Reading METARs
9 min readLesson 42 of 59
By the end of this lesson you'll be able to:
- Decode a METAR from start to finish
- Find the ceiling and decide if conditions are VFR
- Know which units each part uses
A METAR is an aviation routine weather report, usually issued every hour. Here's an example:
METAR KOGD 171753Z 32012G18KT 10SM FEW045 BKN080 22/04 A3008 RMK AO2
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| KOGD | Station: Ogden-Hinckley Airport |
| 171753Z | Day 17, 1753 Zulu (UTC) time |
| 32012G18KT | Wind from 320° true at 12 knots, gusting 18 |
| 10SM | Visibility 10 statute miles |
| FEW045 BKN080 | Few clouds at 4,500 ft AGL, broken at 8,000 ft AGL |
| 22/04 | Temperature 22°C, dewpoint 4°C |
| A3008 | Altimeter setting 30.08 inHg |
| RMK AO2 | Remarks: automated station with a precipitation sensor |
Sky cover and the ceiling
- SKC/CLR: clear
- FEW: 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky
- SCT (scattered): 3/8 to 4/8
- BKN (broken): 5/8 to 7/8
- OVC (overcast): 8/8
- VV: vertical visibility into an obscuration
The ceiling is the lowest layer reported as broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility into an obscuration. In the example, the ceiling is 8,000 feet. Cloud heights in METARs are AGL.
Weather codes
Intensity: - light, no sign moderate, + heavy. Common codes: RA rain, SN snow, DZ drizzle, BR mist, FG fog, HZ haze, TS thunderstorm, SH showers, FZ freezing, VC in the vicinity. "-TSRA" is a thunderstorm with light rain.
Winds are true in METARs and TAFs, but magnetic in ATIS and from the tower. Runway numbers are magnetic, so remember the difference when you figure crosswinds from a METAR.
Key takeaways
- METAR order: station, time (Z), wind (true), visibility (SM), weather, sky (AGL), temp/dewpoint (°C), altimeter.
- Ceiling = lowest BKN, OVC or VV.
- FEW 1-2/8, SCT 3-4/8, BKN 5-7/8, OVC 8/8.
What the examiner may ask
Practice answering out loud before you open each answer.
Decode this METAR for me.
Go group by group: station, time in Zulu, wind (true), visibility, weather, sky condition (AGL), temperature/dewpoint, altimeter, remarks.
What is the ceiling?
The lowest broken or overcast layer, or vertical visibility.
Is the weather VFR for your flight?
Compare visibility and ceiling with the airspace minimums and your personal minimums.
Common mistakes
- Calling a scattered layer a ceiling.
- Using METAR winds (true) as if they were magnetic for runway crosswind calculations.
- Forgetting that times are UTC.
Read it in the FAA sources
Go deeper on the site
Lesson check
Get every question right to complete the lesson. Take your time; wrong answers explain why.
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