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Airlines

How to Read METAR Reports — A Pilot's Guide

Captain James Miller Jun 16, 2026 · 3 min read · — · Aviation Shop Newsroom

Learn how to read a METAR step by step — the anatomy of the report, decoded examples, common abbreviations, and how METAR differs from TAF.

A METAR is aviation’s standard hourly weather report, and reading one fluently is a core pilot skill. At first the string of codes looks intimidating, but it follows a strict order, so once you know the pattern it decodes quickly. Here is how to read a METAR, with examples. For instant decoding, try our free METAR decoder tool.

What a METAR is for

METAR stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report — an observation of current conditions at an airport, usually issued each hour. Pilots use it to assess the weather they will actually meet on departure or arrival.

The anatomy of a METAR

A METAR is read left to right in a fixed sequence:

Station — the four-letter ICAO code (e.g., EGLL for London Heathrow).
Time — day and time in UTC, ending in Z (e.g., 121350Z).
Wind — direction and speed (e.g., 24015KT = from 240° at 15 knots).
Visibility — in metres or statute miles.
Weather — codes such as RA (rain), SN (snow), BR (mist), TS (thunderstorm).
Cloud — coverage and height (e.g., BKN012 = broken at 1,200 ft).
Temperature / dew point — in Celsius (e.g., 14/09).
Pressure — altimeter setting (Q1013 or A2992).

A decoded example

EGLL 121350Z 24015KT 9999 FEW035 14/09 Q1013 decodes as: London Heathrow, on the 12th at 13:50 UTC, wind from 240° at 15 knots, visibility 10 km or more, few clouds at 3,500 ft, temperature 14°C, dew point 9°C, pressure 1013 hPa. A calm, fair-weather report.

Common abbreviations

Key codes to memorise include RA (rain), SN (snow), BR (mist), FG (fog), TS (thunderstorm), and cloud amounts FEW, SCT (scattered), BKN (broken) and OVC (overcast). A minus sign means light, a plus sign means heavy.

METAR vs TAF

A METAR is an observation of current conditions; a TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a forecast for the coming hours. Pilots use METAR for the now and TAF for planning ahead.

Frequently asked questions

How do you read a METAR?

Read it in order: station, time (UTC), wind, visibility, weather, cloud, temperature/dew point and pressure. Each element follows a fixed format, so the same pattern repeats every time.