Significant present and forecast weather codes

Qualifier

Weather phenomena

Intensity or proximity

Descriptor

Precipitation

Obscuration

Other

Light (-)

Moderate (no Qualifier)

Heavy (+) (well developed in the case of FC and PO)

VC (in the vicinity)

MI – shallow

BC – patches

BL – blowing

SH – shower

TS – thunderstorm

FZ – Freezing

PR – partial

DZ – drizzle

RA – Rain

SN – snow

IC – ice crystals

PL – ice pellets

GR – hail

GS – small hail

UP – unknown precipitation

PY - spray

BR – mist

FG – fog

FU – smoke

VA – volcanic ash

DU – widespread dust

SA – sand

HZ - haze

PO – dust/sand whirls (dust devil)

SQ – squall

FC – funnel cloud(s) (tornado or water spout)

SS- sandstorm, dustorm