How To Read A Metar Weather Report
How To Read A Metar Weather Report
How To Read A Metar Weather Report
To help remember the sequence, think of 3W's at the beginningWhere, When, and Wind This works for METAR as well as TAF!
METAR KPIT 201955Z 22015G25KT
WHERE
KPIT is the ICAO station identifier. The usual
3 letter identifiers we are all familiar with are now preceded by a "K"
for the contiguous United States. Alaska and Hawaii will use 4 letter
identifiers beginning with "PA" and "PH" respectively. Changes are
planned to incorporate alphabetic identifiers for those weather
reporting stations where numbers and letters are now used (e.g.,
W10 to KHEF).
WHEN
201955Z is the 20th day of the month.
201955Z at 1955Z time
WIND
22015G25KT is reported as the 3 digit true direction to the nearest 10
degrees.
(Note: ATC towers, ATIS and airport advisory service report wind as
magnetic.)
22015G25KT next is the 2 or 3 digit speed.
22015G25KT a "G" comes next if the wind is gusting.
22015G25KT followed by the 2 or 3 digit maximum speed and
units(KT).
00000KT for calm winds.
22015KT 180V260 When wind direction varies 60 degrees or more and
wind is greater than 6 knots.
VRB Used when wind direction is variable and speed is less than or
equal to 6 knots.
(Note: These examples are used as a tear off page in the booklet as a
quick reference.)
Note: When METAR data is missing (e.g. dew point), it is simply
omitted and the user must know the sequence to recognize this. Some
exceptions apply in remarks such as RVRNO, or SLPNO when RVR or
SLP are normally reported but not currently available.
METAR KPIT 201955Z 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28R/2600FT TSRA
OVC010CB 18/16 A2992 RMK SLP013 T01760158
Where: KPIT
When: 201955Z 20th day of month at 1955Z
Wind: 22015G25KT 220 degrees at 15 gusting to 25 knots
V: Variable direction e.g., 20015KT 220V280
VRB: Variable direction when speed is less than or equal to 6 knots
Visibility: 3/4SM 3/4 statute miles, typical: 2 3/4SM, 1SM,
RVR R28R/2600FT Runway 28 Right visibility 2600 feet
M: Used for RVR less than lowest reportable sensor value
(e.g.M0600FT)
P: Used for RVR greater than highest reportable sensor value
(e.g. P6000FT)
V: Variable
Significant Weather: TSRA thunderstorm/moderate rain (See
Abbreviations)
Sky Condition: OVC010CB overcast clouds at 1000 feet consisting of
cumulonimbus
Typical: SKC, FEW, SCT, BKN, VV004 indefinite ceiling (Vertical
Visibility) 400 feet
Temperature/Dew Point: 18/16 18 degrees Celsius/dew point 16
degrees Celsius
M = Minus (below zero)
Altimeter: A2992 inches of mercury and preceded by an "A"