There is currently an industry consultation underway regarding the changes
of TAFs and METARs.

Brief details as follows:

TAF changes are expected wef 5 Nov 2008.

Each airfield in future will only have one TAF - i.e there will be no
issuing of the long and short ones for the same airport.

- Introduction of 30 hour TAF with date fields:
i.e TAF EGLL 160500Z 1606/1712 13018KT 9999 FEW012 BECMG 1606/1608 SCT015CB
TEMPO 1608/1618 17025G45KT 1000 TSRA BKN010CB TEMPO 1703/1707 4000 BR=

All TAFs will be effective from 1 hour after issue ie the 1200-1800 next day
TAF will be issued at 1100Z

EGBB, EGCC, EGLL & EGSS 30 hour TAFs
EGPD, EGAA, EGGD, EGFF, EGBE, EGNX, EGPH, EGPF, EGNM, EGGP, EGKK
(surprisingly although I think this will become 30hr after consultation),
EGGW, EGNT & EGPK 18 hour TAFs
All the rest 9hour TAFs only

METARs from 7 Nov 2007
Auto Metars will be used to initiate TAF production.
Prevailing vis - introduced in 2005 - Minimum vis will only be reported when
the vis is different from the prevailing vis and less than 50% of the
prevailing vis AND less than 5000m.

METARs from 5 Nov 2008
Reporting of 5kt gusts in local reports when noise preferential runways are
in use.
TCU cluds will be included as significant clouds i.e if they are present
CAVOK cannot be reported.

METARs (no sure intro date)
Introduction of additional AUTO unidentified precipitation (UP) parameters
i.e SHUP, TSUP & FZUP.

Good Luck Jon!

Phil
--
www.layton.me.uk/meteo.htm