Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 3140.3D
13 JAN 1988
COMMUNICATIONS AND FORMAT PROCEDURES
1.
In order to promote uniformity from station to station and to allow entry into the DOD weather
service computer, all weather messages sent from Coast Guard units under this program shall use
the standardized message format described below. The information is to be taken from NOAA
Form 72-5a, using the same abbreviations and numbers as found on the form.
2.
Weather messages will be in a columnar format with specified spacings. Each message will always
contain the five slash marks "/" in the positions indicated below even if the parameter contained
between two slashes is missing. When the visibility is less than one mile, it will be reported to the
nearest 1/4 mile using a slash between the two numbers. In this case there will be six slash marks
in the message. All visibilities, wind speeds, sea and air temperatures, sea heights and periods will
be at least two digits. If the number is less than 10, precede it with a zero (0). All temperatures will
be reported in degrees Fahrenheit.
3.
This message format is as follows:
a.
ID WXVSB
/WIND/WAVE/SEA/AIR/PRES REMARKS STATION NAME
Example:
9B5 CYR03 /NNE07/0605/54/64/BEAR ISLAND LS
This report is from Bear Island Light Station (9B5). The sky condition is cloudy (CY). The present
weather is rain (R) with a visibility of three miles (03). The wind is north northeast (NNE) at seven
knots (07). The sea has a height of six feet (06) and a period of five seconds (05). The sea water
temperature is fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit (54) and the air temperature is sixty-four degrees
fahrenheit (64). Pressure information is not available at this station and there are no remarks, but the
final slash "/" must be included following the air temperature. Pressure would be reported after the
final slash in the same format as noted on Form 72-5a, i.e., only four digits (1013 if millibars or
3014 if inches, for example). The last entry on each message will be the station name.
4.
The spacing for each column will be:
ID
Station location identifier, four spaces. The last space in this column will always
be blank.
WXVSB
Sky condition, present weather and visibility, eight spaces.
/WIND
Wind direction and speed, five spaces following the first slash.
/WAVE
Wave height and period, four spaces following the second slash.
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