What position does the station identifier occupy in a METAR/SPECI coded report?

In a METAR or SPECI coded weather report, the station identifier occupies the second position. The report begins with a four-letter ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) code representing the station that generated the report. Following this identifier, the report includes various pieces of meteorological information.

For example, the first position is often reserved for the report type, such as METAR or SPECI, which indicates whether the report is routine or a special weather report. The subsequent parts of the report contain crucial details such as the date and time of the observation, wind conditions, visibility, weather phenomena, and temperature, among other data.

Understanding the structure of METAR and SPECI reports is essential for interpreting weather observations accurately, especially for aviation purposes, where timely and precise weather information is crucial for flight safety and planning.