The tables below outline the current frequency of issue of aviation weather information in New Zealand.
Note: All issue and validity times are UTC.
| Areas | Issue times1 | Validity period1 | Validity period (hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Areas in NZ (previously the ARFOR areas) | 1100 2100 |
1200 - 0600 2100 - 1200 |
18 15 |
1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.
| Area | Issue times | Validity period | Validity period (hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZZC FIR |
1400 |
1500-21001, 2100-0300 2100-03001, 0300-0900 0300-09001, 0900-1500 0900-15001, 1500-2100 |
6, 6 6, 6 6, 6 6, 6 |
1 Update of previously issued chart.
| Area | Issue times1 | Valid times1 | Validity period2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (NZZC FIR) |
1100 2100 |
1800, 0000, 0600 0000, 0600, 1200 |
+/- 3 hours +/- 3 hours |
1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.
2Forecasts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
| Areas | Issue times | Valid times | Issue frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRIB Wind, Temperature, Humidity, Icing, Turbulence, CB cloud and Tropopause) |
0430 | 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200 | Daily |
| 1030 | 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500 1800 | Daily | |
| 1630 | 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000 | Daily | |
| 2230 | 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600 | Daily |
Learn more about METAR, SPECI and METAR-AUTO
| Aerodromes | METAR AUTO | SPECI |
|---|---|---|
| AA, WN, CH | Issued every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, 24/7 |
Not issued |
| Aerodromes | METAR | SPECI |
|---|---|---|
| WP, OH, MF | METAR issued hourly on the hour during ATS operations | Issued as required |
| All other NZ aerodromes including the Chatham Is |
METAR AUTO issued every 30 minutes, on the hour and half hour, 24/7 |
Not issued |
| Chart type | Valid times | Issue times |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis | 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800 | 1 hour 50 minutes after validity time |
| Prognosis | Valid +18, +30 and +42 hours from the 1800 analysis | 3.5 hours after analysis time |
| Valid +18, +30 and +42 hours from the 0600 analysis | 3.5 hours after analysis time |
| Type of forecast | Issue time | Valid time | Issue frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROFOR | As requested by individual aircraft operators | ||
Learn more about Satellite imagery
| Himawari 8 satellite imagery | Frequency of image |
|---|---|
| Infrared Imagery (IR) Visible Imagery (VIS) Cloud Top Height (incl WAFS model data) |
10min to hourly scans |
| Type of forecast | Issue times | Valid times1 | Issue frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| High level (FL250-FL630) Medium level (FL100-FL250) |
0300 0900 1500 2100 |
1800 0000 0600 1200 |
Daily Daily Daily Daily |
1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
Learn more about domestic TAFs
| Aerodromes | Validity period2 | Validity period (hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| KK, KT, WR, WK, RO, AP, NP, WU, GS, NR, PP, MS, WB, NS, WS, HK, MF, TU, MC, WF, MO, LX, OU, CI | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1200 |
18 12 |
| TG | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 2100 |
18 21 |
| PM | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1800 |
18 18 |
| NV | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1500 |
18 15 |
1 Refer to TAF – International for information on NZAA, NZHN, NZOH, NZWN, NZCH, NZDN, NZQN.
2 Validity times one hour earlier during NZDT, except for NZWP where there is no change. TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.
Learn more about international TAFs
| Aerodromes | Validity period2 | Validity period (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| AA, OH, WN, CH |
0000 - 0600 |
30 |
1 The TAFs for AA, WN, CH are included in the Auckland VOLMET broadcasts.
2 TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.
Take-off and landing data reports are reports of meteorological conditions at attended aerodromes prepared by the ATS unit immediately prior to a take-off or landing.
Further information on take-off and landing reports can be found in the AIP, GEN 3.5(external link).
Learn more about weather radar
| Radar location | Frequency of radar scan |
|---|---|
| Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Gisborne/Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Southland, Westland | 7.5min scans |
Learn more about wind and temperature charts
| Type of forecast | Issue times | Valid times1 | Issue frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind and Temperature | 0530 1130 1730 2330 |
1200, 1800, 0000, 0600 1800, 0000, 0600, 1200 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800 0600, 1200, 1800, 0000 |
Daily Daily Daily Daily |
1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email met@caa.govt.nz
