Studying weather is never boring, there are more surprises than rules. I continue to learn, and persist in trying to perfect my forecast skills. Obviously, the surprising nature of weather can be less enjoyable… thus the need for sharp skills.

Here is a chance to impress all of us with your good weather skills. I selected two untypical METARs, and I wait for your comments.

The first one was for Dijon, on the 29th of July 2005: 290500 LFSD 290500Z 32004KT CAVOK 20/19 Q1015 TEMPO 3000 SHRA=

Do you see something unusual ? CAVOK and SHRA at the same time ? How do you explain that ?

Geneva, 20th of December 2005: 302020Z 21004KT 160V240 1600 PL OVC020 M03/M04 Q1013 23490593 TEMPO 1000 +SN VV005

Can you interepret all the information in this METAR without using any reference material ? I’m not referring only to the 23490593, which is a runway report. No, what I find interesting in this METAR is the present weather code “PL”.

The only thing this challenge will bring you is a better knowledge of METARS, and a short moment of glory when the other will read your comments. I admit that I did not knew the PL myself, so when I found it I rushed to my favorite reference booklet, published by the Swiss Federal Office for Meteorology.

If the two questions above are too easy for you, feel free to also comment about which of the “PL” and “IC ” weather codes present the higher risks. Now, the floor is yours, let’s see what you’ll have to say.