11.metar and Taf

METAR AND TAF CODES
Introduction
• The Aircrew Quick Reference Guide to the METAR and TAF Codes is designed to
help aircrews quickly and clearly translate METAR and TAF codes into plain
language.
• METAR codes report observed weather conditions by airfield; TAF codes report
forecasted weather conditions by airfield. Both codes are lines of text made up of
data groups (or just “groups”) separated by spaces.
• Some data groups are not discussed because they are intended for use by the
weather community and are not useful for flight planning. Differences between
military and civilian renderings of the code are discussed where appropriate.
• Aircrews should check METAR/TAF codes thoroughly for all hazards to flying safety,
including thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, wind shear, and other elements that
may significantly affect their aircraft.
METAR REPORT TYPE
• What kind of report is this?
METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
SPECI KBLV 011715Z 25015G30KT 210V290 3SM
BR BKN015 01/M01 A2984 RMK SLP034
• METAR (Aviation Routine Weather Report) refers to a scheduled observation taken

between 55-59 minutes past the hour (also referred to as a routine hourly
observation).
• SPECI (Special Report) refers to an unscheduled observation that met a predefined
criteria (such as a change from VFR to IFR) and may be taken at 00-54 minutes past
the hour.
• When SPECI criteria are met during the hourly observation time window (55-59
minutes past the hour), no special indication is made.
• The new weather conditions are encoded in a standard METAR report.
METAR LOCATION AND DATE
• How do I determine the location and the date and time of issuance?

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• The 4-character ICAO identifier that follows the report type is the location
identifier; KBLV (Scott AFB) is the location/station in this example.
• The 7-character group following the ICAO identifier is the date and time of
issuance. The first two digits are the date; the last four digits are the
coordinated universal time (UTC), sometimes called “zulu time.”
• In this example, 01 is the first day of the month, and 1657Z is 1657 UTC.
METAR AUTO/COR
• What does AUTO and/or COR mean, if included?

Let’s look at the meanings of AUTO and COR separately.
METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290

3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984 RMK
A02A SLP034
• AUTO refers to an automated observation with measurements taken by

equipment such as the domestic Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)
or Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS), or the Air Force’s Automated
Meteorological Station (AMS), also known as AN/FMQ-19.
• AO1 denotes an observation taken by equipment lacking a precipitation type
discriminator (rain vs. snow).
• AO2 denotes an observation taken by standard equipment with a full complement
of sensors. A02A denotes an automated observation augmented by a human
observer.
METAR AUTO/COR
METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO COR 25015G30KT

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG FU BKN005 01/M01
A2984 RMK A02A SLP034 COR 1725
• COR indicates a corrected observation. Disregard the previous
transmission. COR 1725 means that the correction was transmitted at
1725Z.
METAR WIND
• How do I determine the wind speed and direction?

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• The data group followed by KT (knots) is the wind.
• The first three digits are the true direction to the nearest 10
degrees from which the wind is blowing.
• The next two digits are the sustained speed. If gusts are present,
the next two or three digits following the “G” are the “gust,” the
maximum wind speed in the last ten minutes.
• In this example, the 25015G30KT group is the wind direction and
speed. Here, the wind is blowing from 250 degrees (true) at a
sustained speed of 15 knots with 30-knot gusts.
METAR WIND VARIABILITY
• How do I determine if the wind is varying between directions?

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• A wind variability group will be reported if the wind is variable by 60 degrees
or more and the speed is greater than 6 knots.
• This remark will contain the extremes of the wind directions, separated by “V.”
• In this example, 210V290 are reads, “wind direction varying between 210 and
290.”
METAR VISIBILITY
• How do I determine the prevailing visibility?

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• In this example, 3/8SM (3/8 of a statute mile) is the prevailing visibility.
• Prevailing visibility is the greatest horizontal visibility observed throughout
at least half the horizon circle, and is not necessarily continuous.
• Sector visibility will be reported in the remarks section if it differs from the
prevailing visibility and is less than 3 miles.
METAR EDDF 071320Z 22008KT 9999 SCT036
SCT090 BKN280 19/10 Q1011 NOSIG
• At some locations, visibility is reported in meters, and SM is omitted. The
largest reportable metric value is 9999. This value represents a visibility
greater than 9000 meters (7 SM or more).
METAR RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE
‟RVR”
A02 SLP034
• Runway Visual Range (RVR) follows the visibility and begins with the
letter “R.” The runway heading will follow the “R,” and in this
example, “32L” represents runway 32-Left (C-Center, R-Right).
• The last four digits report the visibility in feet.
• In this example, R32L/1000FT reads, “runway visual range for
runway 32 Left is 1,000 ft.”
• At some locations, visibility is reported in meters, and FT is omitted
from the RVR group. The same RVR at an overseas location would
appear as R32L/0300 and read, “runway visual range for 32 Left is
300 meters.”
METAR RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE
‟RVR”
• How would I decode the formats M0600FT or P6000FT or R06L2000V4000FT (not
in example above)?
METAR Type of Weather
• How do I determine if there is any weather?
210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• If a weather element (precipitation or obstruction to visibility) is
observed, it will be found in the data group following the visibility.
• The absence of a weather element group indicates that no
precipitation or obstruction to visibility is occurring at the time of
the observation. In this example, “FG” represents “Fog.”
• To methodically decode a weather group, look for six key elements
(depending on the phenomena, one or more may be omitted).
• In order, these elements are: Intensity (symbol preceding the code),
Proximity, Descriptor, Precipitation Description, Obscuration
(other than precipitation), and Other.
METAR Weather Obscuration
Table
Table
Table
METAR Clouds
• How do I determine the layers of clouds?
A02 SLP034
• Each observed cloud layer is encoded in a cloud group with sky coverage,
altitude of the cloud base above ground level (AGL), and sometimes cloud
type.
• The first three letters of each cloud group denote sky coverage as in the
table below. In the example above, BKN indicates broken cloud coverage.
• Then the cloud base of each layer is reported in hundreds of feet AGL.
Append two zeros to the value given. In this example, 005 represents the
value 500 feet AGL.
• Finally, codes for convective cloud types are appended. CB stands for
cumulonimbus; TCU stands for towering cumulus.
METAR Clouds
• If surface-based clouds or other surface-based obscurations (e.g., smoke, haze) are
reported (i.e., cloud base is 000), then vertical visibility, where available, is also
reported in hundreds of feet, following the letters, VV. When the lowest broken or
overcast cloud base is indefinite, vertical visibility determines the ceiling.
METAR Temperature/
Dewpoint
• How do I determine the current temperature
and dewpoint?
210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• The group following the sky condition is the temperature and
dewpoint information in degrees Celsius.
• In this example, 01 is the temperature in degrees Celsius
• (1ºC), and M01 is the dewpoint in degrees Celsius (-1ºC).
• An “M” in the temperature field means “minus” (below zero).
METAR Altimeter Setting

210V290 3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005
01/M01 A2984 RMK A02 SLP034
• The 5-character group beginning with A, following the temperature/dewpoint
group is the altimeter setting in inches and hundredths of an inch of mercury
(inches Hg), used in the United States and at US airfields overseas. In this
example, A2984 represents a current altimeter setting of 29.84 inches Hg.
METAR Altimeter Setting

SCT090 BKN280 19/10 Q1011 NOSIG
• The 5-character group beginning with Q, following the
temperature/dewpoint group is the altimeter setting in hectopascals
(hPa), used in some overseas locations.
• A hectopascal is equivalent to a millibar (mb). In this example, Q1011
represents a current altimeter setting of 1011 hPa or 1011 mb.
METAR Remarks, US

3/8SM R32L/1000FT FG BKN005 01/M01 A2984
RMK A02 SLP034
• In METAR reports from the United States and from overseas US military airfields,
RMK indicates the start of the Remarks section, following the altimeter setting.
• Remarks contain any pertinent information beyond the standard fields provided,
and can be either encoded or spelled out in plain language .
• In this example, the remark, SLP034, is the sea level pressure in millibars (or
hectopascals) to the nearest tenth.
• To decode, place a “10” or “9” before the first digit (use a 9 if the 3-digit value
is 500 or more), and place a decimal point before the last digit.
• The sea level pressure remark in the above example would read “current sea
level pressure of 1003.4 millibars.”
METAR Remarks, Overseas
• What is supplemental information?

• Overseas (except at US military installations), METAR remarks are called
“supplemental information.” Supplemental information follows the altimeter
setting and uses remark codes like US remarks.
• Supplemental information can also include:
- recent weather elements, coded with a leading RE,
- sea surface temperature in ºC and sea state 0-9, coded W##/S#,
- runway state, coded as an 8-digit numerical group determined by
• regional air navigation agreement, and/or
- a 2-hour forecast trend as described below.

SCT090 BKN280 19/10 Q1011 NOSIG
• Overseas METAR forecast trend groups either start with BECMG or TEMPO,
consistent with TAF coding conventions, or they consist entirely of NOSIG,
which indicates that no significant changes in reportable weather elements
are expected during the 2 hours following the reported observation.
METARs issued by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) observers have, as

:
the last data group, a color code for ceiling and visibility data
METAR Remarks Decode
Table
TAF Report type
• What type of report is this?
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 WS010/18040KT
QNH2960INS
BECMG 1314 16010KT 3200 -SHRA OVC020 QNH2959INS
TEMPO 1416 21015G30KT 1600 TSRA BKN008CB OVC020
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304 QNH2958INS
BECMG 1819 31012G22KT 9999 NSW SCT040 WSCONDS 520004
QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS T08/18Z M01/11Z
• TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a weather forecast at an airport or military
base for a specific period (usually 24 hours).
TAF Report type
TAF
KBLV AMD 051812 21015G30KT 0800 TSRA BKN008CB OVC020
BECMG 1920 31012G22KT 9999 NSW SCT040 520004 QNH2952INS
AMD 1820
• AMD (Amended Aerodrome Forecast) is issued because the previous version is no

longer representative of the current or expected weather.
• The amended TAF supersedes the previous TAF.
• In the above example, AMD 1820 indicates that the forecast was amended at
1820Z. Always refer to the date/time group at the end of the TAF to determine the
most current forecast.
TAF Report type
TAF
KBLV AMD COR 051812 21015G30KT 0800 TSRA BKN005CB
OVC020
COR 1925
• COR (Corrected Aerodrome Forecast) is a TAF that has been corrected.

When a corrected TAF is issued, disregard previous TAFs.
• In the above example, COR 1925 indicates that the amended forecast was
corrected at 1925Z.
• Always refer to the date/time group at the end of the TAF for the most
current forecast.
TAF Location
• How do I determine the location?
TAF
QNH2960INS
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
BECMG 1819 31012G22KT 9999 NSW SCT040 WSCONDS
520004 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS T08/18Z
M01/11Z
• The 4-character ICAO identifier that follows the report type is the location
identifier. KBLV (Scott AFB, IL) is the location/station.
TAF Date/Time
• How do I determine the date and valid times of the forecast?
TAF
QNH2960INS
QNH2952INS
• In a military TAF, the group following the ICAO identifier is the valid time of the
forecast. Preparation date and time are not included.
• In this KBLV example, 050606 indicates that the forecast valid time is from 0600Z
on the 5th day of the month to 0600Z on the 6th.
TAF Date/Time
TAF
KSTL 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 WS010/18025KT
TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR
FM 1600 16010KT P6SM NSW SKC
BECMG 2224 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020
PROB40 0006 2SM TSRA OVC008CB
BECMG 0608 21015KT P6SM NSW SCT040
• Civilian forecasters encode the date/time group differently from military
forecasters. In a civilian TAF, two groupings follow the ICAO identifier: the
date and time the forecast was prepared, then the date and the
beginning/ending hours that the forecast is valid.
• In the KSTL example, 05 is the day of the month and 1130Z is the UTC
time of issuance. 051212 indicates that the forecast is valid from 1200Z
on the 5th day of the month to 1200Z on the 6th.
TAF Time and Type of
Change Expected
• How do I determine the time and type of changes that will occur?
TAF
KSTL 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030
WS010/18025KT
BECMG 0608 21015KT P6SM NSW SCT040
• Civilian and military forecasters alike encode the time and type of change
expected with TEMPO, FM, and BECMG groups.
• TEMPO represents a temporary condition. In this example, TEMPO 1316 1
1/2SM BR reads, “Temporary condition between 1300Z and 1600Z of 1 1/2
statute mile visibility in mist.” Only the temporary changing conditions are
included in TEMPO groups.
TAF Time and Type of
Change Expected
• FM means “from” and indicates a rapid weather change where all data groups in
the previous line are superseded. In this example, FM 1600 reads, “From 1600Z …”
• BECMG means “becoming” or a “gradual change” in meteorological conditions
and becomes the predominant group by the end time listed.
• In this example, BECMG 2224 reads “Becoming from 2200Z to 2400Z.”
• PROB40 (civilian use only) represents a 40% probability or chance of conditions
occurring along with associated weather conditions (wind, visibility, sky
conditions).
• In this example, PROB40 0006 2SM TSRA 0VCOO8CB reads, “40% chance between
0000Z and 0600Z of visibility 2 statute miles in moderate thunderstorms, 800
overcast cumulonimbus clouds.”
TAF Wind
TAF
QNH2960INS
QNH2952INS
• The data group after the valid time and followed by KT(knots) is the forecast wind
speed.
• The first three digits within a wind group are the true direction to the
nearest 10 degrees from which the wind will blow.
• The next two digits are the sustained speed.
• If gusts are forecasted, the next two or three digits following the “G” are
the “gust,” the maximum wind speed in a ten-minute window.
• In this example, 14005KT, 16010KT, 21015G30KT, 29008KT, 31012G22KT,
and 30008KT are the wind direction and speed groups.
• In the first wind group, the wind is forecasted to blow from 140 degrees
(true) at a sustained speed of 05 knots. No gust is forecasted.
TAF Wind
TAF
QNH2960INS
QNH2952INS
• The data group after the valid time and followed by KT(knots) is the forecast wind
speed.
TAF Visibility
• How do I determine the forecast visibility?
TAF
QNH2960INS
QNH2952INS
• In the military and at overseas locations, visibility is forecasted in meters.
• The 4-character group following the wind is the forecast visibility. In the KBLV example, 8000,
3200, 1600, 3200, and 9999 are the forecast visibilities in meters. 9999 is the greatest value
forecasted. A value of 9999 indicates a forecast visibility of greater than 9000 meters (7
statute miles or greater).
• Overseas locations may use the contraction “CAVOK” (ceiling and visibility OK). CAVOK is
used when there is no significant weather, the visibility is 10 km or greater, and the ceilings
are greater than 5,000 ft.
TAF Visibility
TAF
KSTL 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 WS010/18025KT
BECOMG 0608 21015KT P6SM NSW SCT040
• In the CONUS, civilian TAFS forecast visibility in statute miles up to 6 statute

miles, beyond which P6SM is used to indicate forecast visibility greater than
6 statute miles.
TAF Type of
Weather
• How do I determine if there is any forecast weather?
TAF
QNH2960INS
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
520004 QNH2952INS
M01/11Z
• The weather data group (forecast precipitation or obstruction to visibility)
follows the visibility data group.
TAF Type of
Weather
• In this example, BR means “mist,” -SHRA means “light rain showers,” TSRA means
a “thunderstorm with moderate rain,” and -RA means “light rain.”
• NSW (no significant weather) is used to indicate that the weather or obscuration
listed in the previous group is no longer expected to occur.
• Absence of a weather or obscuration group means that no weather or obscuration
is expected during the forecast period.
• To methodically decode a weather group, look for six key elements (depending on
the phenomena, one or more may be omitted).
• In order, these elements are: Intensity (symbol preceding the code), Proximity,
Descriptor, Precipitation Description, Obscuration(other than precipitation) and
Other.
TAF Clouds
• How do I determine the layers of forecast clouds?
TAF
QNH2960INS
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
520004 QNH2952INS
M01/11Z
TAF Clouds
• Cloud height is always forecasted in hundreds of feet. Add two zeros to the end of the value
given. In this example, FEW030, BKN008CB, OVC020, and SKC represent the values 3,000
few, 2,000 overcast, 800 broken cumulonimbus, and sky clear, respectively.
• In place of cloud layers, vertical visibility in hundreds of feet will appear in a TAF cloud group
when the sky is forecast to be totally obscured. For example, VV002 represents a vertical
visibility of 200 feet. Vertical visibility in a TAF represents the forecast ceiling.
TAF Wind Shear
• How do I determine if wind shear is in the forecast?
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030
WS010/18040KT QNH2960INS
BECMG 1314 16010KT 3200 -SHRA OVC020
QNH2959INS
TEMPO 1416 21015G30KT 1600 TSRA BKN008CB
OVC020
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
520004 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS
T08/18Z M01/11Z
TAF Wind Shear
• A wind shear group is included if non-convective low-level winds (up to
2,000 feet) will change in speed and/or direction and result in a shearing
action.
• WS indicates forecast wind shear and is followed by a 3-digit height in
hundreds of feet AGL, a slant character, ”/,” and forecast wind at the
height indicated.
• WS010/18040KT reads, “forecast wind shear at 1,000 feet above the
station; wind at 1,000 feet is from 180 degrees (true) at 40 knots.”
• The remark WSCONDS is used to indicate the potential for wind shear
when there is not enough information available to reliably predict the
height, direction and speed of the wind shear. WSCONDS is normally used
beyond the first 6 hours of the TAF.
• For some locations, the wind shear group will follow the minimum
altimeter setting group (in the TAF remarks) instead of following the cloud
group.
TAF Icing
• How do I determine forecast icing conditions?
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 QNH2960INS
• If forecasted, the icing group will be prefixed by the number 6, and follows
the cloud group. To decode, follow these instructions:
1. Find the icing designator “6” following the cloud group (620304).
2. The next digit gives icing type and intensity (620304).
3. The next three digits give the base of the icing layer in hundreds of feet
(620304).
4. The last digit provides the icing layer depth in thousands of feet
(620304), so add this value to the base height to determine the top limit
of the icing conditions.
• In the above example, the icing forecast will read, “light rime icing (in
cloud) from 3,000 to 7,000 feet.”
TAF Icing
TAF Turbulence
• How do I determine forecast turbulence conditions?
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030 QNH2960INS
• If forecasted, the turbulence code will be prefixed by the number 5, and
will follow the cloud or icing group. To decode, follow these instructions:
1. Look for the turbulence designator “5” that follows the cloud or icing
group (520004).
2. The next digit will determine the intensity (520004).
3. The next three digits will determine the base limit of the turbulence
layer in hundreds of feet AGL (520004).
4. The last digit will determine the turbulence layer depth in thousands of
feet (520004), so add this value to the base height to determine the top
limit of the turbulence conditions.
• In the above example, the turbulence forecast will read, “occasional
moderate turbulence in clear air from the surface to 4,000 feet.”
TAF Turbulence
TAF Minimum
Altimeter Setting
TAF
KBLV 051212 14005KT 8000 BR FEW030
WS010/18040KT QNH2960INS
BECMG 1314 16010KT 3200 -SHRA OVC020
QNH2959INS
TEMPO 1416 21015G30KT 1600 TSRA BKN008CB
OVC020
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
BECMG 1819 31012G22KT 9999 NSW SCT040
WSCONDS 520004 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS
T08/18Z M01/11Z
• Forecast minimum altimeter settings are only found in military forecasts. These are near the
end of the line, beginning with QNH (minimum) and ending with INS (inches).
• In this example, QNH2960INS, QNH2959INS, QNH2958INS, QNH2952INS, and QNH2950INS
are read as minimum altimeter settings of 29.60, 29.59, 29.58, 29.52, and 29.50 inches of
mercury, respectively.
TAF Temperatures
• How do I determine the forecast temperatures?

TAF
QNH2960INS
BECMG 1617 29008KT 3200 -RA OVC030 620304
QNH2958INS
520004 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2021 30008KT 9999 SKC QNH2950INS TM08/18Z
01/11Z
TAF Temperatures
• Forecast temperatures for the forecast period are routinely found only in military
TAFs. They are found on the last line, following the minimum altimeter, beginning
with the designator “T,” maximum temperature first
• In this example, 08/18Z indicates a forecast maximum temperature of 8°C at
1800Z, and TM01/11Z indicates a forecast minimum temperature of -1°C at
1100Z.

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METAR AND TAF CODES

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT

• METAR (Aviation Routine Weather Report) refers to a scheduled observation taken

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT

• What does AUTO and/or COR mean, if included?

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290

• AUTO refers to an automated observation with measurements taken by

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO COR 25015G30KT

• How do I determine the wind speed and direction?

• How do I determine if the wind is varying between directions?

• How do I determine the prevailing visibility?

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT

METAR EDDF 071320Z 22008KT 9999 SCT036

METAR KBLV 011657Z AUTO 25015G30KT 210V290

• What is supplemental information?

METAR EDDF 071320Z 22008KT 9999 SCT036

METARs issued by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) observers have, as

• AMD (Amended Aerodrome Forecast) is issued because the previous version is no

• COR (Corrected Aerodrome Forecast) is a TAF that has been corrected.

• In the CONUS, civilian TAFS forecast visibility in statute miles up to 6 statute

• How do I determine the forecast temperatures?

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