What Does VA Mean in a METAR?
VA means volcanic ash. It stands for Volcanic Ash.
VA in a real report
VA
That reads as volcanic ash.
What it changes for you
VA in a surface report means the ash has reached the ground. What matters more
is where it sits aloft. That comes from a volcanic ash SIGMET and from the
Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres.
Treat this code as a prompt to go and read those products. A field reporting ash at the surface tells you the plume is nearby. It does not tell you where its edges sit at your cruise level.
What makes it different from other obscurations
Every other restriction on this list is a visibility problem. Ash is an engine and airframe problem that also cuts visibility. The answer is avoidance, not a minimums calculation.
Related codes
Decode a report containing this code
Paste a METAR, TAF, PIREP or SIGMET into the WxDecoder decoder. Every group comes back in plain English. The raw code sits beside it, so you can check the decode rather than trust it.
Frequently asked questions
What does VA mean in a METAR?
Volcanic ash. It is reported when ash restricts visibility, and it is one of the hazards serious enough that a SIGMET is issued for it separately from the surface observation.
Why is volcanic ash so dangerous to aircraft?
Ash is finely ground rock. It melts in a turbine's hot section and fuses onto components, which can cause a flameout, and it sandblasts windscreens and leading edges. It is not something to fly through at any concentration you can detect.