Jazmin Li
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike need to know how to read airport weather information, or METAR reports, which are used to transmit weather data. These reports can appear as an indecipherable mess to the untrained eye, but they always follow a pattern, with each block of information standardised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). METAR reports are released regularly, usually hourly, but unusual weather conditions can warrant unscheduled reports. These reports contain essential information about flying conditions, including runway visibility, wind, weather phenomena, cloud cover, temperature, and pressure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Report Type | METAR or SPECI |
| Station Identifier | A four-letter code, e.g. KGGG for Gregg County Airport in Longview, Texas |
| Date and Time | A series of 6 numbers followed by a Z, e.g. 212355Z for 21st day of the month, 1755 MDT |
| Runway Visibility | R followed by a number, e.g. R36 for runway 36, with an additional letter for parallel runways, e.g. L for left runway |
| Weather Conditions | Precipitation, weather intensity, and other factors that affect navigation |
| Clouds | Different types of clouds at different altitudes |
| Temperature | Current temperature |
| Pressure | Altimeter setting |
| Remarks | Comments that may include wind data, variable visibility, beginning and ending times of phenomena, pressure information, etc. |
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METAR reports
METAR stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report, and it is a highly practical way to transmit weather data that is primarily used by pilots. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ensures it is standardized worldwide, although there are some regional variations in the units used.
- Type of Report: There are two types of METAR reports. The first is the routine METAR report that is transmitted every hour. The second is a special report, a SPECI, that can be given at any time to update the METAR for rapidly changing weather conditions, aircraft mishaps, or other critical information.
- Station Identifier: This is a four-letter code as established by the ICAO. In the 48 contiguous states, a unique three-letter identifier is preceded by the letter “K.”. For example, Gregg County Airport in Longview, Texas, is identified by the letters “KGGG.”. In other regions of the world, including Alaska and Hawaii, the first two letters of the four-letter ICAO identifier indicate the region, country, or state.
- Date and Time of Report: The first two numbers are the day of the month, and the four following numbers are the time at which the observation was taken. It is important to note that the observation times are given in Zulu time, not local time.
- Report Modifier: This is included as required.
- Wind: Wind gusts are coded in two or three digits following the wind speed. The “G” signifies that there are wind gusts, and the number value signifies the speed of wind gusts in knots (“KT”). If no motion of air is detected, the air is reported as “calm,” displayed as “00000KT.”.
- Visibility: Visibility is coded as the surface visibility in statute miles. The visibility group ends with “SM” to reference statute miles. In U.S. METARs, visibility is measured and reported in statute miles (SM) as observed from the ground. Elsewhere, visibility is typically reported in meters.
- Present Weather Group: This includes precipitation, obscurations, and other weather phenomena. See official weather codes for definitions.
- Sky Condition: This describes the sky's appearance, including cloud cover, vertical visibility, or clear skies.
- Temperature: This is the current temperature.
- Pressure: This includes the altimeter setting for the aerodrome and sea level pressure.
- Remarks: The remarks section always begins with the letters “RMK.”. Comments may or may not appear in this section of the METAR. The information contained in this section may include wind data, variable visibility, beginning and ending times of particular phenomena, pressure information, and various other information deemed necessary.
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Station identifiers
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) assigns these station identifiers, and they are used internationally for flight planning by pilots and airline operation departments. The WMO previously used five-digit numeric station codes, where the first digit specified the region: 0 to 1 for Europe, 2 to 3 for Russia, 4 for Asia, 5 for the Far East, 6 for Africa, 7 for North America, 8 for South America and Antarctica, and 9 for the Pacific. However, many countries ran out of numbers and were unable to register additional stations, so the WMO adopted the WIGOS Station Identifiers (WSI), which use four blocks of digits and alphanumeric characters to allow for more unique identifiers.
In the United States, the National Weather Service (NWS) also uses several other schemes for identifying stations, including the ICAO and WMO identifiers. Some weather forecast offices (WFOs) and weather radar sites that have moved away from airports have been assigned their own codes, typically ending in X. For example, when Birmingham, Alabama's (BHM) radar site was replaced by one south of the city, the new site was assigned the code BMX. Additionally, some locations have changed their identifiers, such as Miami, Florida, which is now MFL instead of MIA, and Dallas/Fort Worth, which is now FWD instead of DFW.
For aeronautical navigation aids, airports with air traffic control facilities, airports receiving scheduled route air carrier or military airlift service, and airports designated as entry points by the US Customs Service, three-letter identifiers are assigned as radio call signs. One-letter, two-digit identifiers are typically assigned to public-use landing facilities within the US that do not meet the requirements for three-letter identifiers, and some of these are also assigned to aviation weather reporting stations. Two-letter, two-digit identifiers are used for private-use landing facilities in the US that do not qualify for three-character identifiers.
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Report types
Aviation Routine Weather Reports, or METARs, are predominantly used by aircraft pilots and meteorologists. They are highly standardised and can be understood throughout most of the world. METARs are used to understand weather conditions at a glance and are issued by airports or weather centres.
There are two types of METAR reports: the first is the routine METAR report, which is transmitted every hour. The second is a special report, or SPECI, which can be given at any time to update the routine METAR report for rapidly changing weather conditions, aircraft mishaps, or other critical information.
In addition to METARs and SPECIs, there are ASOS One-Minute Observations (OMOs) which are updated once a minute and can be in various formats, including the METAR format. OMOs are often encoded by automated airport weather stations located at airports, military bases, and other sites.
Another report type is the TAF, or Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, which is a report released by large airports that summarises the weather forecast for the area covered by five statute miles from the location of the airport. TAF reports are valid for 24-30 hour time periods and are typically updated four times a day.
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Runway visibility
In aviation weather reports, runway visibility information is typically denoted by strings starting with the letter "R," followed by a set of letters and numbers. For example, "R36L/2400FT" indicates that the report pertains to runway 36, with "L" signifying the left runway in cases of parallel runways. The number "2400FT" represents a visibility distance of 2,400 feet or 730 meters.
It's important to note that runway visibility can be affected by various atmospheric conditions, such as rain, thunderstorms, snow, fog, and smoke, among others. These factors can significantly reduce visibility, impacting aviation operations and potentially leading to delays, diversions, or cancellations. Therefore, pilots must carefully consider runway visibility information when planning their approach and departure.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that Runway Visual Range (RVR) is a related concept. RVR refers to the horizontal distance visible down a runway, based on the visibility of High-Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL) or other contrasting objects. RVR equipment is commonly found at larger airports and is used when visibility is reduced to 1 statute mile or less. RVR provides pilots with valuable information to assess the feasibility of their approach and landing.
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Decoding tools
METARs (Meteorological Aerodrome Reports) are highly condensed weather reports that can be challenging to interpret. Several online tools, such as METAR-TAF.com, offer decoding services, translating the codes into plain English. These tools are designed to help pilots and aviation enthusiasts make sense of the critical weather information contained in METARs.
METAR-TAF.com provides decoded METAR, TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast), and NOTAM information for 68,375 airports. It features an interactive map that displays the most recent data from all METAR stations globally and colour codes calculated based on visibility and cloud base values. The website also offers a mobile app with features like offline support and a personal airport list.
Flightradar24 is another resource for accessing METAR reports and submitting PIREP (Pilot Report) weather observations. It provides raw and decoded METAR data, with the option to view a "decoded" version translated into plain English. Additionally, the website includes a blog with articles on decoding METAR reports and other aviation-related topics.
Other websites, such as pilotpassion.com and dronepilotgroundschool.com, offer guides and tips on decoding METAR reports, including explanations of various codes and step-by-step instructions for interpreting the reports. These websites also emphasise the importance of combining METARs with other tools like TAFs for a comprehensive understanding of weather conditions.
While these online tools provide valuable assistance in decoding airport weather information, it is beneficial to develop the skill of interpreting weather maps and reports independently. This enables pilots and aviation enthusiasts to make informed decisions regarding flight planning, outdoor activities, travel, and safety.
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Frequently asked questions
METAR stands for Meteorological Terminal Air Report.
A METAR report contains information on the current weather conditions of the facility releasing the report.
METAR reports are released regularly, usually every hour.
You can find METAR reports on NOAA's aviation weather site or an aviation app on your smart device.
METAR reports can be challenging to interpret due to the use of codes and abbreviations. However, you can refer to resources like dixwx.com or the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) to help you understand the different sections and abbreviations used in the report.
