METAR decoder and trainer
A METAR is a routine aviation weather report read left to right: station identifier, day and time in UTC (Z), wind direction/speed/gusts in knots, visibility in statute miles, present weather codes (e.g. -RA light rain, BR mist, TS thunderstorm), cloud layers with heights in hundreds of feet AGL (BKN or OVC set the ceiling), temperature/dew point in °C, and altimeter in inches of mercury (A2992 = 29.92). SPECI is an unscheduled report for significant changes.
| Field | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Type | METAR | Routine hourly report |
| Station | KDEN | ICAO station identifier KDEN |
| Time | 211753Z | Day 21 of the month, 17:53 UTC (Zulu) |
| Wind | 08012G20KT | From 080° true at 12 knots, gusting 20 knots |
| Visibility | 10SM | 10 statute miles |
| Sky | SCT045 | Scattered (3–4 oktas) at 4500 ft AGL |
| Sky | BKN110 | Broken (5–7 oktas) — ceiling at 11000 ft AGL |
| Temp / dew point | 18/M02 | Temperature 18°C, dew point -02°C |
| Altimeter | A3011 | 30.11 inHg |
| Remarks | RMK AO2 | Remarks section (e.g. AO2 = automated with precipitation sensor, SLP = sea-level pressure, T-group = precise temperature) |
Training aid only. For flight planning use official aviation weather products.
How this works
Fields are parsed in the order defined by FAA Advisory Circular 00-45H (Aviation Weather Services): type, station, time, modifier, wind, visibility, RVR, present weather, sky condition, temperature/dew point, altimeter, remarks. Cloud heights are AGL in hundreds of feet; only BKN, OVC and VV count as a ceiling. A temperature–dew point spread of 2 °C or less is flagged because it signals fog or low cloud, a classic Part 107 weather item. The decoder is a study aid; use official products (aviationweather.gov) for actual flight decisions.
Worked examples
KDEN 211753Z 08012G20KT 10SM SCT045 BKN110 18/M02 A3011 → Denver, 21st at 17:53Z, wind 080° at 12 gusting 20 kt, 10 SM visibility, scattered at 4,500 ft, broken (ceiling) at 11,000 ft, 18 °C / −2 °C, 30.11 inHg.
KSFO 211456Z 27006KT 1/2SM FG VV002 12/12 A3020 → visibility half a mile in fog, indefinite ceiling 200 ft, temperature equals dew point: no VLOS flying here.
Study the topic
- Weather (14% of the exam) · practice questions
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Primary references
- Advisory Circular 00-45H, Aviation Weather Services (METAR/TAF formats) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21
- Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B, April 2021) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21