Topic: Official weather and METAR

[PaulMy]

Made contact on the forum with a Flight Service Specialist at the London Airport (NavCanada) and got a chance to visit them this afternoon - something I've been wanting to do for a long time.  Got a quick rundown on what and how some of it is done.  Theirs is the official source for Environment Canada as well as the Weather Network, etc. and contact for pilots on weather information.   As we were outside on the observation deck looking at things it just started to rain lightly so I got to sent my first official METAR report at 13:27 local time.  Then was able to see it immediately on sfws' Metar Decoder http://www.komokaweather.com/metar/metar_display.php
https://flightplanning.navcanada.ca/cgi-bin/lab/lab.cgi?AerodromeId=CYXU&Langue=anglais&cw_metar=dcd_metar
As expected, the observation location is just perfect for viewing distances and open for good sensor readings.  Thanks to Paul C to accommodate...


SPECI CYXU 171727Z 30016G24KT 15SM -SHRA BKN032 BKN060 06/M01 A3006 RMK SC6SC1 CTV CLD EMBD SLP185=
SPECI
   
LOCATION
CYXU - LONDON/ON
   
DATE - TIME
17 OCTOBER 2018 - 1727 UTC
WIND
300 TRUE @ 16  KNOTS
GUSTS
24 KNOTS
   
VISIBILITY
15 STAT.  MILES
   
RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE
WEATHER
LIGHT RAIN SHOWER
   
CLOUDINESS
BROKEN CLOUDS (5/8 - 7/8) 3200  FT
BROKEN CLOUDS (5/8 - 7/8) 6000  FT
   
TEMP / DEWPOINT
6 C / -1 C
ALTIMETER
30.06 IN HG
   
RECENT WEATHER
   
WIND SHEAR


Enjoy,
Paul

[CW2274]

  What was the criteria for the speci?

[Otis]

Cool Paul, thanks for sharing.

[PaulMy]

I can't exactly recall, but as we were talking and he was answering my many questions he mentioned he needed to go and do an observation and asked if I wanted to come along.  There were many different types of cloud conditions around us and he observed some snow clouds coming from the north west - Lake Huron and also changing clouds from the south east, Lake Erie.  I thought maybe 8 or 9 oktas but have nil knowledge on that (only what I have read in the METAR descriptions) but he noted 2 layers of clouds and some small pockets of blue sky so he came up with the conditions - but I pushed the button .

Enjoyed it!
Paul