How to Read a METAR

How to Read a Meteorological Actual Report (METAR)

METAR Data is quite easy to read. The following explains how to read the METAR. There are some exceptions, especially US METAR Code.

This is an example of METAR code:

PHNL 151630Z 18011G20KT 150V210 0700 R15/0700 R33/P1500 +TSRA SCT009 BKN015CB 05/M01 Q0800 BECMG 9999 NSW SCT015

METAR code is made up of several sections. The following text describes what each section is, and the code used in this sections.

Section 1. PHNL
This section is the ICAO of the airport. In this case PHNL is the ICAO code for Honolulu Hawaii.

Section 2. 151630Z
This section is the date and time. In the example the date is the 15th and the time 1630Z. Z means GMT.

Section 3. 18011G20KT
The first 3 digits is the wind direction in degrees. So in this example, 180 means 180 degrees. If 000 is shown it means wind Calm. If VRB is shown it means wind variable. The next 2 digits (11) is the wind speed in KT. The following figures (G20) is the gust speed (if applicable) The units are then shown. KT that means knots and MPS is metres per second.

Section 4. 150V210
This is the direction in which the wind is varying. In this example, wind is varying between 150 degrees and 210 degrees.

Section 5. 0700
This is the visibility in metres. 9999 = 10km or more, 3000 = 3000m, 0800 = 800m, 0000 = Less than 50m. Some places use statute miles in which case this visibility would be given with SM on the end, eg. 5SM (5 statute miles).

Section 6. R15/0800 R33/P1500
This is the Runway Visual Range (RVR) and is usually only given if the visibility is 2000m or less. R15 means the runway number. R15 = Runway 15, R27R = Runway 27 Right etc. /0700 is the visibility in metres. /0700 = 700m. If the visibility is prefixed with P, this means more than (P1500 = More than 1500m). If the visibility is followed by D it means decreasing, N means unchanged Sometimes RVR's will be quoted as varying between 2 visibilities (a maximum and minimum in the 30 minute period). This is shown like this... 0700V1100 (varying between 700m and 1100m)

Section 7. +TSRA
This is the current weather.

Section 8. SCT009 BKN015CB.
These are the cloud layers and heights. The first three letters are the cloud cover of the layer. CLR or SKC or NSC means sky clear, FEW means few cloud (1/8 or 2/8), SCT means Scattered cloud (3/8 or 4/8), BKN means Broken cloud (5/8, 6/8 or 7/8), OVC means Overcast cloud (8/8), VV means Sky Obscured (followed by the vertical visibility in feet /// = not measured, 001 = 100ft, 002 = 200ft etc.). The three figures are the height of the cloud in hundreds of feet. 000 = Below 100ft, 001 = 100ft, 002 = 200ft etc. If CB follows the cloud layer and height, it means the cloud is Cumulonimbus cloud. If TCU follows it means Towering Cumulus.

Section 9. 05/M01
This is the Temperature and Dew Point in celcius. The temperature is the first 2 figures. In the example, 05 means 5C. The last two figures (after the /) is the Dew Point. Minus temperatures are prefixed by an M. So M01 = - 1C

Section 10. Q0800
This is the Sea level pressure (QNH) in millibars. Q0800 = 800mb, Q1000 would be 1000mb.

Section 11. BECMG 9999 NSW.
This is the trend forecast for the next two hours. BECMG = Becoming, TEMPO = Temporarily, NOSIG = No Significant Change. This is followed by trend (also in METAR code following the rules above). This example would read "Becoming 10km or more, No Significant Weather (NSW), Scattered cloud at 1500ft".Sometimes the trend is prefixed by the letters FM (From) or TIL (Unitl) and a time.

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Present Weather Codes

DZ= DRIZZLE
RA= RAIN
SN= SNOW
GS= SMALL OR SOFT HAIL
GR= HAIL
PE= ICE PELLETS
IC= ICE CRYSTALS
TS= THUNDERSTORM
HZ= HAZE
BR= MIST
FG= FOG
FU= SMOKE
SS= SANDSTORM
DS= DUSTSTORM
PO= DUST DEVILS
DU= DUST
SA= SAND
SQ= SQUALL
FC= FUNNEL CLOUD (Tornado or Waterspout or similar)
UP= UNKNOWN PRECIPITATION

The following codes can only be put before one of the above codes. They can't be used on there own.

- = LIGHT
(no symbol)= MODERATE
+ = HEAVY
RE= RECENT
FZ= FREEZING
BL= BLOWING
DR= DRIFTING

The codes can be combined, or used individually. Below, you�ll find some examples:
+SHRA= HEAVY SHOWERS of RAIN
RASN= SLEET (RAIN & SNOW)
TSGR= THUNDERSTORM WITH HAIL
BLSN= BLOWING SNOW
-FZRA= LIGHT FREEZING RAIN
RADZ= RAIN & DRIZZLE
RERA= RECENT RAIN