Aviation weather · Quick guide

How to Read a METAR & TAF

METAR and TAF are the coded weather reports every pilot and dispatcher relies on. This is the fast, visual way to decode them — one line at a time. And when you'd rather skip the decoding, the METAR TAF Decoder Chrome extension turns raw code into plain English instantly.

METAR

What is a METAR?

A METAR is an observation — the actual weather at an airport right now, usually updated every hour. It tells you wind, visibility, clouds, temperature and pressure at the moment it was issued.

TAF

What is a TAF?

A TAF is a forecast — the expected weather in a small radius around an airport, typically for the next 24–30 hours. It's built from the same building blocks as a METAR, plus change groups over time.

Anatomy of a METAR

A METAR reads left to right, group by group. Here's a full example decoded:

RAW METAR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 METAR KJFK 011951Z 18016G24KT 10SM FEW250 28/12 A2998
  1. METARReport type — a routine observation.
  2. KJFKStation — the airport ICAO code (New York JFK).
  3. 011951ZDay & time — 1st of the month, 19:51 UTC (the Z = Zulu/UTC).
  4. 18016G24KTWind — from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 24 knots.
  5. 10SMVisibility — 10 statute miles (10SM is the max reported in the US).
  6. FEW250Clouds — few clouds at 25,000 ft (add "00" to the number).
  7. 28/12Temperature / dew point — 28 °C air, 12 °C dew point.
  8. A2998Altimeter — 29.98 inHg (in Europe you'll see Q1013 = hPa instead).

Anything after RMK is remarks — automated notes like AO2 (automated station) or SLP148 (sea-level pressure 1014.8 hPa).

The two codes people trip on: clouds & weather

Cloud cover

SKC/CLRSky clear
FEWFew (1–2 oktas)
SCTScattered (3–4)
BKNBroken (5–7)
OVCOvercast (8)

Height is in hundreds of feet: BKN008 = broken at 800 ft. The lowest BKN or OVC layer is the ceiling.

Weather modifiers

- / +Light / heavy
RA · SNRain · Snow
TS · SHThunderstorm · Showers
BR · FGMist · Fog
VCIn the vicinity

Stack them together: +TSRA = heavy thunderstorm with rain, -SHSN = light snow showers.

Anatomy of a TAF

A TAF starts like a METAR, then adds change groups that describe how the weather evolves over the forecast period.

RAW TAF TAF KJFK 011720Z 0118/0224 18015G25KT P6SM SCT070 FM020000 20008KT P6SM SCT120 TEMPO 0202/0206 4SM -RA BR Valid 01→02, 18Z–24Z FROM day 02, 00:00Z TEMPORARY 02–06Z
  • 0118/0224 — valid period: from day 01 18:00Z to day 02 24:00Z (midnight).
  • FM (FROM) — a permanent change; everything after it replaces the previous line from that time on.
  • TEMPO — temporary fluctuations lasting under an hour each, within the stated window.
  • BECMG — a gradual, lasting change over a transition period.
  • PROB30/40 — a 30% or 40% probability of the conditions that follow.

The one thing to read first: flight category

Ceiling and visibility together define the flight category — the quickest read on whether conditions are good or marginal.

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR Ceiling > 3000 ftVis > 5 SM 1000–3000 ft3–5 SM 500–1000 ft1–3 SM < 500 ft< 1 SM Good Marginal Instrument Low IFR

A category is triggered by whichever is worse — the ceiling or the visibility. Green is good VFR; red and magenta mean instrument conditions.

60-second cheat sheet

Wind18016G24KT → 180° / 16 kt, gust 24
Calm / variable00000KT · VRB03KT
Visibility10SM · P6SM (>6) · 1/2SM
CloudsBKN008 → broken 800 ft (ceiling)
Vertical visVV002 → obscured, 200 ft
Temp / dewM03/M05 → −3 °C / −5 °C (M = minus)
PressureA2992 (inHg) · Q1008 (hPa)
No changeNOSIG · CAVOK (clear & good)

Stop decoding by hand

The METAR TAF Decoder extension reads any station, translates every group into plain English, flags IFR and strong winds, and shows the TAF as a clean timeline — right in your browser toolbar.

Add METAR TAF Decoder to Chrome — free

FAQ

What does the "Z" in a METAR time mean?

It's Zulu time — Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Aviation weather is always issued in UTC so it reads the same worldwide, regardless of local time zone.

How is a METAR different from a TAF?

A METAR is an observation of current conditions at the airport, updated about hourly. A TAF is a forecast for the airport's vicinity, usually covering the next 24–30 hours with change groups.

How do I read cloud heights?

Add two zeros to the three-digit number to get feet above ground: SCT045 = scattered clouds at 4,500 ft. The lowest broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC) layer is the ceiling.

What is CAVOK?

"Ceiling And Visibility OK" — visibility 10 km or more, no cloud below 5,000 ft (or the highest minimum sector altitude), and no significant weather. In short: great conditions.

Why does the pressure look different in Europe?

The US uses inches of mercury, written A2992 (29.92 inHg). Most of the world uses hectopascals, written Q1013 (1013 hPa). Both describe the altimeter setting.

Guide by METAR TAF Decoder — the free Chrome extension that turns raw aviation weather into plain English.