Captain states freezing rain is not on ATIS during rain with temperature at 28 degrees F minus 2 deg...

Attributes
ACN	356780
Time
Date	199612
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	356780
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Situation was on approach to sea at night temperature 28 degrees F/minus 2 degrees C ATIS was calling WX above VFR minimums. On approach frequency we were advised WX of 2 NM visibility in either light rain or rain (can't remember). The ATIS and approach frequency WX reports did not state 'freezing rain.' as I believe it should if temperature is at or below freezing. Most acrs are prohibited from landing in other than light freezing rain. The term 'freezing rain' would serve as an extra mental cue to help crews determine the suitability of landing in the above conditions, especially considering new ATIS/WX format in USA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT STATES FREEZING RAIN IS NOT ON ATIS DURING RAIN WITH TEMP AT 28 DEGS F MINUS 2 DEGS C. B737-300.

Narrative: SIT WAS ON APCH TO SEA AT NIGHT TEMP 28 DEGS F/MINUS 2 DEGS C ATIS WAS CALLING WX ABOVE VFR MINIMUMS. ON APCH FREQ WE WERE ADVISED WX OF 2 NM VISIBILITY IN EITHER LIGHT RAIN OR RAIN (CAN'T REMEMBER). THE ATIS AND APCH FREQ WX RPTS DID NOT STATE 'FREEZING RAIN.' AS I BELIEVE IT SHOULD IF TEMP IS AT OR BELOW FREEZING. MOST ACRS ARE PROHIBITED FROM LNDG IN OTHER THAN LIGHT FREEZING RAIN. THE TERM 'FREEZING RAIN' WOULD SERVE AS AN EXTRA MENTAL CUE TO HELP CREWS DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF LNDG IN THE ABOVE CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING NEW ATIS/WX FORMAT IN USA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Captain states freezing rain is not on ATIS during rain with temperature at 28 degrees F minus 2 degrees C. B737-300.