WXP
Appendix

WMO Header Descriptions

WMO Header information

Syntax:

TTAAII CCCC

Where:

Report Types

Type Description Codes
A Summaries and analyses TEXT/WMO
C Climatic data TEXT/WMO
D Grid point information GRID
E Satellite imagery  
F Forecasts TEXT/WMO
G Grid point information GRID
H Grid point information GRIB
I Binary observations BUFR
J Binary forecasts BUFR
L Binary grid/IWXXM GRIB and IWXXM
M Binary grid GRIB
N Notices TEXT
O Oceanographic data GRIB
P Pictorial data Redbook
Q Pictorial data (regional)  
R Hydrological data TEXT/WMO
S Surface data TEXT/WMO
T Satellite data TEXT/WMO
U Upper air data TEXT/WMO
V National data  
W Watches, warnings and advisories TEXT
X Grid point information GRID
Y Grid point information GRIB
Z Grid point information GRIB

[A] Analyses and summaries

TT Explanation Code Form
AB Weather summaries TEXT
AC Convective/Cyclone discussions TEXT
AH Thickness TEXT
AI Ice discussions FM 44 (ICEAN)
AO Ozone discussions TEXT
AR Radar discussions TEXT
AS Surface discussions/analyses FM 45 (IAC), FM 46 (IAC FLEET), TEXT
AT Satellite discussions FM 85 (SAREP)
AU Upper air discussions FM 45 (IAC)
AX Tropical and miscellaneous discussions TEXT

[C] Climatic data

TT Explanation Code Form
CA Climatic anomalies TEXT
CE Monthly data - upper air FM 76 (CLIMAT TEMP SHIP)
CH Monthly data - surface FM 72 (CLIMAT SHIP)
CO Monthly data - ocean areas FM 73 (NACLI, CLINP, SPCLI, CLISA, INCLI)
CS Monthly data - surface FM 71 (CLIMAT)
CU Monthly data - upper air FM 75 (CLIMAT TEMP)

[F] Forecast information

TT Explanation Code Form
FA Aviation area/GAMET forecasts FM 53 (ARFOR)
FB Upper level windows and temperatures FM 50 (WINTEM)
FC Aerodrome forecasts (VT < 12hr) FM 51 (TAF)
FD Radiological trajectory FM 57 (RADOF)
FE Extended forecasts TEXT
FF Shipping forecasts FM 46 (IAC FLEET)
FI Iceberg forecasts TEXT
FJ Radio warning service TEXT
FK Tropical cyclone advisories TEXT
FL Local advisories TEXT
FM Temperature extreme forecasts TEXT
FO Model guidance forecasts Formatted TEXT
FP Public forecasts TEXT
FQ Other shipping forecasts TEXT
FR Aviation route forecasts FM 54 (ROFOR)
FS Surface forecasts FM 45 (IAC), FM 46 (IAC FLEET), TEXT
FT Aerodrome forecasts (VT > 12hr) FM 51 (TAF)
FU Upper air forecasts FM 45 (IAC)
FW Winter sports forecasts TEXT
FX Miscellaneous forecasts TEXT
FZ Shipping area forecasts FM 61 (MAFOR)

[L] IWXXM formatted data

TT Explanation Code Form
LA Aviation reports routine (METAR) IWXXM
LC Aerodrome forecast (VT < 12hr) (TAF) IWXXM
LK Tropical cyclone advisory IWXXM
LP Aviation reports special (SPECI) IWXXM
LS Aviation general warning (SIGMET) IWXXM
LT Aerodrome forecast (VT ≥ 12hr) (TAF) IWXXM
LU Volcanic ash advisory IWXXM
LV Aviation volcanic ash warning (SIGMET) IWXXM
LW General aviation advisory (AIRMET) IWXXM
LY Aviation tropical cyclone warning (SIGMET) IWXXM

[N] Notices

TT Explanation Code Form
NG Hydrological notices TEXT
NH Marine notices TEXT
NN Nuclear emergency response TEXT
NO METNO/WIFMA notices TEXT
NP Product generation delay TEXT
NT Test messages TEXT
NW Warning relation and/or cancellation TEXT

[S] Surface data

TT Explanation Code Form
SA Aviation routine reports FM 15 (METAR), SAO
SB Radar reports (part A) FM 20 (RADOB)
SC  Radar reports (part B) FM 20 (RADOB)
SD Radar reports (parts A & B) FM 20 (RADOB), Formatted TEXT
SE Earthquake/Seismic reports Formatted TEXT
SF Atmopsheric reports FM 81 (SFAZI), FM 82 (SFLOC), FM 83 (SFAZU)
SG Radiological data reports FM 22 (RADREP)
SI Intermediate synoptic hour reports FM12 (SYNOP), FM13 (SHIP)
SM Main synoptic hour reports FM12 (SYNOP), FM13 (SHIP)
SN Nonstandard synoptic reports FM12 (SYNOP), FM13 (SHIP)
SO Oceanographic data TEXT
SP Special aviation reports FM 16 (SPECI)
SR Hydrological reports FM 67 (HYDRA)
SS Drifting buoy reports FM 18 (DRIFTER)
ST Sea ice reports TEXT
SU Snow depth reports TEXT
SV Lake ice reports TEXT
SW Wave reports FM 65 (WAVEOB)
SX Miscellaneous reports TEXT
SY Seismic waveform reports TEXT
SZ Sea level data and deep ocean tsunami data TEXT

[T] Satellite data

TT Explanation Code Form
TB Satellite orbit parameters Formatted TEXT
TC Satellite cloud interpretations FM 85 (SAREP)
TH Satellite derived upper air soundings FM 86 (SATEM)
TI Satellite imagery NOAAPORT Satellite Format
TR Clear radiance observations FM 87 (SARAD)
TT Sea surface temperatures FM 88 (SATOB)
TW Winds and cloud temperatures FM 88 (SATOB)
TX Miscellaneous satellite reports TEXT

[U] Upper air data

TT Explanation Code Form
UA Aircraft reports FM 41 (CODAR), ICAO (AIREP)
UB Aircraft reports PIREP
UC Constant balloon data COLBA
UD Aircraft reports FM 42 (AMDAR)
UE Upper air temp data (part D) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UF Upper air temp data (part C, D) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UG Upper air wind data (part B) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UH Upper air wind data (part C) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UI Upper air wind data (part A, B) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UK Upper air temp data (part B) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UL Upper air temp data (part C) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UM Upper air temp data (part A, B) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UN Rocketsonde reports FM 39 (ROCOB), FM 40 (ROCOB SHIP)
UP Upper air wind data (part A) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UQ Upper air wind data (part D) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UR Aircraft recon reports RECCO
US Upper air temp data (part A) FM 35 (TEMP), FM 36 (TEMP SHIP), FM 38 (TEMP MOBIL)
UT Aircraft reports FM 41 (CODAR)
UX Miscellaneous upper air reports TEXT
UY Upper air wind data (part C, D) FM 32 (PILOT), FM 33 (PILOT SHIP), FM 34 (PILOT MOBIL)
UZ Dropsonde reports FM 37 (TEMP DROP)

[W] Watch and warning information

TT Explanation Code Form
WA AIRMET advisories TEXT
WC Tropical cyclone SIGMET TEXT/SIGMET
WE Tsunami warnings TEXT
WF Tornado TEXT
WG Hydrological/River flood FM 57 (RADOF)
WH Maritime/coastal flood TEXT
WO Other watches and warnings TEXT
WS Aviation SIGMET TEXT/SIGMET
WT Tropical cyclone TEXT
WU Severe thunderstorm TEXT
WV Volcanic ash SIGMET TEXT/SIGMET
WW Warnings and weather summary TEXT

Report Region

Countries, regions and islands

AA Region AA Region AA Region
AB Albania AG Argentina AH Afghanistan
AI Ascension lsland AK Alaska AL Algeria
AN Angola AT Antigua, St Kitts and other British Islands in the vicinity AU Australia
AY Armenia AZ Azores BA Bahamas
BC Botswana BD Bruei Darussalam BE Bermuda
BH Belize BI Burundi BJ Benin
BK Banks Island BM Myanmar BN Bahrain
BO Bolivia BR Barbados BU Bulgaria
BV Bouvet Island BW Bangladesh BX Belgium, Luxembourg
BY Belarus BZ Brazil CD Chad
CE Central African Republic CG Congo CH Chile
CI China CM Cameroon CN Canada
CO Colombia CR Spain (Canary Islands) CS Costa Rica
CT Canton Island CU Cuba CV Cape Verde
CY Cyprus CZ Czech Republic DJ Djibouti
DL Germany DN Denmark DO Dominica
DR Dominican Republic EG Egypt EQ Ecuador
ER United Arab Emirates ES El Salvador ET Ethiopia
FA Faeroes FG French Guyana FI Finland
FJ Fiji FK Falkland Islands (Malvinas) FP St Pierre and Miquelon
FR France FW Wallis and Futuna Islands GB Gambia
GC Cayman Islands GD Grenada GE Gough Island
GH Ghana GI Gibraltar GL Greenland
GM Guam GN Guinea GO Gabon
GQ Equatorial Guinea GR Greece GU Guatemala
GW Guinea-Bissau GY Guyana HA Haiti
HE St. Helena HK Hong Kong, China HO Honduras
HU Hungary HV Burkina Faso HW Hawaiian Islands
IC Comoros ID Indonesia IE Ireland
IL Iceland IN India IQ Iraq
IR Iran, Islamic Republic of IS Isreal IV Cote d'Ivoire
IY Italy JD Jordan JM Jamaica
JP Japan KA Caroline Islands KB Kiribati
KI Chistmas Island KK Cocos Islands KN Kenya
KO Korea, Republic of KP Cambodia KR Democratic People's Republic of Korea
KU Cook Islands KW Kuwait KY Kyrgyzstan
KZ Kazakhstan LA Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) LB Lebanon
LC Saint Lucia LI Liberia LN Southern Line Islands
LS Lesotho LT Lithuania LV Latvia
LY Libyan Arab Jamahiriya MA Mauritius MB Marion Island
MC Morocco MD Madeira MF Saint Martin, Saint Bartholomew, Guadeloupe and other French Islands in the vicinity
MG Madagascar MH Marshall Island MI Mali
MJ Republic of Macedonia MK Montenegro ML Malta
MN Mt Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba MO Mongolia MR Martinique
MS Malaysia MT Mauritania MU Macao, China
MV Maldives MW Malawi MX Mexico
MY Mariana lslands MZ Mozambique NC New Caledonia
NG Papua New Guinea NI Nigeria NK Nicaragua
NL Netherlands NM Namibia NO Norway
NP Nepal NR Niger NU Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao)
NV Vanuatu NW Nauru NZ New Zealand
OM Oman OR South Orkney Islands OS Austria
PF French Polynesia PH Phillippines PI Phoenix Islands
PK Pakistan PL Poland PM Panama
PO Portugal PR Peru PT Pitcairn
PU Puerto Rico PY Paraguay QB Bosnia and Herzegovina
QT Qatar RA Russian Federation (East) RE Reunion and associated islands
RH Croatia RM Moldova, Republic of RO Romania
RS Russian Federation (West) RW Rwanda SB Sri Lanka
SC Seychelles SD Saudi Arabia SG Senegal
SI Somalia SK Sarawak SL Sierra Leone
SM Suriname SN Sweden SO Solomon Islands
SQ Slovakia SR Singapore SP Spain
SU Sudan SV Swaziland SW Switzerland
SX Santa Cruz Islands SY Syria Arab Republic SZ Spitzbergen Islands
TC Tristan da Cunha TD Trinidad and Tobago TG Togo
TH Thailand TI Turk Islands TK Tokelau
TM Timor-Leste TN Tanzania, United Republic of TO Tonga
TP Sao Tome and Principe TR Turkmenistan TS Tunisia
TU Turkey TV Tuvalu UG Uganda
UK United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland UR Ukraine US United States of America
UY Uraguay UZ Uzbekistan VG Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
VI Virgin Islands VN Venezuela VS Viet Nam
YE Yemen YG Serbia ZA South Africa
ZB Zambia ZM Samoa ZR Democratic Republic of the Congo
ZW Zimbabwe        

Continents, Oceans and Hemispheres

AA Region AA Region AA Region
AA Antarctica AC Artic AE South-East Asia
AF Africa AM Central Africa AO West Africa
AP Southern Africa AS Asia AW Near East
AX Arabian Sea area BQ Baltic Sea area CA Caribbean and Central America
EA East Africa EC East China Sea area EE Eastern Europe
EM Middle Europe EN Northern Europe EU Europe
EW Western Europe FE Far East GA Gulf of Alaska area
GX Gulf of Mexico area IO Indian Ocean area ME Eastern Mediterranean area
MM Mediterranean area MP Central Mediterranean area MQ Western Mediterranean area
NA North America NT North Atlantic area OC Oceania
OH Sea of Okhotsk PA Pacific area PE Persian Gulf area
PN North Pacific area PQ Western North Pacific PS South Pacific area
PW Western Pacific area PZ Eastern Pacific area SA South America
SE Southern Ocean area SJ Sea of Japan area SS South China Sea area
ST South Atlantic area XE Eastern hemisphere XN Northern hemisphere
XS Southern hemisphere XT Tropical belt XW Western hemisphere
XX for use where other designator are not appropriate        

Updated May 2020