How to Understand a METAR (Quick Flight Tips)

METAR’s can be confusing and look like a foreign language to a student pilot or other pilots that may have not flown in a while. You can find METAR for any airport by going to aviationweather.gov or using any aviation mobile app such as: Foreflight.

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Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR), is an observation of the current weather conditions at a given time and location i.e. airport.

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METAR’s are issued ever 50-55 minutes past the hour, and are valid for one hour or until a new one is released.

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Below is a sample METAR that we have broken down.

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Sample METAR:

KSEA 111548Z AUTO 26005KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 BKN014 OVC049 07/06 A3009 RMK AO2 P0008

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• KSEA - 4-character ICAO identifier. This report is for Seattle-Tacoma International, Washington

  • K – Is used for the lower 48 states in the U.S. i.e.

    • KLAX (Los Angeles), KSAN (San Diego), KORD (Chicago O’Hare)

  • Other U.S. station identifiers are; PA – Alaska and PH – Hawaii Islands​

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• 111548Z – Date and Time. 

  • 11th – is the day of the month

  • 1548Z is always given in Zulu time (UTC).​

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• AUTO – means that, the report is not given by a person i.e. ATC.

  • If the METAR is given by ATC, then the AUTO will disappear from the report.​

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• 26005KT – Wind direction and speed. 

  • 260 degrees from the West.

  • Wind speed is at 05 Knots​

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• 4SM – visibility is given in statute miles (SM), 4 statute miles.​

• -RA – Light rain (the minus symbol means light, RA is for rain).​

• BR – Mist

• BKN008 – Means clouds are broken at 800 feet AGL.

• BKN014 – clouds are broken at 1,400 feet.

• OVC – means over cast clouds at 4,900 feet.

• 07/06 – Temperature and Dew point are in Celsius (C).

  • Temperature is 07⁰Celsius and the dewpoint in 06⁰C

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• A3009 – Current altimeter setting, 30.09".

• RMK – Remarks, means there is additional information.

• AO2 – Automated station with a precipitation sensor.

• P0008 – ‘P’ means precipitation. The numbers indicate the amount (0008 = 00.08 inches fallen in the last hour).

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Additional METAR Symbols:

The above METAR sample does not show all of the possible symbols. Every METAR report is different. Below is a list of common symbols you will or may see on other METAR’s.

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• COR – Corrected observation, disregard previous report.

• SPECI – (Special Report) Unscheduled observation time due to certain criteria i.e. change from VFR to IFR.

• 01009G15KT – ‘G’ means gusty winds

• 150V210 – ‘V’ means variable, wind direction is variable between 150⁰ and 210⁰.

• V010KT – wind direction is variable at 10 knots

• CLR – Sky conditions Clear

• P6SM or 9999 – Plus or greater than 6 Statute Miles visibility

• 22/M04 - ‘M’ in the temperature and dewpoint means minus 04⁰C.

• FEW – Few clouds

• SCT – Scattered clouds

• SLP – Sea Level Pressure

• AO1 – Automated station without a precipitation sensor.

• $ - Dollar sign at the end of a METAR, indicates the station needs maintenance.

• –SHRA – (-) means light, showers and rain.

• PK WND 28045/1955 - Peak Wind at 280° at 45 knots began at 1955Z.

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Tips:

• Broken and Overcast cloud cover are classified as ceilings

• When the temperature and dewpoint are when in 3 degrees of each other, it can usually mean either rain, mist, fog or low clouds.

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References: 

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ACS PA.I.C.K1 & PA.I.C.K2

Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25 (Ch. 13)

aviationweather.gov

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