UNCLASSIFIED
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
UNCLASSIFIED
SCOPE
• TYPE OF SIGWX FORECAST CHART
• VALIDATION
• INFORMATION SHOWN
SOURCE : WWW.METOFFICE.GOV.U
K WWW.BOM.GOV.AU
UNCLASSIFIED 2
UNCLASSIFIED
TYPE OF SIGWX CHART
• LOW LEVEL SIGWX CHART/SWL (SFC-FL100)
• MEDIUM LEVEL SIGWX CHART/SWM (FL100-
FL250)
• HIGH LEVEL SIGWX CHART/SWH (FL250- FL630)
UNCLASSIFIED 3
UNCLASSIFIED
VALIDATION
• WORD AREA FORECAST CENTRES (WAFCs)
• WAFC LONDON (BASED AT EXETER,UK)
• WAFC WASHINGTON (BASED AT KANSAS CITY
MISSOURY,
USA)
UNCLASSIFIED 4
UNCLASSIFIED
VALIDATION
• VALID FOR 00, 06, 12, AND 18 UTC
• SWM NORMALLY AVAILABLE 15 HRS BEFORE VALIDITY
AND WILL BE UPDATED 4 HRS BEFORE VALIDITY
• SWH NORMALLY AVAILABLE 16 HRS BEFORE VALIDITY
AND
WILL BE UPDATED IF AN ERROR OR OMISSION IS FOUND
• VALID 3 HRS BEFORE AND AFTER VALID TIME
UNCLASSIFIED 5
UNCLASSIFIED
GENERAL
• Weather charts being issued by World Area Forecast
Centres presenting the most important meteorological
phenomena relevant especially for air traffic
transport. WAFC publishes them in BUFR code and PNG
images
UNCLASSIFIED 6
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
Model SWH – Significant Weather Chart High Level (25.000 –
63.000 ft)
UNCLASSIFIED 7
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
• The legend provide essential
information identifying the issuer,
the provider, the area of coverage,
the height range, and validity time.
• A standard legend advising users of
the hazards to expect in
cumulonimbus cloud (CB); the units
used, and guidance to check
SIGMET, Tropical Cyclone Advisory,
Volcanic Ash Advisory, ASHTAM and
NOTAM for Volcanic Ash is included
UNCLASSIFIED 8
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
• Jetstream information is indicated in WAFC
SIGWX forecasts when the jet core equals or
exceeds 80KT
• The jet is depicted as a thick, continuous line
• The direction and speed of the jet is depicted by the 'wind
fleche' (also known as feather and pennant) symbols. Half
feathers correspond to 5 KT Feathers correspond to 10 KT
Pennants correspond to 50 KT. (100 kts and 90 kts
respectively)
• The flight level of the jet core is indicated at points along
its length (FL 360 and FL400 respectively)
UNCLASSIFIED 9
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
• Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) area are
delineated by dashed line and will
be identified by either a reference
number or direct call-out symbol.
• Identified by no 7 moderate
turbulence from FL280-FL410
UNCLASSIFIED 10
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
• Areas of cumulonimbus (CB) cloud are indicated by 'scalloped'
lines. The areas will be identified using 'call-out' boxes
• CB clouds to be forecast : OCNL CB (50-75% coverage), FRQ
CB(>75% coverage), ISOL EMBD (<50% coverage and expected to
be embedded within cloud layer), OCNL EMBD CB (50-75%
coverage and expected to be embedded within cloud layer)
• CB cloud not indicated in WAFC SIGWX FORECAST :
ISOL CB that are not embedded within other cloud
layers.
UNCLASSIFIED 11
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
• The height of the Tropopause, expressed as a flight level, is
provided at locations where there is expected to be tropopause
low (represent low of FL380), tropopause high (represent high of
FL450) and spot height (indicating spot height of FL550)
UNCLASSIFIED 12
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
Model SWM – Significant Weather Chart Medium Level (10.000 –
25.000 ft)
UNCLASSIFIED 13
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
Model SWL – Significant Weather
Chart Low Level (Surface -
10.000 ft)
UNCLASSIFIED 14
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
UNCLASSIFIED 15
UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION SHOWN
UNCLASSIFIED 16
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED 17
UNCLASSIFIED
TERIMA
KASIH
