How to Read METARs and TAFs, With Fully Worked Examples

A METAR is a coded report of the weather observed at an airport, and a TAF is the forecast for the area within 5 statute miles of the center of that airport’s runway complex, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours. Both are read left to right, one group at a time: wind, visibility, weather and clouds, plus temperature, dew point and altimeter setting in the METAR. This guide decodes a complete example of each, group by group, and our free METAR decoder and TAF decoder will translate any report you paste in.

Why you need to read them yourself

Most briefing services and apps show a plain-language version, but the FAA’s Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B) says every pilot should still know how to decode a METAR in case a source does not. The rules and the checkride expect it too:

• Preflight action: under 14 CFR 91.103, before any IFR flight or any flight not in the vicinity of an airport, the pilot in command must become familiar with the weather reports and forecasts.
• Your checkride: the Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C) lists METARs and SPECIs (element PA.I.C.K2a) and TAFs (PA.I.C.K2c) in the Weather Information task, so expect them on the oral exam.
• Student pilot limits: 14 CFR 61.89 bars a student from acting as pilot in command with flight or surface visibility below 3 statute miles during daylight hours or 5 at night, and your instructor can add limitations in your logbook.

How to read a METAR

A METAR (aviation routine weather report) describes actual conditions at an airport. Stations produce one near the top of every hour, and a SPECI (special report) in between when conditions change significantly. The groups always appear in the same order:

• Station and time: the ICAO identifier and the observation time in Zulu (UTC), such as KXYZ 081753Z
• Modifier: AUTO for a fully automated report, COR for a correction
• Wind: direction (true) and speed in knots, with gusts, for example 24015G25KT
• Visibility: in statute miles, such as 10SM or 1 1/2SM
• Runway visual range: reported when visibility is low, for example R28L/2600FT
• Weather: codes such as RA (rain), BR (mist) or TS (thunderstorm), with - for light and + for heavy
• Sky condition: cloud cover and height in hundreds of feet above ground level, such as BKN025 (broken at 2,500 feet). Coverage codes describe how much of the sky is covered in eighths: FEW (up to 2), SCT scattered (3 to 4), BKN broken (5 to 7), and OVC overcast (8). A ceiling is the lowest broken or overcast layer, or the vertical visibility (VV) into a sky hidden by fog or another obscuration.
• Temperature and dew point: in whole degrees Celsius, with M for minus
• Altimeter: the setting in inches of mercury, for example A2992
• Remarks: after RMK, such as AO2 (an automated station with a precipitation discriminator) and SLP (sea level pressure)

The METAR decoder page has the full code reference.

Worked example: a METAR, group by group

Here is a sample report for a made-up airport, KXYZ:

METAR KXYZ 081753Z 21016G26KT 180V240 3SM -TSRA BR BKN015CB OVC035 22/19 A2981 RMK AO2 PK WND 22030/32 TSB25 SLP090 T02220189

What it means for you: the 1,500-foot ceiling and 3 miles of visibility make this marginal VFR, but the categories are not the real story. A thunderstorm is at the field, with gusts to 26 knots and a 30-knot peak wind at 1732 UTC. This is weather to wait out on the ground. The AIM’s thunderstorm guidance (paragraph 7-1-27) is direct: do not land or take off in the face of an approaching thunderstorm, because a sudden gust front of low-level turbulence could cause loss of control. Our weather hazards guide covers storms, icing and fog in more depth.

How to read a TAF

A TAF (terminal aerodrome forecast) covers the area within 5 statute miles of the center of the airport’s runway complex. National Weather Service offices issue TAFs for about 700 U.S. airports, four times a day, usually for 24 hours (30 hours at some major airports), and amend them when they stop matching the weather. A TAF uses the same weather codes as a METAR, adds P6SM for visibility of more than 6 statute miles, and divides its valid period with change groups:

• FM (from): a rapid, lasting change starting at a stated time. Each FM line is a complete forecast that replaces everything before it.
• TEMPO (temporary): brief fluctuations expected to come and go, each lasting an hour or less and together covering less than half of the stated period.
• PROB30: a 30 percent chance of a thunderstorm or precipitation during the stated period.
• BECMG (becoming): a gradual change over a window, usually two hours. The National Weather Service does not use BECMG, but you will see it in the TAF format used at some joint civil and military airports.

TEMPO, PROB30 and BECMG list only what changes, and the elements they leave out carry over from the line before. Read a TAF to anticipate how conditions will evolve across your flight, then confirm with the latest METARs as you go.

Worked example: a TAF, line by line

Here is a sample 24-hour TAF for the same made-up airport:

TAF KXYZ 081130Z 0812/0912 18008KT P6SM SCT250 WS015/24040KT
FM081500 20012G22KT P6SM SCT050 BKN250
FM082000 22015G25KT 5SM -TSRA BKN040CB
TEMPO 0820/0823 2SM +TSRA OVC020CB
FM090200 30010KT P6SM SCT060 PROB30 0905/0909 -SHRA BKN040
FM090900 32008KT P6SM SKC

What it means for you: convert to local time first. On Central Daylight Time (UTC minus 5 hours), this TAF starts at 7:00 a.m., the wind shear lasts until 10:00 a.m., and the storms are forecast from 3:00 p.m., with temporary IFR in heavy rain until 6:00 p.m. Plan a training flight to finish well before the storms, and check the METARs and any amended TAF before you leave.

Flight categories at a glance

Weather maps and decoders color-code reports by flight category. These are the Aviation Weather Center definitions used on aviationweather.gov:

The worse of the ceiling and the visibility sets the category. These categories are for situational awareness, not legal limits, but two of the numbers line up with the rules. Within the surface area of Class B, C, D or E airspace, 14 CFR 91.155 prohibits VFR flight beneath a ceiling of less than 1,000 feet, and taking off, landing or entering the traffic pattern under VFR when ground visibility is less than 3 statute miles, unless you are operating under a special VFR clearance. See VFR weather minimums for the full table by airspace.

A note on wind direction

METAR and TAF winds are referenced to true north. The winds you hear from the tower, on ATIS, or on an ASOS or AWOS broadcast are referenced to magnetic north, the same reference as the runway numbers. Keep that difference in mind when planning versus flying, especially where the magnetic variation is large.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Misreading FM times. FM100000 is 0000 UTC on the 10th, not 1000 UTC. The AIM’s TAF key warns about exactly this.
• Forgetting the carry-over. A TEMPO line that lists only 2SM BR still has the clouds and wind from the line above it.
• Treating cloud heights as MSL. METAR and TAF cloud heights are above ground level. Area products such as the GFA cloud forecast use MSL, so convert before comparing them with your planned altitude.
• Trusting CLR too far. An automated station reports only clouds at or below 12,000 feet, so CLR does not rule out higher clouds.
• Reading VC as at the field. VCSH or VCTS means the weather is near the airport, generally 5 to 10 statute miles away, not at the station.
• Using an old report. Check the time group. A SPECI between hourly reports means something changed significantly.

Where to get METARs and TAFs

• aviationweather.gov: the National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center site, with current METARs, TAFs and the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA).
• Flight Service: a full briefing online at 1800wxbrief.com or by phone at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
• On the radio: ATIS at towered airports and ASOS or AWOS broadcasts give current conditions in plain speech, with magnetic winds.

Make the weather check part of your flight planning routine.

What you'll need

Study aviation weather in depth and keep your briefing notes organized in the cockpit.

Gleim Aviation Weather and Weather Services

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Flight Outfitters iDeck Dual Device Kneeboard

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ASA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C)

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a METAR and a TAF?

A METAR is an observation of the actual weather at an airport at a specific time, issued hourly with special reports in between. A TAF is a forecast for the area within 5 statute miles of the airport’s runway complex, usually covering 24 or 30 hours.

Are METAR winds true or magnetic?

True north, in both METARs and TAFs. The winds you hear from the tower, on ATIS, and on ASOS or AWOS voice broadcasts are magnetic.

What does BKN025 mean?

Broken clouds, covering 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky, with bases 2,500 feet above ground level (heights are in hundreds of feet). A broken layer is a ceiling.

How often are METARs and TAFs issued?

METARs are produced every hour near the top of the hour, with SPECI reports in between when conditions change significantly. TAFs are issued four times a day and amended whenever the forecast no longer represents expected conditions.

What do VFR, MVFR, IFR and LIFR mean?

They are flight categories based on ceiling and visibility. VFR is a ceiling above 3,000 feet and visibility above 5 miles; MVFR is 1,000 to 3,000 feet or 3 to 5 miles; IFR is 500 to below 1,000 feet or 1 to less than 3 miles; LIFR is below 500 feet or less than 1 mile.

Can a student pilot fly solo in marginal VFR?

The regulations set a floor, not a recommendation. 14 CFR 61.89 bars a student from acting as pilot in command with flight or surface visibility below 3 statute miles by day or 5 at night, and 14 CFR 91.155 sets visibility, cloud clearance and ceiling minimums by airspace. Limitations your instructor writes in your logbook apply too.

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