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How to Read METAR and TAF Reports

Published on · 7 min read

Pilot reviewing aviation weather reports on a tablet

What is a METAR?

A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized weather observation issued at most airports, typically every 30 to 60 minutes. It tells you the current weather at a specific airfield: wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, pressure, and any significant weather.

METARs are written in a compact coded format designed for fast reading by pilots. It looks intimidating at first — but once you know the structure, it becomes second nature.

Anatomy of a METAR

Every METAR follows the same order. Here's the sequence:

  1. Station — 4-letter ICAO code (e.g., LFPG for Paris CDG).
  2. Time — day of month + Zulu time (e.g., 151250Z = 15th at 12:50 UTC).
  3. Wind — direction (3 digits) + speed (2 digits) + gusts. e.g., 24015KT = 240° at 15 knots.
  4. Visibility — in meters or statute miles. e.g., 9999 = 10 km or more.
  5. Weather — rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms. e.g., -RA = light rain.
  6. Clouds — FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC + altitude in hundreds of feet. e.g., BKN025 = broken at 2,500 ft.
  7. Temperature / Dew point — e.g., 18/12 = 18°C, dew point 12°C.
  8. QNH — altimeter setting. e.g., Q1013 = 1013 hPa. In US: A2992 = 29.92 inHg.

Real example decoded

LFPG 151250Z 24015KT 9999 SCT025 BKN040 18/12 Q1013 NOSIG
  • LFPG — Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
  • 151250Z — 15th of the month, 12:50 UTC.
  • 24015KT — wind from 240° at 15 knots.
  • 9999 — visibility 10 km or more.
  • SCT025 BKN040 — scattered clouds at 2,500 ft, broken at 4,000 ft.
  • 18/12 — temperature 18°C, dew point 12°C.
  • Q1013 — QNH 1013 hPa.
  • NOSIG — no significant change expected in the next 2 hours.

Reading it in plain English: "At Paris CDG at 12:50 UTC, wind is from 240° at 15 knots, visibility is 10 km or more, there are scattered clouds at 2,500 ft and broken clouds at 4,000 ft, temperature is 18°C with a dew point of 12°C, QNH is 1013 hPa, no significant change expected."

TAF explained

A TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is the forecast equivalent of a METAR. It covers a 9 to 30-hour period and uses the same abbreviations, with a few extras:

  • FM — "from" — indicates a rapid change starting at a specific time (e.g., FM151800 = from 15th at 18:00 UTC).
  • TEMPO — temporary fluctuations expected for less than 1 hour at a time.
  • BECMG — gradual change over a period.
  • PROB30 / PROB40 — probability of occurrence (30% or 40%).

Example TAF

TAF LFPG 151100Z 1512/1618 24012KT 9999 SCT030
  TEMPO 1515/1519 26020G35KT
  BECMG 1520/1522 30008KT

In plain English: from the 15th at 12:00 UTC to the 16th at 18:00 UTC, wind from 240° at 12 kt, visibility 10 km+, scattered clouds at 3,000 ft. Temporarily between 15:00 and 19:00 UTC, wind from 260° at 20 kt gusting 35 kt. Becoming between 20:00 and 22:00 UTC, wind from 300° at 8 kt.

Common abbreviations cheat sheet

Code Meaning
-RA / +RALight / heavy rain
BRMist (visibility 1–5 km)
FGFog (visibility < 1 km)
TSThunderstorm
SNSnow
FEW / SCT / BKN / OVCFew (1-2 oktas) / Scattered (3-4) / Broken (5-7) / Overcast (8)
CAVOKCeiling & Visibility OK (visibility 10 km+, no clouds below 5,000 ft, no significant weather)
NOSIGNo significant change expected
VRBVariable wind direction

Mistakes to avoid

  1. Confusing UTC with local time — always convert. A 15Z report at 09:00 local in New York is different than 15:00 local.
  2. Forgetting gusts — 24020G35KT is very different from 24020KT.
  3. Ignoring TEMPO — a temporary change can ruin your approach.
  4. Skipping the TAF — METAR is now, TAF is later. You need both.
  5. Relying on a single station — check departure, destination, and alternate.

Frequently asked questions

How often are METARs issued?

Typically every 30 minutes (some airports hourly), plus special reports (SPECI) when conditions change significantly.

What's the difference between METAR and TAF?

METAR = current observed weather. TAF = forecast for the next 9–30 hours.

Where can I get METARs?

From NOAA Aviation Weather Center, ForeFlight, or any aviation weather app. Always use an official source for flight planning.

Is CAVOK the same as 9999?

9999 only means visibility is 10 km or more. CAVOK adds: no clouds below 5,000 ft, no CB/TCU, no significant weather.

Log your weather-dependent flights

Record METAR conditions, IMC/VMC time, and instrument approaches directly in Pilot Logbook by AIRVENOR.

Discover Pilot Logbook →

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