How to Decode METAR reports

GROUP How to Decode METAR reports

Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)​

A METAR is a codified observation message indicating an airfield weather conditions observed at a given time. Such a message is established every hour.

Decoding METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) reports is a straightforward process once you understand the standard format and abbreviations. METARs provide a snapshot of weather conditions at an airport, typically updated hourly, and are widely used in aviation, including in simulators like DCS for realistic mission planning. Below, I’ll break down the components step-by-step and show you how to decode a sample report.

METAR Structure

A METAR report follows a consistent sequence of elements, though some parts are optional depending on conditions. Here’s the typical order:
  1. Station Identifier (ICAO code)
  2. Date/Time (in UTC/Zulu time)
  3. Modifier (e.g., AUTO, COR) [Optional]
  4. Wind (direction and speed)
  5. Visibility (in meters or statute miles)
  6. Runway Visual Range (RVR) [Optional]
  7. Weather Phenomena (e.g., rain, snow)
  8. Sky Condition (cloud coverage and height)
  9. Temperature/Dewpoint (in Celsius)
  10. Altimeter Setting (pressure in hPa or inHg)
  11. Remarks (RMK) [Optional]

Step-by-Step Decoding

Let’s decode a METAR as an example:
KJFK 221551Z 31015G25KT 10SM -RA BKN030 OVC070 04/02 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP132

1. Station Identifier

  • KJFK: The ICAO code for John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York).
    • "K" indicates a U.S. airport, followed by a 3-letter identifier.

2. Date/Time

  • 221551Z: 22nd day of the month, 15:51 UTC (Zulu time).
    • First two digits = day, next four = HHMM in 24-hour UTC.

3. Modifier [Optional]​

  • None here, but you might see:
    • AUTO: Automated report (no human observer).
    • COR: Corrected report.

4. Wind

  • 31015G25KT: Wind from 310° (northwest) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
    • First three digits = direction (true north, rounded to nearest 10°).
    • Next two digits = speed. "G" = gusts, followed by peak gust speed.
    • KT = knots (could be "MPS" for meters per second or "KMH" for kilometers per hour).

5. Visibility

  • 10SM: 10 statute miles.
    • In the U.S., visibility is in statute miles (SM). Elsewhere, it’s often in meters (e.g., 8000 = 8,000 meters).
    • If below 5,000 meters, it’s precise (e.g., 0800 = 800 meters).

6. Runway Visual Range (RVR) [Optional]​

  • Not present here, but might look like: R36/4000FT (Runway 36, 4,000 feet visibility).

7. Weather Phenomena

  • -RA: Light rain.
    • Prefix: "-" = light, no prefix = moderate, "+" = heavy.
    • Codes:
      • RA = Rain
      • SN = Snow
      • TS = Thunderstorm
      • SH = Showers
      • DZ = Drizzle
      • FG = Fog
      • Multiple can appear (e.g., +TSRA = heavy thunderstorm with rain).

8. Sky Condition

  • BKN030 OVC070: Broken clouds at 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL), overcast at 7,000 feet AGL.
    • Coverage:
      • SKC = Sky clear
      • FEW = Few (1/8–2/8)
      • SCT = Scattered (3/8–4/8)
      • BKN = Broken (5/8–7/8)
      • OVC = Overcast (8/8)
    • Height: Three digits in hundreds of feet AGL (030 = 3,000 ft).
    • Note: In DCS or some regions, height might be above aerodrome level; check local charts.

9. Temperature/Dewpoint

  • 04/02: Temperature 4°C, dewpoint 2°C.
    • Two digits each, separated by "/".
    • If negative, prefixed with "M" (e.g., M02 = -2°C).
    • Close temp/dewpoint (e.g., 4/2) suggests high humidity and potential fog.

10. Altimeter Setting

  • A2992: Altimeter setting 29.92 inHg (standard pressure).
    • "A" = inches of mercury (U.S.); elsewhere, might be "Q" for hPa (e.g., Q1013 = 1013 hPa).
    • Four digits = pressure value (2992 = 29.92 inHg).

11. Remarks (RMK) [Optional]​

  • RMK AO2 SLP132:
    • AO2: Automated station with precipitation discriminator.
    • SLP132: Sea-level pressure 1013.2 hPa (SLP = sea-level pressure, 132 = 013.2, with "10" assumed).

Decoded Example

KJFK 221551Z 31015G25KT 10SM -RA BKN030 OVC070 04/02 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP132
  • Location: JFK Airport, New York.
  • Time: 22nd, 15:51 UTC.
  • Wind: 310° (NW) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles.
  • Weather: Light rain.
  • Clouds: Broken at 3,000 ft AGL, overcast at 7,000 ft AGL.
  • Temp/Dewpoint: 4°C / 2°C.
  • Pressure: 29.92 inHg, sea-level pressure 1013.2 hPa.
  • Notes: Automated station with precip sensor.

Tips for DCS Use

  • Wind: Adjust takeoff/landing runway based on direction (e.g., 310° favors Runway 31).
  • Visibility/Weather: Impacts targeting (e.g., IR Mavericks struggle in heavy rain).
  • Clouds: Affects laser-guided weapons (e.g., GBU-12 needs clear LOS).
  • Pressure: Set your altimeter in the cockpit to match (29.92 inHg here).

Practice METAR

Try decoding this: EGLL 221230Z 23010KT 5000 RA OVC008 12/11 Q1010
  • Answer: London Heathrow, 22nd 12:30 UTC, wind 230° at 10 knots, 5,000m visibility, moderate rain, overcast at 800 ft AGL, 12°C/11°C, 1010 hPa.
Got a specific METAR you want decoded? Throw it our way via Discord or our forums!

METAR /TAF Abbreviations / Cloud Types​


AHailAMOSAutomatic Meteorological observing system
ABMAbeam
ABVAboveAMSAir mass
ACAltocumulusANLYSAnalysis
ACCASAltocumulus castellanusAO1Automated observation with no precip discriminator (rain/snow)
ACCUMAltocumulate
ACLDAbove cloudsAO2Automated observation with precip discriminator (rain/snow)
ACSLStanding lenticular altocumulus
ACTVActiveAOAAt or above
ACYCAnticyclonicAOBAt or below
ADDNAdditionAPAnomalous propagation
ADRNDCKAdirondackAPCHApproach
ADVCTNAdvectionAPRNTApparent
ADVYAdvisoryASAltostratus
AFDKAfter DarkASOSAutomated surface observing system
AFTAfterATLCAtlantic
AFTNAfternoonATTMAt this time
AGLAbove Ground LevelAURBOAurora Borealis
AGNAgainAUTOBAutomatic weather reporting system
AHDAheadAWOSAutomatic weather observing system
AIREPAir ReportBBeginning of precipitation (time in minutes (wx reports only)
AIRMETAirmen’s Meteorological Info
ALFAloftBACLINBaroclinic prognosis
ALGAlongBATROPBarotropic or barotropic prognosis
ALGHNYAlleghenyBCBritish Columbia
ALQDSAll quadrantsBCFGFog patches
ALSTGAltimeter settingBCKGBacking
ALTAAlbertaBCM(G)Become (becoming)
ALUTNAlleutianBDBlowing dust (wx reports only)
AMDAmended forecastBFDKBefore dark
AMDTAmendmentBINOVCBreaks in overcast

BKNBrokenCLDCloud
BLDUPBuild upCLRClear
BLKHLSBlack HillsCASClear and smooth
BLOBelowCNLCancel
BNBlowing sand (wx reports only)CNDNCanadian
BNDRYBoundaryCNTRLCentral
BOVCBase of overcastCNVGConverge
BRAFBraking action fairCNVTVConvective
BRAGBraking action goodCONT-DVDContinental Divide
BRANBraking action nilCONTRAILSCondensation trails
BRAPBraking action poorCSCirrostratus
BRFBriefCSTCoast
BRKSHRBerkshireCTGYCategory
BSBlowing snow (wx reports only)CTSKLSCatskills
BTWNBetweenCUCumulus
BYBlowing spray (wx reports only)CUFCumuliform
CAClear above (PIREP only)CUFRACumulus fractus
CANCanadaCYCCyclonic
CARIBCaribbeanCYCLGNCyclogenesis
CASCDSCascadesDDust (wx reports only)
CAVOKCeiling and visibility OKDABRKDaybreak
CAVUCeiling and visibility unlimitedDALGTDaylight
CBCumulonimbusDCAVUClear or scattered cloud and vis greater than 10, remainder or report missing (wx reports only)
CBMAMCumulonimbus mammatus
CCCirrocumulus
CCSLStanding lenticular cirrocumulusDCRDecreased
CDFNTCold FrontDIAMDiameter
CFPCold front passageDKTSDakotas
CHCChanceDMSHDiminish
CHSPKChesapeakeDNSDense
CIGCeilingDNSLPDownslope

DNSTRMDownstreamFLGFalling
DPDeepFLRYFlurry
DPNGDeepeningFNTFront
DPTHDepthFNTGNSFrontogenesis
DRFTDriftFNTLYSFrontolysis
DRZLDrizzleFORNNForenoon
DSIPTDissipateFRMGForming
DSNTDistantFROPAFrontal passage
DTRTDeteriorateFRSTFrost
DRGDuringFRZFreeze
DWNDFTSDowndraftsFRZLVLFreezing level
DWPNTDew pointFRZNFrozen
EEnding of precipitation (time in minutes)(wx reports only)FZRANOFreezing rain sensor not operating
FTTerminal Forecast
EEquatorial (air mass)GGusts reaching (knots)(wx reports only)
EEstimated (wx reports only)GFGround fog (wx reports only)
ELNGTElongateGFDEPGround fog estimated (feet) deep
EMBDDEmbeddedGICGGlaze icing
ENRTEnrouteGLFALSKGulf of Alaska
ENTREntireGLFCALGulf of California
ERYEarlyCLFMEXGulf of Mexico
EVEEveningGLFSTLAWRGulf of St. Lawrence
EXCPExceptGNDFGGround Fog
EXPCExpectGRADGradient
EXTRMExtremeGRTLKSGreat Lakes
FFog (wx reports only)GSTSGusts
FAArea ForecastGSTYGusty
FAHFarenheitHHaze (wx reports only)
FAXFacsimileHCVISHigh clouds visible
FIBIFiled but impracticable to transmitHDEPHaze layer estimated (feet) deep
FINOWx report will not be filed for transmissionHDSVLYHudson Valley

HIHighLABRDRLabrador
HLSTOHailstonesLFTLift
HLYRHaze layer aloftLGTLight
HURCNHurricaneLIFRLow IFR (wx reports only)
HVYHeavyLKLake
ICIce crystalLSRLoose snow on runway
ICGIcingLSTLocal Standard Time
ICGICIcing in cloudsLTGCALightning cloud to air
ICGICIPIcing in clouds and precipitationLTGCCLightning cloud to cloud
ICGIPIcing in precipitationLTGCCCGLightning cloud to cloud, cloud to ground
IFIce fogLTGCGLightning cloud to ground
IFRInstrument flight rulesLTGCWLightning cloud to water
INCRIncreaseLTGICLightning in clouds
INDCIndicateLTLCGLittle change
INDEFIndefiniteLTNGLightning
INLDInlandLYRLayer or layered or layers
INSTBYInstabilityMMeasured ceiling (wx reports only)
INTRInteriorMMissing (wx reports only)
INTR-MTRGNInter-mountain regionMANManitoba
INTSIntenseMDTModerate
INTSTIntensityMETARScheduled aviation observation
INVRNInversionMEXMexico
IOVCIn overcastMHKVLYMohawk Valley
IPIce pellets (wx reports only)MIDNMidnight
IRIce on runwayMIFGPatches of shallow fog not deeper than 2 meters
JTSTRJetstreamMLTLVLMelting level
KSmokeMNLDMainland
KDEPSmoke layer estimated (feet) deepMOGRModerate or greater
KLYRSmoke layer aloftMOVMove
KOCTYSmoke over cityMRGLMarginal
LDrizzle (wx reports only)MRNGMorning

MRTMMaritimePGTSNDPuget Sound
MSTLYMostlyPIBALPilot balloon observation
MTNMountainPK WNDPeak wind (wx report only)
MVFRMarginal VFRPNHDLPanhandle
NBNew BrunswickPNORain gauge not operating
NEW ENGNew EnglandPPINARadar weather report not available or omitted
NFLDNewfoundland
NGTNightPPINERadar weather report no echoes observed
NOSPLNo special observations taken (wx reports only)PPINORadar weather report equipment inoperative due to breakdown
NSNimbostratusPPIOKRadar weather report equipment operation resumed
NSNova Scotia
NVANegative vorticity advectionPPIOMRadar weather report equipment inoperative due to maintenance
OBSObservation
OBSCObscurePRBLTYProbability
OCFNTOccluded frontPRESFRPressure falling rapidly
OCLDOccludePRESRRPressure rising rapidly
OCLNOcclusionPRJMPPressure jump (wx reports only)
OFPOccluded frontal passagePROGPrognosis or prognostic
OFSHROffshorePSRPacked snow on runway
OMTNSOver mountainsPTCHYPatchy
ONSHROn shorePTLYPartly
ONTOntarioPVAPositive vorticity advection
ORGPHCOrographicPWINOPrecipitaion identifier information not available (wx reports only)
OTASOn top and smoothQSquall (wx reports only)
OTLKOutlookQSTNRYQuasistationary
OVCOvercastQUEQuebec
OVROverRRain (wx reports only)
PACPacificRADATRadiosonde observation data
PCPNPrecipitationRAOBRadiosonde observation
PDWPriority Delayed WeatherRCKYRocky Mountains
PENPeninsulaRDGRidge

RGDRaggedTDWRTerminal Doppler Weather Radar
RHINORadar echo height information not availableTEMPTemperature
RHINORadar range height indicator not operating on scanTHDRThunder
RIOGDRio GrandeTHRUThrough
RNFLRainfallTHRUTThroughout
ROBEPSRadar operating below prescribed standardTHSDThousand
RPDRapidTILUntil
RSGRisingTMWTomorrow
RUFRoughTNGTTonight
RVRNORunway visual range missingTOPCloud top
RWRain shower (wx reports only)TOVCTop of overcast
SSnow (wx reports only)TPGTopping
SASKSaskatchewanTROFTrough
SAWRNSupplementary Aviation Weather Reporting SystemTROPTropopause
SCStratocumulusTRPCLTropical
SCSLStratocumulus standing lenticularTRRNTerrain
SCTScatteredTSHWRThundershower
SELSSevere local stormsTSNOLightning sensor not available
SFERICSAtmosphericsTSTMThunderstorm
SGSnow grains (wx reports only)TURBTurbulence
SHFTShift (wx reports only)TURBCTurbulence
SHLWShallowTWDToward
SHWRShowerTWRTower
SIERNEVSierra NevadaTWRGTowering
SIRSnow and ice on runwayTYPHTyphoon
SPECIUnscheduled aviation observationUIntensity unknown (wx reports only)
SLFSea level pressureUARoutine PIREP
SLPNOSea level pressure not availableUDDFUp and down drafts
SNINCRSnow increasing rapidlyUNSTBLUnstable
TCUTowering cumulusUNSTDYUnsteady
TDATodayUPRUpper

UTCUniversal coordinated timeWNDWind
UUAUrgent PIREPWRMWarm
VVariable (wx reports only)WRMFNTWarm front
VCSHShowers in vicinityWRNGWarning
VCTYVicinityWSHFTWind shift
VFRVisual flight rulesWWSevere weather forecast
VLYValleyWXWeather
VRBLVariableXObscured sky condition
VSBYVisibilityXCPExcept
WDLYWidelyYDAYesterday
WEAWeatherZUTC
WFPWarm front passageZRNOFreezing rain information not available (wx reports only)
WKWeak
WKNWeaken
WLWill
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