Have you ever seen a squall line? Check out these radar images from a squall line that moved through Colorado and Texas on July 8th - and check out the matching METARS. Don't recognize some of the abbreviations in these METARS? Our Weather course will get you up to speed.
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Colorado Springs, CO (KCOS)
Check out the varying visibility and brief hail.
SPECI KCOS 082034Z 09004G43KT 7SM R17L/2600VP6000FT -TSRA FEW015 SCT025 BKN040CB BKN130 11/06 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 25043/2026 RAB04GSB27E33 TSB04 CONS LTGICCG ALQDS TS ALQDS MOV NE P0029 T01110061=
Pueblo, CO (KPUB)
They were hit with thunderstorms and heavy rain. Check out the peak wind and varying RVR...
SPECI KPUB 082046Z 31015KT 2SM R08R/6000VP6000FT +TSRA SCT049 BKN060 OVC075 12/09 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 30053/2025 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB24 TSB45 P0019 T01220094=
Guymon, OK (KGUY)
More thunderstorms and heavy rain. Check out the wind shift as the storms cross over...
SPECI KGUY 090215Z AUTO 30010KT 4SM +TSRA BR FEW038 BKN046 OVC070 12/11 A2994 RMK AO2 PK WND 30030/0156 WSHFT 0147 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSB09 P0018 T01220111=
Amarillo, TX (KAMA)
More varying RVR, low visibility and heavy rain.
SPECI KAMA 090256Z 31016G29KT 1 3/4SM R04/4500VP6000FT +TSRA BR FEW014 BKN021 OVC048 13/12 A2999 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0241 LTG DSNT SW-N P0006 T01330117=
Altus AFB, OK (KLTS)
Check out the rapidly rising pressure as the squall line approaches - and how it falls rapidly as the storms pass over...
METAR KLTS 090558Z AUTO 33020G21KT 10SM FEW046 BKN055 OVC120 21/21 A2995 RMK AO2 PK WND 31045/56 LTG DSNT N-NE AND SE PRESRR SLP130 T02120205 10250 20206 402530173 53027 $=
SPECI KLTS 090618Z AUTO 31012KT 1 1/4SM R35L/2600FT +TSRA BR FEW016 BKN037 BKN046 OVC055 16/16 A2992 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/4V4 LTG DSNT S-NE RAB0601 TSB0613 PRESFR $=
Dyess AFB, TX (KDYS)
Another great example of the pressure rising rapidly and then falling as the squall line crosses over...
SPECI KDYS 090940Z AUTO 34026G36KT 10SM -RA FEW008 OVC015 20/18 A2986 RMK AO2 PRESRR=
METAR KDYS 090958Z AUTO 36026G34KT 3SM RA VCTS SCT007 OVC014 18/15 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 36042/45 LTG DSNT NE RAB0941 PRESFR SLP073 P0005 T01750147 $=
Dallas - Fort Worth, TX (KDFW)
DFW's reporting a squall in the METAR...
SPECI KDFW 091025Z 31026G35KT 10SM SQ SCT021 BKN065 BKN085 OVC250 24/19 A2980 RMK AO2 PK WND 32035/1025 WSHFT 1011 PRESRR T02440189 $=
Definitely not good flying weather! Confused by any of these METARS? Check out our weather course - it'll teach you to read them like a pro.
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