What does the encoded report "SPECI KDTW 22108Z AUTO" represent?

The encoded report "SPECI KDTW 22108Z AUTO" signifies a special weather report, specifically for Detroit Metro Airport, indicated by the ICAO airport code "KDTW." The term "SPECI" indicates that this is a special weather observation that is issued when there is a significant change in weather conditions that may not be reflected in the routine METAR reports. The "22108Z" portion specifies the day of the month and the time of the observation in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), while "AUTO" indicates that this observation was generated automatically without human intervention.

This combination of designators clearly conveys that the report is meant to inform pilots and other aviation personnel of current or rapidly changing weather conditions at that specific airport. It is important for flight safety and operational awareness.