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.

Sky cover and ceiling

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

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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