What does RAB07 represent in a METAR report?

In the context of METAR reports, "RAB07" indicates that rain began at 07 minutes past the hour. The "RA" signifies rain, while the "B" indicates the beginning of precipitation, and the "07" specifies the exact minute after the hour when the rain started.

Understanding this coding helps aviators and meteorologists assess current weather conditions accurately. It is important to realize that the other options imply different meanings about rainfall timing and rate that are not represented by "RAB07." For instance, rainfall intensity or accumulation levels would use different formatting in METAR reports, whereas the focus here is solely on when the rain commencement occurred.