METAR Decoder

Paste any METAR weather report and get an instant plain-English breakdown of every field, plus flight category.

Try an example:

METAR Weather Abbreviation Reference

Common weather codes used in METAR reports. Combine intensity prefixes (+/-) with weather phenomena (e.g., +TSRA = heavy thunderstorm with rain).

CodeMeaning
RARain
SNSnow
FGFog
BRMist
HZHaze
TSThunderstorm
SHShowers
DZDrizzle
GRHail
GSSmall Hail
FZFreezing
PLIce Pellets
ICIce Crystals
FUSmoke
VAVolcanic Ash
SQSquall
+Heavy
-Light
VCVicinity
BLBlowing

Master Aviation Weather

METAR decoding is just one of dozens of skills tested on the FAA written exam. Practice with 2,200+ questions covering all subjects.

Start studying — $7.49/mo (50% off)

Or try a free practice test first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does METAR stand for?

METAR stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report (from French: Météorologique Aviation Régulière). It is a standardized format for reporting weather at airports, issued every hour or when conditions change significantly (SPECI).

How do you read wind in a METAR?

Wind is reported as a 5-digit group: first 3 digits are direction (magnetic), last 2 are speed in knots. For example, 27015KT means wind from 270° at 15 knots. Gusts are shown with G (e.g., 27015G25KT).

What does VV mean in a METAR?

VV stands for Vertical Visibility, used when the sky is obscured (fog, heavy precipitation). VV003 means vertical visibility is 300 feet. This indicates you cannot see the sky — only straight up to 300 feet.

What is the difference between METAR and TAF?

METAR reports current weather conditions at an airport. TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) predicts weather for the next 24-30 hours. Both use similar notation but TAFs include forecast periods and expected changes.

How often are METARs updated?

Routine METARs are issued every hour (usually at 55 minutes past the hour). Special METARs (SPECI) are issued when conditions change significantly — such as visibility dropping below minimums or wind shifting.

How to Read a METAR

A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized format for reporting weather observations at airports. Every METAR follows the same structure:

TYPE STATION DATE/TIME WIND VISIBILITY WEATHER CLOUDS TEMP/DEW ALTIMETER RMK
  • Station — 4-letter ICAO code (e.g., KJFK, EGLL, KLAX)
  • Date/Time — DDHHMMz format in UTC (e.g., 121856Z = 12th day at 18:56 UTC)
  • Wind — Direction (3 digits) + speed (2 digits) in knots, with optional gusts (e.g., 31015G25KT)
  • Visibility — In statute miles (10SM) for US, or meters (9999 = 10km+) for ICAO
  • Weather — Phenomena codes like RA (rain), SN (snow), FG (fog), TS (thunderstorm)
  • Clouds — Coverage + height in hundreds of feet AGL (e.g., SCT040 = scattered at 4,000 ft)
  • Temp/Dewpoint — In Celsius, M prefix for negative (e.g., M02/M17 = -2°C / -17°C)
  • Altimeter — A followed by inHg (A3042) or Q followed by hPa (Q1024)
  • Remarks — Everything after RMK contains additional meteorological details

Pilots use METARs to determine flight category (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR) based on ceiling height and visibility. This is critical for go/no-go decisions, approach planning, and alternate airport selection.

Related Pilot Tools

More free tools: Crosswind Calculator · Density Altitude Calculator · E6B Flight Computer · Wind Correction Angle · Holding Pattern Entry · VOR Simulator