Rain showers of unknown intensity are observed approximately 7 to 8 miles north of the station. What should be recorded in column 9 and/or column 14?

In meteorological observations, specific abbreviations and codes are used to communicate conditions clearly and efficiently. When rain showers of unknown intensity are observed in proximity to the reporting station, it's essential to indicate this in the appropriate columns for clarity and accuracy.

In this scenario, "VCSH" stands for "visibility in vicinity of the station," and it is used to denote that significant weather phenomena, like rain showers, are occurring nearby, but not directly at the station itself. This alerts users of the report that there could be visibility issues due to weather conditions at a given distance from the station.

The additional specification of "N" indicates the direction of the observed activity. In this case, since the rain showers are about 7 to 8 miles to the north of the station, including "N" gives the exact location of the weather phenomenon relative to the reporting station.

Therefore, recording "VCSH" in column 9 and "VCSH N" in column 14 accurately reflects the observed weather conditions, ensuring that those using the report have a clear understanding that significant weather is present in the vicinity of the station and its specific direction. This practice is vital for safe navigation and weather awareness for pilots and others who rely on such observations.