METAR Decoder
Paste a METAR or SPECI weather report below to decode its reported wind, visibility, weather, clouds, temperature, pressure, runway visual range and trend groups.
How to read a METAR
A METAR is an aviation weather observation for an aerodrome. Pilots and flight planners use METAR reports to check observed conditions such as wind, visibility, weather, cloud cover, temperature, dew point and atmospheric pressure.
METAR information is written in compact groups that normally follow a predictable order. Reading the report from left to right lets you identify where and when the observation was made, followed by the reported weather conditions.
METAR format and report groups
A typical METAR can contain an aerodrome identifier, observation time, wind, visibility, runway visual range, present weather, cloud layers, temperature and dew point, pressure, recent weather, trend information and remarks. Not every report contains every group.
Station and observation time
The station identifier shows which aerodrome issued the observation. It is followed by a date and UTC time group such as 141700Z, meaning the 14th day of the month at 17:00 UTC.
Wind
METAR wind groups report wind direction and speed, with gusts when applicable. For example, 25012KT means wind from 250 degrees at 12 knots. Reports can also contain variable wind direction or calm wind.
Visibility and CAVOK
Visibility may be reported in metres or statute miles depending on the reporting format. 9999 represents visibility of 10 kilometres or more. Some reports use CAVOKwhen the applicable visibility, significant weather and cloud criteria are satisfied.
Present weather
Compact weather groups describe phenomena such as rain, snow, fog, mist, showers and thunderstorms. Intensity and descriptors can be combined with the phenomenon, producing codes such as-RA, SHRA or TSRA. Individual WMO weather and cloud codes can be checked in the aviation weather code reference.
Clouds and ceiling
Cloud groups combine an amount with a height above the aerodrome. For example, SCT035 means scattered cloud at 3,500 feet. Common cloud amounts include FEW, SCT, BKN and OVC. Broken and overcast layers can also be relevant when determining a reported ceiling.
Temperature and dew point
Temperature and dew point appear as a paired group such as18/09. In this example the air temperature is 18 °C and the dew point is 9 °C. Negative values use the appropriate coded negative-temperature notation.
QNH and altimeter setting
Pressure may appear as QNH in hectopascals or as an altimeter setting in inches of mercury, depending on the report. For example, Q1017 means a QNH of 1017 hPa.
Runway visual range
When reported, runway visual range (RVR) gives visibility information associated with a specific runway. RVR groups can include lower or upper reporting limits, variable values and tendency information.
Trend information and remarks
Some METARs include trend information such as NOSIG, BECMG or TEMPO. Reports may also contain an RMK section with additional information. AviationDecoder keeps the original report visible so decoded fields can always be checked against the source text.
METAR example decoded
LKPR 141700Z 25012KT 9999 SCT035 18/09 Q1017 NOSIG
This example is an observation for LKPR at 17:00 UTC on the 14th. Wind is from 250 degrees at 12 knots. Visibility is at least 10 km, with scattered cloud at 3,500 feet. Temperature is 18 °C, dew point is 9 °C and QNH is 1017 hPa. NOSIG indicates that no significant change is reported in the applicable trend period.
METAR and SPECI
METAR and SPECI use closely related coded weather-report structures. METAR is the routine aerodrome observation, while SPECI identifies a special report issued when applicable criteria require an additional observation. METAR and SPECI share the aerodrome weather groups described on this page.
METAR decoder coverage
Decoded groups include wind and gusts, metric and statute-mile visibility, runway visual range, present and recent weather, cloud layers, vertical visibility, CAVOK, temperature and dew point, QNH and altimeter settings, NOSIG and trend groups covered by the formats described above.
Unsupported content is preserved rather than silently assigned an invented meaning. This keeps the decoded result traceable to the original aviation weather report.
Related aviation weather decoders
For forecast conditions, use the TAF Decoder. Pilot-reported conditions can be decoded with the PIREP Decoder. Individual weather abbreviations can be checked in the Aviation Weather Codes reference.