METAR & TAF Decoder | Wind and Wireless

METAR — Aviation Routine Weather Report

Hourly observations of airfield conditions

METAR is a codified observation message indicating airfield weather conditions observed at a given time, issued every hour. SPECI messages are identical but issued punctually when significant weather changes occur since the last report.

METAR KRNO 210056Z 05012KT 10SM -SN BKN050 02/M08 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP228 T00221083

1 Message Type — METAR (routine), SPECI (special), AUTO (automated)

2 ICAO Identifier — 4-letter station code (KRNO = Reno/Tahoe)

3 Issuance Time — DDHHMMz UTC (21st day, 00:56 Zulu)

4 Wind — Direction (050°), Speed (12 KT), Gusts (G22 if present)

5 Visibility — 10 statute miles (SM) or 4-digit meters

6 Present Weather — -SN = Light snow

7 Sky Cover — BKN050 = Broken at 5,000ft

8 Temp/Dewpoint — 02°C / -08°C (M = minus)

9 Altimeter — A3016 = 30.16 inHg, Q1013 = 1013 hPa

10 RMK — Remarks (SLP = Sea Level Pressure)

11 Trend Forecast — BECMG/TEMPO/PROB (2-hour outlook)

Wind direction variation: If wind varies 60° or more, format like 180V250. Calm winds = 00000KT

Weather Phenomena Qualifiers

Intensity, Descriptor, Precipitation, Obscuration

Intensity	Descriptor	Precipitation	Obscuration	Other
- Light	MI Shallow	RA Rain	BR Mist	PO Dust/Sand Whirls
(No qualifier) Moderate	PR Partial	SN Snow	FG Fog	SQ Squall
+ Heavy	BC Patches	DZ Drizzle	FU Smoke	FC Funnel Cloud
VC Vicinity	DR Low Drifting	PL Ice Pellets	HZ Haze	SS Sandstorm
	BL Blowing	GS Small Hail	DU Dust	DS Duststorm
	SH Shower	GR Hail (≥5mm)	SA Sand	VA Volcanic Ash
	FZ Freezing	IC Ice Crystals
	TS Thunderstorm	SG Snow Grains

-SN = light snow · +TSRA = heavy thunderstorm rain · VCSH = showers in vicinity

Sky Cover (Octas)

Cloud layers and ceiling heights

SKC — Sky Clear (clear below 12,000ft)

NSC — No Significant Clouds

FEW — Few (⅛ to ⅜ sky cover)

SCT — Scattered (⅜ to ½ sky cover)

BKN — Broken (⅝ to ⅞ sky cover)

OVC — Overcast (⅞ to 8/8 sky cover)

VV — Vertical Visibility (sky obscured, e.g., VV010 = 1,000ft)

CAVOK — Ceiling and visibility OK (≥10km, no significant clouds)

Height is reported in hundreds of feet — BKN050 = Broken at 5,000ft AGL

TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

Forecast issued every few hours, valid for 24-30 hours

TAF KRNO 202320Z 2100/2124 04010G20KT P6SM -SN SCT060
FM0300 05008KT P6SM SCT060

1 Type — TAF

2 ICAO — 4-letter station code

3 Issuance — DDHHMMZ UTC

4 Valid Period — DD/HH to DD/HH (2100 to 2124 UTC)

5 Wind — Same format as METAR

6 Visibility — P6SM = 6+ statute miles, 9999 = 10+ km

7 Weather — Present weather codes

8 Sky Cover — Same octa codes

9 Change Indicators — FM (from), BECMG (becoming), TEMPO (temporary)

Probability groups: PROB30 = 30% chance, PROB40 = 40% chance (US uses only 40%). Used with TEMPO or time groups.

Runway Condition Reporting (8-Figure Group)

European format for runway contamination

R18R/1200FTV/U (RVR) · 88110395 (8-figure group)

8-Figure Group structure: RR / D / E / DD / FF

1st-2nd digits — Runway designator (18L = 18, 18R = 68, 88 = all runways)

3rd digit — Runway deposit (0=clear/dry, 1=damp, 2=wet, 3=rime/frost, 4=dry snow, 5=wet snow, 6=slush, 7=ice, 8=compacted snow)

4th digit — Extent (1=<10%, 2=11-25%, 5=26-50%, 9=51-100%)

5th-6th digits — Depth (00=<1mm, 01-90=mm, 92=10cm, 98=≥40cm)

7th-8th digits — Braking action (91=poor, 92=med/poor, 93=medium, 94=med/good, 95=good)

PIREP & Hazardous Advisories

Pilot reports, AIRMETs, SIGMETs

PIREP (Pilot Weather Report) — Pilots report significant weather or flight conditions to ATC. Use the term "PIREP" to ensure rebroadcast. Report windshear during departure/approach immediately.

AIRMET — Moderate hazards (icing, turbulence, winds ≥30kt, ceilings <1000ft/visibility <3mi, mountain obscuration)
SIGMET — Severe hazards (convective: thunderstorms/tornadoes; nonconvective: severe turbulence/icing, dust/ash <3mi visibility, volcanic eruptions)

UA /OV KABC 300030 /TM 1515 /FL 080 /TP C172 /SK BKN045-TOP075 /TA -08 /WV 270045 /TB LGT
Routine PIREP: Over ABC at 00:30z, 8,000ft, Cessna 172, broken at 4,500ft to 7,500ft, temp -8°C, wind 270° at 45kt, light turbulence

Common Abbreviations

Quick reference for METAR/TAF shortcodes

Code	Meaning	Code	Meaning
BCMG	Becoming	AO1	Auto obs, no precip discriminator
TEMPO	Temporary	AO2	Auto obs with precip discriminator
NOSIG	No significant change	SLP	Sea Level Pressure (hPa)
RMK	Remarks	WSHFT	Wind shift
CB	Cumulonimbus	TCU	Towering cumulus
VRB	Variable wind	COR	Correction to observation