#3024: METAR

XKCD comic, described below.
Transcript

Decoding a METAR report:

[A METAR report is shown with annotations. The report is:]

METAR KNYC 251600Z 18035G45KT 6SM VCFCFZVA +BLUP NOSIG LTG OHD A3808 RMK A02 SLP130=

[The annotations are:]

  • METAR "METER" (Usually misspelled)
  • KNYC Station ID
  • 251600Z Time (25:16:002)
  • 18035G45KT Wind speed has been 18,035 knots for a good 45 minutes now
  • 6SM Observer is a size 6 small
  • VCFCFZVA Sorry, the station cat walked on the keyboard
  • +BLUP Weird noise the sky made earlier
  • NOSIG Observer has no significant other :(
  • LTG OHD We overheard someone saying there was lightning
  • A3808 Hey look, an Airbus A380-800!
  • RMK Remarkable!
  • A02 Fanfic Archive equipped with a precipitation sensor
  • SLP130= Observer got sleepy around 1:30

(Sourced from explainxkcd.com)

In the aviation world, they don't use AM/PM times. Instead, all times are assumed to be AM unless they're labeled NOTAM.

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