Example METAR Breakdown
Here is a real-world METAR and what each element means:
| Element | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Station | KJFK | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| Time | 251756Z | 25th of the month, 17:56 UTC |
| Wind | 21015G25KT | From 210 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots |
| Visibility | 10SM | 10 statute miles (maximum visibility) |
| Clouds | FEW040 SCT080 BKN250 | Few at 4,000 ft, Scattered at 8,000 ft, Broken at 25,000 ft |
| Temp/Dew | 28/17 | Temperature 28 C, dew point 17 C |
| Altimeter | A2992 | Altimeter setting 29.92 inHg |
METAR Format Structure
Every METAR follows a standardized sequence of groups. Here is the format in order:
1. Station Identifier (ICAO Code)
A four-letter code identifying the airport. For example: KJFK (New York JFK), EGLL (London Heathrow), LFPG (Paris CDG). The prefix letter indicates the region: K = contiguous US, E = Northern Europe, L = Southern Europe, C = Canada.
2. Date/Time Group
Format: DDHHMMz where DD is the day of the month, HHMM is the time in UTC, and Z stands for Zulu (UTC). METARs are typically issued every 30 or 60 minutes, and special reports (SPECI) are issued when significant changes occur.
3. Wind
Format: dddssKT or dddssGggKT
- ddd - Direction in degrees (true north). VRB if variable.
- ss - Speed in knots (KT) or meters per second (MPS)
- Ggg - Gust speed, if applicable
- 00000KT - Calm wind
4. Visibility
Reported in statute miles (SM) in North America or meters elsewhere. 9999 means 10 km or more. If below 5,000m, runway visual range (RVR) may also be reported.
5. Weather Phenomena
Present weather uses standard codes:
| Qualifier | Meaning |
|---|---|
| - | Light |
| (none) | Moderate |
| + | Heavy |
| RA | Rain |
| SN | Snow |
| FG | Fog (visibility below 1 km) |
| BR | Mist (visibility 1-5 km) |
| TS | Thunderstorm |
| SH | Showers |
| FZ | Freezing |
| DZ | Drizzle |
| HZ | Haze |
6. Cloud Layers
Cloud coverage is reported using amount + height (in hundreds of feet AGL):
- SKC/CLR - Sky clear
- FEW - Few (1/8 to 2/8 coverage)
- SCT - Scattered (3/8 to 4/8)
- BKN - Broken (5/8 to 7/8)
- OVC - Overcast (8/8 coverage)
- CB suffix - Cumulonimbus (thunderstorm clouds)
- TCU suffix - Towering cumulus
7. Temperature and Dew Point
Reported as TT/Td in whole degrees Celsius. A prefix M indicates negative temperatures (e.g., M05/M10 is -5 C / -10 C).
8. Altimeter Setting
A followed by four digits in inches of mercury (inHg), or Q followed by four digits in hectopascals (hPa). For example, A2992 is 29.92 inHg; Q1013 is 1013 hPa.
9. Remarks (RMK)
Additional information follows the RMK keyword:
- AO1/AO2 - Type of automated station
- SLP - Sea level pressure (in tenths of hPa, add 1000 or 900)
- P0000 - Precipitation amount in the last hour
- T00280167 - Precise temperature and dew point
METAR vs. SPECI
A SPECI is a special METAR issued between regular observation times when significant weather changes occur, such as a sudden drop in visibility, wind shift, or thunderstorm onset. The format is identical to METAR.
Flight Categories from METAR
| Category | Ceiling | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| VFR | Above 3,000 ft | Greater than 5 SM |
| MVFR | 1,000 - 3,000 ft | 3 - 5 SM |
| IFR | 500 - 999 ft | 1 - 3 SM |
| LIFR | Below 500 ft | Less than 1 SM |