-RA Metar

[Fryy/Avocadoflight]

Am I missing something here? KSUU 101858Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -RA CLR 27/13 A3007

Doesn't -RA stand for rain? So clear skies and rain?

[Jason]

A minus sign signifies a light condition of the precipitation code listed.  In this case, it would read "light rain."  Note that the METAR from this reporting location is an automated report ("AUTO") and thus could be inaccurate since it is truly an automated report with no human input.

[rpd]

Also CLR is clear below 12000 feet.  I think an ASOS only measures cloud heights to 12000 feet.  At stations with human obsevers, SKC indicates a clear sky.

You might notice automated reports never report clouds above 12000.  Where there is human input you will see clouds reported higher.

I think it would be possible to have -RA and clouds above 12000

[Jason]

I think it would be possible to have -RA and clouds above 12000

It is indeed possible, but based on the radar returns from the time and location of the METAR, there doesn't appear to be any precip in the area.  Surrounding METAR reports from nearby airports also seem to indicate it was a bad report.  Nonetheless, it is still possible.

[rpd]

There certainly are many bad ASOS reports out there.  I didn't check all of the radar data and other stations.

I once saw an ASOS report from a Nothern VA airport in late July reporting frozen precip (freezing rain).

[sykocus]

There can be very isolated rain showers though out the area. If it's even moderately breezy there might be rain falling on the airfield without the clouds responsible for the precipt being over the airfield proper. It helps that ASOS's have a relatively narrow "view" of the sky, but in many places I've lived it can be raining on you without a rain cloud hovering over your head.