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METAR and TAF decoder

Paste a METAR, SPECI, or TAF. Every code gets a plain-English line, and the report is checked against the Part 107 visibility and cloud clearance rules.

One or more reports. The box starts with an example METAR and an example TAF written for this page, not live weather. Press Ctrl or Cmd + Enter to decode.

Showing the decoded examples.

METAR for KAPA

METAR KAPA 131853Z 19014G24KT 170V230 4SM -TSRA BR SCT045 BKN080CB 24/14 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 20032/1836 LTG DSNT SW SLP118 T02440139

Observation

  1. METARRoutine weather report (METAR): a surface observation for the airport.
  2. KAPAStation KAPA. In the contiguous US, K is added in front of the three-letter airport identifier (APA).
  3. 131853ZIssued day 13 of the month at 18:53 UTC (Z, Zulu time).
  4. 19014G24KTWind from 190° true at 14 knots, gusting to 24 knots (gust spread 10 knots).
  5. 170V230Wind direction varying between 170° and 230°, clockwise (reported when the direction varies by 60° or more with wind over 6 knots).
  6. 4SMPrevailing visibility 4 statute miles.
  7. -TSRAThunderstorm with light rain.
  8. BRMist.
  9. SCT045Scattered clouds (3/8 to 4/8 of the sky) with bases at 4,500 ft AGL.
  10. BKN080CBBroken clouds (5/8 to 7/8 of the sky) with bases at 8,000 ft AGL, cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds. This is the ceiling: the lowest broken, overcast, or obscured layer.
  11. 24/14Temperature 24 °C, dewpoint 14 °C (M means minus). Spread 10 °C.
  12. A3004Altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury.

Remarks

  1. RMKRemarks follow: extra detail such as sensor type, pressure, and exact temperatures.
  2. AO2Automated station with a precipitation discriminator.
  3. PK WND 20032/1836Peak wind since the last METAR: 32 knots from 200° at 18:36Z.
  4. LTGLightning.
  5. DSNTDistant: beyond 10 statute miles from the station.
  6. SWDirection: to the southwest.
  7. SLP118Sea-level pressure 1011.8 millibars (hectopascals). The leading 9 or 10 is not coded and is inferred.
  8. T02440139Temperature 24.4 °C, dewpoint 13.9 °C, to the tenth of a degree (1 means below zero).

What it means for a Part 107 flight

  • MeetsVisibility. Reported visibility is 4 statute miles, at or above the 3 statute mile minimum in §107.51(c). The rule is about flight visibility from your control station; this report describes the airport.
  • MeetsClouds. Lowest reported cloud base is 4,500 ft AGL, at least 500 ft above the 400 ft AGL altitude limit (§107.51(b)). Clouds can sit lower away from the station; keep 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from any cloud (§107.51(d)). The ceiling in that group is 8,000 ft.
  • CheckWind. Wind 14 kt gusting 24 kt: a gust spread of 10 kt. Part 107 sets no wind limit; your aircraft’s manufacturer limits apply.
  • CheckThunderstorms. Thunderstorm activity reported. Thunderstorms can bring strong gusts, lightning, hail, and heavy rain well away from the storm itself.
  • CheckPrecipitation. Precipitation reported: Thunderstorm with light rain, Mist. Check whether your aircraft is rated for moisture.
  • NoteObscuration. Obscuration reported (mist, fog, haze, smoke, or similar), which lowers visibility: BR.

A study aid for the Part 107 weather section, not a weather briefing. Before a real flight, get current official weather and assess local conditions yourself (§107.49).

TAF for KAPA

TAF KAPA 131720Z 1318/1418 18012G20KT P6SM SCT060 BKN120 TEMPO 1320/1323 3SM -TSRA BKN050CB FM140200 22008KT P6SM FEW100 WS020/24040KT PROB30 1406/1410 2SM BR BKN007 FM141400 32010KT P6SM SKC

Header and initial forecast

  1. TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast: expected conditions within 5 statute miles of the center of the airport runway complex.
  2. KAPAStation KAPA. In the contiguous US, K is added in front of the three-letter airport identifier (APA).
  3. 131720ZIssued day 13 of the month at 17:20 UTC (Z, Zulu time).
  4. 1318/1418Forecast valid day 13 at 1800Z to day 14 at 1800Z.
  5. 18012G20KTWind from 180° true at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots (gust spread 8 knots).
  6. P6SMPrevailing visibility more than 6 statute miles.
  7. SCT060Scattered clouds (3/8 to 4/8 of the sky) with bases at 6,000 ft AGL.
  8. BKN120Broken clouds (5/8 to 7/8 of the sky) with bases at 12,000 ft AGL. This is the ceiling: the lowest broken, overcast, or obscured layer.

Temporary (TEMPO), day 13 from 2000Z to 2300Z

  1. TEMPOTemporary fluctuations during the period that follows: each lasts 1 hour or less, and together they cover less than half the period. Elements not listed stay as forecast.
  2. 1320/1323During day 13 from 2000Z to 2300Z.
  3. 3SMPrevailing visibility 3 statute miles.
  4. -TSRAThunderstorm with light rain.
  5. BKN050CBBroken clouds (5/8 to 7/8 of the sky) with bases at 5,000 ft AGL, cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds. This is the ceiling: the lowest broken, overcast, or obscured layer.

From day 14 at 02:00Z

  1. FM140200From day 14 at 02:00Z: prevailing conditions change significantly, over less than 1 hour. Everything in this group replaces the forecast before it.
  2. 22008KTWind from 220° true at 8 knots.
  3. P6SMPrevailing visibility more than 6 statute miles.
  4. FEW100Few clouds (1/8 to 2/8 of the sky) with bases at 10,000 ft AGL.
  5. WS020/24040KTNon-convective low-level wind shear forecast from the surface up to 2,000 ft AGL. At the top of that layer the wind is from 240° true at 40 knots; this is the wind there, not the amount of shear.

30 percent probability (PROB30), day 14 from 0600Z to 1000Z

  1. PROB3030 percent chance of a thunderstorm or precipitation event, with the wind, visibility, and sky that go with it, during the period given.
  2. 1406/1410During day 14 from 0600Z to 1000Z.
  3. 2SMPrevailing visibility 2 statute miles.
  4. BRMist.
  5. BKN007Broken clouds (5/8 to 7/8 of the sky) with bases at 700 ft AGL. This is the ceiling: the lowest broken, overcast, or obscured layer.

From day 14 at 14:00Z

  1. FM141400From day 14 at 14:00Z: prevailing conditions change significantly, over less than 1 hour. Everything in this group replaces the forecast before it.
  2. 32010KTWind from 320° true at 10 knots.
  3. P6SMPrevailing visibility more than 6 statute miles.
  4. SKCSky clear: no cloud layers present (reported by a human observer, or forecast in a TAF).

What it means for a Part 107 flight

  • CheckVisibility. Lowest forecast visibility is 2 statute miles (30 percent probability (PROB30), day 14 from 0600Z to 1000Z). That is below the 3 statute mile minimum flight visibility in §107.51(c).
  • CheckClouds. Lowest forecast cloud base is 700 ft AGL (30 percent probability (PROB30), day 14 from 0600Z to 1000Z). Staying 500 ft below it (§107.51(d)) means staying below about 200 ft AGL, lower than the 400 ft limit. Keep 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds too.
  • CheckWind. Wind 12 kt gusting 20 kt (Header and initial forecast): a gust spread of 8 kt. Part 107 sets no wind limit; your aircraft’s manufacturer limits apply.
  • CheckWind shear. Low-level wind shear forecast (From day 14 at 02:00Z): WS020/24040KT.
  • CheckThunderstorms. Thunderstorm activity forecast in: Temporary (TEMPO), day 13 from 2000Z to 2300Z. Thunderstorms can bring strong gusts, lightning, hail, and heavy rain well away from the storm itself.
  • CheckPrecipitation. Precipitation forecast: Thunderstorm with light rain (Temporary (TEMPO), day 13 from 2000Z to 2300Z). Check whether your aircraft is rated for moisture.
  • NoteObscuration. Obscuration forecast (mist, fog, haze, smoke, or similar), which lowers visibility: BR (30 percent probability (PROB30), day 14 from 0600Z to 1000Z).

A study aid for the Part 107 weather section, not a weather briefing. Before a real flight, get current official weather and assess local conditions yourself (§107.49).

How to read a METAR

A METAR is a routine surface observation from an airport weather station, written in a fixed order so a pilot can scan it in seconds. The US format is laid out in the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), chapter 13, pages 13-6 and 13-7. Here is the handbook's own example:

METAR KGGG 161753Z AUTO 14021G26KT 3/4SM +TSRA BR BKN008 OVC012CB 18/17 A2970 RMK PRESFR

Read it left to right. Each group answers one question, and the order does not change.

METAR groups in the order they appear
GroupExampleWhat it means
Report typeMETAR, SPECIA routine report, or a special report issued between routine ones when weather changes.
StationKGGGICAO identifier. In the contiguous US, K comes before the three-letter airport code. Alaska starts with PA, Hawaii with PH.
Date and time161753ZThe 16th of the month at 1753 UTC. Z means Zulu time, never local time.
ModifierAUTO, CORAutomated report, or a corrected report.
Wind14021G26KTFrom 140° true at 21 knots, gusts to 26. VRB is variable, and a group such as 180V240 gives the range when the direction varies by 60° or more at speeds above 6 knots. 00000KT is calm.
Visibility3/4SMVisibility in statute miles, with a space between whole miles and fractions (1 1/2SM). At automated stations M means less than, so M1/4SM is less than 1/4 mile.
Runway visual rangeR17L/1400FTA pilot can see 1,400 feet down runway 17 left.
Weather+TSRA BRIntensity (- light, + heavy, no sign moderate), descriptor (TS, SH, FZ), then phenomenon (RA rain, SN snow, BR mist, FG fog). VC means 5 to 10 miles away.
Sky conditionBKN008 OVC012CBCoverage (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) and base height in hundreds of feet AGL. VV is vertical visibility into an obscured sky. CB (cumulonimbus) and TCU (towering cumulus) are added to the layer they belong to. CLR means an automated station found no layers at or below 12,000 feet.
Temperature / dewpoint18/17Degrees Celsius. M means minus, so M04 is -4 °C.
AltimeterA297029.70 inches of mercury.
RemarksRMK PRESFRAlways starts with RMK. AO2 marks an automated station with a precipitation discriminator, the handbook decodes PRESFR as pressure falling rapidly, and SLP132 is sea-level pressure of 1,013.2 millibars.

A few codes in the table are not in the handbook. They come from the FAA's more detailed Aviation Weather Services advisory circular (AC 00-45H, Change 2): calm wind and the variable direction group (page 3-7), the M "less than" visibility prefix (page 3-8), CLR (page 3-15), and sea-level pressure, where the leading 9 or 10 is left off, so SLP982 is 998.2 millibars (page 3-24).

Put together, the handbook decodes it this way (page 13-8): an automated report from Gregg County Airport on the 16th at 1753Z, wind 140° at 21 knots gusting to 26, visibility 3/4 mile, a thunderstorm with heavy rain and mist, broken clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet with cumulonimbus, temperature 18 °C, dewpoint 17 °C, altimeter 29.70 with pressure falling rapidly.

Finding the ceiling

The ceiling is the lowest layer reported as broken (BKN), overcast (OVC), or vertical visibility (VV). FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings, even when they sit lower. In the example the ceiling is 800 feet. Temperature and dewpoint are worth a glance too: when they are close together, the handbook notes that fog, low clouds, and precipitation are highly likely to form (page 12-14). The example's spread is 1 °C.

Reading a TAF

A TAF uses the same codes to forecast conditions within 5 statute miles of an airport, usually for 24 or 30 hours (page 13-9). After the issue time comes the valid period: 1318/1418 runs from the 13th at 1800Z to the 14th at 1800Z. Change groups then split the forecast. FM140200 means from the 14th at 0200Z; FM is used when a rapid and significant change, usually within an hour, is expected. TEMPO covers fluctuations expected to last less than an hour. PROB30 gives a 30 percent probability of thunderstorms and precipitation, and the handbook notes it is not used for the first 6 hours of a 24-hour forecast.

The advisory circular adds detail. Each TEMPO fluctuation lasts 1 hour or less, and together they cover less than half the period (page 5-101). PROB30 is the only probability group in National Weather Service TAFs, which do not use it in the first 9 hours of the valid period (page 5-102). A group such as WS020/24040KT forecasts low-level wind shear from the surface up to 2,000 feet AGL, with the wind at the top of that layer from 240° at 40 knots; it is the wind there, not the amount of shear (page 5-99). Codes that neither FAA source explains, such as BECMG, show as not decoded.

Why a drone pilot needs this

The FAA's test standards for the Part 107 knowledge test name METARs and TAFs by item (Airman Certification Standards UA.III.A.K2 and K3, under sources of weather), so expect to pull the visibility, ceiling, or wind out of a coded report. The numbers also connect straight to the rules in 14 CFR 107.51: at least 3 statute miles of flight visibility from the control station, and at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds. That is why the decoder checks those two first.

Decoding one report is a start. To see how weather questions are actually worded, take the free Part 107 practice test, or browse the study guides on the blog for the other test areas.

METAR and TAF questions

What is the difference between a METAR and a TAF?

A METAR reports what was observed at an airport at one moment. A TAF forecasts conditions within 5 statute miles of the airport, usually for 24 or 30 hours, using the same codes plus change groups such as FM and TEMPO, and PROB30 probability groups.

How do I find the ceiling in a METAR?

Find the lowest layer coded BKN (broken), OVC (overcast), or VV (vertical visibility). Heights are in hundreds of feet above ground level, so BKN008 is a ceiling of 800 feet. FEW and SCT layers are never the ceiling, even when they are lower.

What does P6SM mean in a TAF?

Forecast visibility greater than 6 statute miles. TAF visibility is otherwise given in statute miles as whole numbers or fractions.

Is a METAR enough to decide whether I can fly under Part 107?

No. A METAR describes the airport where it was taken and can be out of date by the time you launch. Part 107 requires 3 statute miles of flight visibility from your control station, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds, and an assessment of local weather before every flight. Use this decoder to study, and get current official weather for a real flight.