METAR Decoder
Paste any METAR and get a plain-English breakdown of every field. Wind, visibility, clouds, temperature — all decoded instantly.
Try an example:
How to Read a METAR
What is a METAR?
METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized format for reporting weather observations at airports worldwide. Every pilot must be able to read and interpret METARs for flight planning and decision-making.
METAR Format
A METAR follows this structure:
TYPE STATION DATE/TIME WIND VISIBILITY WEATHER CLOUDS TEMP/DEW ALTIMETER RMK- Station: 4-letter ICAO code (KJFK, EGLL)
- Date/Time: DDHHMMz in UTC (071856Z = 7th at 18:56 UTC)
- Wind: Direction + speed in knots (31015G25KT = 310° at 15kt, gusting 25)
- Visibility: In meters (9999 = 10km+) or statute miles (10SM)
- Clouds: Coverage + height in hundreds of feet (SCT040 = scattered at 4,000ft)
- Temp/Dew: In Celsius, M prefix for negative (M02/M17 = -2°C/-17°C)
- Altimeter: A followed by inHg (A3042) or Q followed by hPa (Q1024)
Weather Codes
RARainSNSnowDZDrizzleFGFogBRMistHZHazeTSThunderstormSHShowersFZFreezing+Heavy-LightVCVicinityMETAR on the ATPL Exam
METAR decoding is tested in the Meteorology subject of the ATPL theory exams. You will need to interpret real METARs under time pressure. Practice with our free question bank to build speed and accuracy.
Master Aviation Weather
Practice METAR questions and 12 more ATPL subjects with 3,500+ free exam questions on Rotate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a METAR?
METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is the standard hourly weather observation issued at airports worldwide. It encodes wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, dew point, altimeter setting, and significant phenomena in a compact format pilots use for flight planning and pre-flight briefings.
How do I read a METAR?
Read METAR groups left to right: station ID (KJFK), day/time UTC (121651Z), wind direction/speed (22015G25KT), visibility (10SM), clouds (FEW040), temperature/dew point (22/14), altimeter (A2992), and remarks (RMK). Paste any METAR into Rotate's decoder above to get every group translated automatically.
Is the METAR decoder free?
Yes — Rotate's METAR decoder is 100% free, no signup required. It runs entirely in your browser, decodes all standard ICAO/FAA METAR groups (including special phenomena like TSRA, FZRA, BKN, OVC, CB, TCU), and works on mobile or desktop.
What's the difference between METAR and TAF?
METAR is an observation of current weather at an airport. TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a forecast of expected weather at that same airport for the next 24-30 hours. Pilots use both: METAR for what's happening now, TAF for what to expect during arrival.
How often is a METAR updated?
Routine METARs are issued every hour, typically 5 minutes before the top of the hour. SPECI (special) reports are issued whenever significant weather changes occur between routine reports — such as wind shifts, ceiling changes, or thunderstorm development.