CAWS
CB
CBMAM
CC
CCLKWS
CCSL
CDFNT
CFP
CHARC
CHSPK
CI
CIG
CLD
CLR

Common Aviation Weather Subsystem


Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus Mamma
Cirrocumulus
Counterclockwise
Standing Lenticular Cirrocumulus
Cold Front
Cold Front Passage
Characteristic
Chesapeake
Cirrus
Ceiling
Cloud
Clear at or below 12,000 feet (AWOS/ASOS
report) (METAR)

CLRS
CNCL
CNDN
CNVTV
CONFDC

Clear and Smooth


Cancel
Canadian
Convective
Confidence

Contractions

Notices to Airmen

Contraction
CONTDVD
CONTRAILS
COR
CS
CST
CTGY
CTSKLS
CU
CUFRA
CYC
CYCLGN

Decode
Continental Divide
Condensation Trails
Correction to the observation (METAR)
Cirrostratus
Coast
Category
Catskills
Cumulus
Cumulus Fractus
Cyclonic
Cyclogenesis

DABRK
DCAVU

Daybreak
Clear or Scattered Clouds and Visibility Greater
than Ten, Remainder of Report Missing (weather
reports only)

DKTS
DMSH
DNS
DNSLP
DNSTRM
DP
DPNG
DPTH
DR
DRFT
DS
DSIPT
DTLN
DTRT
DU
DVV
DWNDFTS
DWPNT
DZ

Dakotas
Diminish
Dense
Downslope
Downstream
Deep
Deepening
Depth
Low Drifting (METAR)
Drift
Dust Storm (METAR)
Dissipate
International Dateline
Deteriorate
Widespread Dust (METAR)
Downward Vertical Velocity
Downdrafts
Dew Point
Drizzle (METAR)

E
E

Eastern Standard Time (time groups only)


Ending of Precipitation (time in minutes) (weather
reports only)

E
E
ELNGT
EMBDD
EMSU
ENERN
ENEWD
EOF
ESERN
ESEWD
EXTRAP

Equatorial (air mass)


Estimated (weather reports only)
Elongate
Embedded
Environment Meteorological Support Unit
Eastnortheastern (weather reports only)
Eastnortheastward (weather reports only)
Expected Operations Forecast
Eastsoutheastern (weather reports only)
Eastsoutheastward (weather reports only)
Extrapolate

Contraction
EXTRM

Decode
Extreme
F

FA
FAH
FEW
FC
+FC
FG
FIBI
FILG
FINO
FL
FLDST
FLG
FLRY
FLWIS
FM

Area Forecast
Fahrenheit
1 or 2 octas (eighths) cloud coverage (METAR)
Funnel Cloud (METAR)
Tornado/ Water Spout (METAR)
Fog (METAR)
Filed but Impractical to Transmit
Filling
Weather Report Will Not Be Filed for Transmission
Flash Advisory
Flood Stage
Falling
Flurry
Flood Warning Issued
From (4 digit beginning time in hours and minutes)
(TAF)

FNT
FNTGNS
FNTLYS
FORNN
FRMG
FROPA
FROSFC
FRST
FRWF
FRZ
FRZLVL
FRZN
FT
FU
FULYR
FUOCTY
FWC
FZ

Front
Frontogenesis
Frontolysis
Forenoon
Forming
Frontal Passage
Frontal Surface
Frost
Forecast Wind Factor
Freeze
Freezing Level
Frozen
Terminal Forecast
Smoke (METAR)
Smoke Layer Aloft
Smoke Over City
Fleet Weather Central
Supercooled/freezing (METAR)

G
GLFALSK
GLFCAL
GLFMEX
GLFSTLAWR
GR
GRAD
GRBNKS
GRDL
GRTLKS
GS
GSTS
GSTY

Gusts Reaching (knots) (weather reports only)


Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of California
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of St. Lawrence
Hail (METAR)
Gradient
Grand Banks
Gradual
Great Lakes
Small Hail/Snow Pellets (METAR)
Gusts
Gusty

HCVIS

High Clouds Visible

Notices to Airmen

Contraction
HDFRZ
HDSVLY
HI
HIEAT
HIEFM
HIESE
HIESL
HIFOR
HITMP
HIXAT
HIXFM
HIXSE
HIXSL
HLSTO
HLTP
HLYR
HURCN
HUREP
HX
HZ

Contractions

Decode
Hard Freeze
Hudson Valley
Hi
Highest Temperature Equaled for All Time
Highest Temperature Equaled for The Month
Highest Temperature Equaled So Early
Highest Temperature Equaled So Late
High Level Forecast
Highest Temperature
Highest Temperature Exceeded for All Time
Highest Temperature Exceeded for The Month
Highest Temperature Exceeded So Early
Highest Temperature Exceeded So Late
Hailstones
Hilltop
Haze Layer Aloft
Hurricane
Hurricane Report
High Index
Haze (METAR)

Contraction
LOEAT
LOEFM
LOESE
LOESL
LOTMP
LOXAT
LOXFM
LOXSE
LOXSL
LSR
LTGCC
LTGCCCG
LTGCG
LTGCW
LTGIC
LTLCG
LTNG
LX
LYR

Decode
Lowest Temperature Equaled for All Time
Lowest Temperature Equaled for The Month
Lowest Temperature Equaled So Early
Lowest Temperature Equaled So Late
Lowest Temperature
Lowest Temperature Exceeded for All Time
Lowest Temperature Exceeded for The Month
Lowest Temperature Exceeded So Early
Lowest Temperature Exceeded So Late
Loose Snow on Runway
Lightning Cloud-to-Cloud
Lightning Cloud-to-Cloud, Cloud-to-Ground
Lightning Cloud-to-Ground
Lightning Cloud-to-Water
Lightning in Clouds
Little Change
Lightning
Low Index
Layer or Layered or Layers

M
M

Maritime (air mass)


In temperature field means minus or below zero
(METAR)

In RVR Field, indicates visibility less than lowest


reportable sensor value (e.g. M0600FT)

M
M
MA
MAN
MEGG
MEX
MHKVLY
MI
MIDN
MIFG

Missing (weather reports only)


Mountain Standard Time (time groups only)
Map Analysis
Manitoba
Merging
Mexico
Mohawk Valley
Shallow (METAR)
Midnight
Patches of Shallow Fog Not Deeper Than Two
Meters (METAR)

MLTLVL
MMO
MNLD
MOGR
MONTR
MOV
MRGL
MRNG
MRTM
MS
MSTLY
MSTR
MTN
MVFR
MXD

Melting Level
Main Meteorological Office
Mainland
Moderate or Greater
Monitor
Move
Marginal
Morning
Maritime
Minus
Mostly
Moisture
Mountain
Marginal VFR
Mixed

M
I

IC
ICG
ICGIC
ICGICIP
ICGIP
IMDT
INLD
INSTBY
INTR
INTRMTRGN
INTS
INTSFY
INVRN
IOVC
IR

Ice Crystals (METAR)


Icing
Icing in Clouds
Icing in Clouds and Precipitation
Icing in Precipitation
Immediate
Inland
Instability
Interior
InterMountain Region
Intense
Intensify
Inversion
In Overcast
Ice on Runway

JTSTR

Jet Stream

K
KFRST

Cold (air mass)


Killing Frost

LABRDR
LCTMP
LDG
LFT
LGRNG
LIFR
LK

Labrador
Little Change in Temperature
Landing
Lift
Long Range
Low IFR (weather reports only)
Lake

Contractions

Notices to Airmen

Contraction

Decode
N

NB
NCWX
NELY
NERN
NEW ENG
NFLD
NGT
NL
NMBR
NNERN
NNEWD
NNWRN
NNWWD
NO
NORPI

New Brunswick
No Change in Weather
Northeasterly (weather reports only)
Northeastern
New England
Newfoundland
Night
No Layers
Number
Northnortheastern (weather reports only)
Northnortheastward (weather reports only)
Northnorthwestern (weather reports only)
Northwestward (weather reports only)
Not available (e.g. SLPNO, RVRNO)
No Pilot Balloon Observation Will Be Filed Next
Collection Unless Weather Changes Significantly

NPRS
NS
NS
NSCSWD

Nonpersistent
Nimbostratus
Nova Scotia
No Small Craft or Storm Warning are Being
Displayed

NSW
NVA
NWLY
NWRN

No Significant Weather (METAR)


Negative Vorticity Advection
Northwesterly (weather reports only)
Northwestern (weather reports only)

OBS
OBSC
OCFNT
OCLD
OCLN
OFP
OFSHR
OMTNS
ONSHR
ONT
ORGPHC
OSV
OTAS
OTLK
OVC

Observation
Obscure
Occluded Front
Occlude
Occlusion
Occluded Frontal Passage
Offshore
Over Mountains
On Shore
Ontario
Orographic
Ocean Station Vessel
On Top and Smooth
Outlook
Overcast

P
P
P

Pacific Standard Time (time group only)


Polar (air mass)
In RVR field, indicates visibility greater than
highest reportable sensor value (e.g. P6000FT)

P6SM
PAC
PBL
PCPN
PDMT

Visibility greater than 6 statute miles (TAF only)


Pacific
Probable
Precipitation
Predominant

Contraction
PDMT
PDW
PL
PEN
PGTSND
PIBAL
PISE

Decode
Predominate
Priority Delayed Weather
Ice Pellets (METAR)
Peninsula
Puget Sound
Pilot Balloon Observation
No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To Unfavorable
Sea Conditions

PISO
PIWI

No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To Snow


No Pilot Balloon Observation Due To High, or
Gusty, Surface Wind

PLW
PNHDL
PO
PPINA

Plow (snow)
Panhandle
Dust/Sand Whirls (METAR)
Radar Weather Report Not Available (or omitted
for a reason different than those otherwise stated)

PPINE
PPINO

Radar Weather Report No Echoes Observed


Radar Weather Report Equipment Inoperative Due
To Breakdown

PPIOK

Radar Weather Report Equipment Operation


Resumed

PPIOM

Radar Weather Report Equipment Inoperative Due


To Maintenance

PR
PRBLTY
PRESFR
PRESRR
PRJMP
PROB40
PROG
PRSNT
PS
PSG
PSG
PTCHY
PTLY
PVA
PY

Partial (METAR)
Probability
Pressure Falling Rapidly
Pressure Rising Rapidly
Pressure Jump (weather reports only)
Probability 40 percent (METAR)
Prognosis or Prognostic
Present
Plus
Passage
Passing
Patchy
Partly
Positive Vorticity Advection
Spray (METAR)

QSTNRY
QUE

Quasi-stationary
Quebec

R
RA
RABA
RABAL
RABAR
RACO
RADAT
RADNO
RAFI
RAFRZ
RAHE

Runway (used in RVR measurement)


Rain (METAR)
No RAWIN Obs., No Balloons Available
Radiosonde Balloon Wind Data
Radiosonde Balloon Release
No RAWIN Obs., Communications Out
Radiosonde Observation Data
Report Missing Account Radio Failure
Radiosonde Observation Not Filed
Radiosonde Observation Freezing Levels
No RAWIN Obs., No Gas Available

Notices to Airmen

Contractions

Contraction
RAICG
RAOB
RAREP
RAVU
RAWE
RAWI
RAWIN
RCD
RCDNA
RCDNE

Decode
Radiosonde Observation Icing at
Radiosonde Observation
Radar Weather Report
Radiosonde Analysis and Verification Unit
No RAWIN obs., Unfavorable Weather
No RAWIN Obs., High and Gusty Winds
Upper Winds Obs. (by radio methods)
Radar Cloud Detection Report
Radar Cloud Detection Report Not Available
Radar Cloud Detection Report No Echoes
Observed

RCDNO

Radar Cloud Detector Inoperative Due to


Breakdown Until

RCDOM

Radar Cloud Detector Inoperative Due to


Maintenance Until

RCKY
RDG
RDWND
RESTR
RGD
RH
RHINO
RHINO

Rockies (mountains)
Ridge
Radar Dome Wind
Restrict
Ragged
Relative Humidity
Radar Echo Height Information Not Available
Radar Range Height Indicator Not Operating on
Scan

RIOGD
RMK
RNFL
ROBEPS
RPD
RSG
RUF
RY/RWY

Rio Grande
Remark(s)
Rainfall
Radar Operating Below Prescribed Standard
Rapid
Rising
Rough
Runway

SA
SASK
SBSD
SC
SCSL
SCT
SELS
SELY
SERN
SFERICS
SG
SGD
SH
SHFT
SHLW
SHRTLY
SHWR
SIERNEV
SIR
SKC

Sand (METAR)
Saskatchewan
Subside
Stratocumulus
Standing Lenticular Stratocumulus
Scattered
Severe Local Storms
Southeasterly (weather reports only)
Southeastern (weather reports only)
Atmospherics
Snow Grains (METAR)
SolarGeophysical Data
Showers (METAR)
Shift (weather reports only)
Shallow
Shortly
Shower
Sierra Nevada
Snow and Ice on Runway
Sky Clear (METAR)

Contraction
SLD
SLP
SLR
SLT
SM
SMK
SMTH
SN
SNBNK
SNFLK
SNOINCR
SNW
SNWFL
SP
SPECI
SPKL
SPLNS
SPRD
SQ
SQAL
SQLN
SS
SSERN
SSEWD
SSWRN
SSWWD
ST
STAGN
STFR
STFRM
STG
STM
STNRY
SWLG
SWLY
SWRN
SX
SXN
SYNOP
SYNS

Decode
Solid
Sea Level pressure (e.g. 1013.2 reported as 132)
Slush on Runway
Sleet
Statute mile(s)
Smoke
Smooth
Snow (METAR)
Snowbank
Snowflake
Snow Depth Increase in Past Hour
Snow
Snowfall
Station Pressure
Special Report (METAR)
Sprinkle
South Plains
Spread
Squall (METAR)
Squall
Squall Line
Sandstorm (METAR)
South-southeastern (weather reports only)
South-southeastward (weather reports only)
South-southwestern (weather reports only)
Southsouthwestward (weather reports only)
Stratus
Stagnation
Stratus Fractus
Stratiform
Strong
Storm
Stationary
Swelling
Southwesterly (weather reports only)
Southwestern (weather reports only)
Stability Index
Section
Synoptic
Synopsis

T
T
TCU
TEMPO

Trace (weather reports only)


Tropical (air mass)
Towering Cumulus
Temporary changes expected (between 2 digit
beginning hour and 2 digit ending hour) (TAF)

THD
THDR
THK
THN
TKOF
TOP
TOVC

Thunderhead (non METAR)


Thunder (non METAR)
Thick
Thin
Takeoff
Cloud Top
Top of Overcast

Contractions

Notices to Airmen

Contraction
TPG
TRIB
TROF
TROP
TRPCD
TRPCL
TRPLYR
TS
TSHWR
TSQLS
TSTM
TURBC
TURBT
TWRG

Decode
Topping
Tributary
Trough
Tropopause
Tropical Continental (air mass)
Tropical
Trapping Layer
Thunderstorm (METAR)
Thundershower (non METAR)
Thundersqualls (non METAR)
Thunderstorm (non METAR)
Turbulence
Turbulent
Towering

UAG
UDDF
UNSBL
UNSTBL
UNSTDY
UNSTL
UP
UPDFTS
UPR
UPSLP
UPSTRM
UVV
UWNDS

Upper Atmosphere Geophysics


Up and Down Drafts
Unseasonable
Unstable
Unsteady
Unsettle
Unknown Precipitation (Automated Observations)
Updrafts
Upper
Upslope
Upstream
Upward Vertical Velocity
Upper Winds

V
V
VA
VC
VLCTY
VLNT
VLY
VR
VRB

Varies (wind direction and RVR)


Variable (weather reports only)
Volcanic Ash (METAR)
Vicinity
Velocity
Violent
Valley
Veer
Variable wind direction when speed is less than or
equal to 6 knots

VRISL
VRT MOTN
VSBY
VSBYDR

Vancouver Island, BC
Vertical Motion
Visibility
Visibility Decreasing Rapidly

10

Contraction
VSBYIR
VV

Decode
Visibility Increasing Rapidly
Vertical Visibility (Indefinite Ceiling) (METAR)

W
WA
WDC1
WDC2
WDLY
WDSPRD
WEA
WFP
WINT
WND
WNWRN
WNWWD
WPLTO
WR
WRM
WRMFNT
WRNG
WS

Warm (air mass)


AIRMET
World Data Centers in Western Europe
World Data Centers Throughout Rest of World
Widely
Widespread
Weather
Warm Front Passage
Winter
Wind
Westnorthwestern (weather reports only)
Westnorthwestward (weather reports only)
Western Plateau
Wet Runway
Warm
Warm Front
Warning
Wind Shear (in TAFs, low level and not associated
with convective activity)

WS
WSHFT
WSOM
WSR
WSWRN
WSWWD
WTR
WTSPT
WV
WW
WXCON

SIGMET
Wind Shift
Weather Service Operations Manual
Wet Snow on Runway
Westsouthwestern (weather reports only)
Westsouthwestward (weather reports only)
Water
Waterspout
Wave
Severe Weather Forecast
Weather Reconnaissance Flight Pilot Report

XCP
XPC

Except
Expect

Y
YKN
YLSTN

Yukon Standard Time (time groups only)


Yukon
Yellowstone

ZI
ZI

Zonal Index
Zone of Interior

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