How to read a METAR & TAF

METAR vs TAF

A METAR is a current observation of the weather at an airport. A TAF is a forecast for the area around an airport. They use the same shorthand, so once you can read one you can read both.

Decode it field by field

Here's a sample METAR and what each part means:

1. KXYZ — the airport identifier.
2. 121853Z — day and time: the 12th at 1853 Zulu (UTC). Aviation weather always uses Zulu time.
3. 24015G25KT — wind from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 25. "VRB" means variable direction; "00000KT" is calm.
4. 10SM — visibility 10 statute miles.
5. BKN025 — broken clouds at 2,500 ft AGL (height is in hundreds of feet).
6. 18/12 — temperature 18°C, dewpoint 12°C. An "M" means minus (e.g. M03 = −3°C).
7. A2992 — altimeter setting 29.92 inHg.

Now decode a TAF

A TAF uses the same shorthand but adds a valid period and change groups that tell you when the weather is forecast to shift during your flight window:

1. TAF — marks it as a forecast, not a current observation (issued about every 6 hours).
2. 121130Z — issued the 12th at 1130 Zulu (UTC).
3. 1212/1312 — the valid period: from the 12th at 1200Z to the 13th at 1200Z (dayhour/dayhour).
4. 24012KT P6SM SCT040 — opening conditions: wind from 240° at 12 kt, visibility greater than 6 SM ("P6SM"), scattered clouds at 4,000 ft.
5. FM121800 … — FM = "from": at 1800Z it changes to wind 270° at 18 gusting 28 kt, >6 SM, broken at 2,500 ft.
6. TEMPO 1300/1304 3SM -SHRA — TEMPO = temporary dip between 0000–0400Z on the 13th: 3SM = visibility drops to 3 statute miles, and -SHRA = light (-) showers (SH) of rain (RA).

Other change groups you'll see: BECMG (becoming — a gradual change) and PROB30 / PROB40 (a 30% or 40% chance of the stated conditions). Watch the FM, BECMG, and TEMPO groups — they're where a legal "go" can flip to a "no-go" during your flight.

Sky cover and ceiling

The ceiling is the lowest broken or overcast layer. That matters because of the next part.

Present-weather codes

The weather group combines an intensity, an optional descriptor, and the phenomenon, read in that order — e.g. -SHRA = light showers of rain, +TSRA = heavy thunderstorm with rain, VCSH = showers in the vicinity, FZFG = freezing fog.

The drone weather minimums you must know

Part 107 sets hard weather limits at the control station:

• Visibility: at least 3 statute miles.
• Cloud clearance: stay 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds.

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