Learn to fly, METAR stands for Aviation Routine Weather Report.

Different types of weather reports and weather forecasts in the aviation world.

METAR stands for Aviation Routine Weather Report.

METAR is an observation of the actual weather, this means that the weather that are reported in the MEATR, is the actual weather for that airport.

The METAR is taken every hour, or the non-routine special aviation weather report called SPECI. The SPECI weather observation is an unscheduled report that’s indicating a significant change from the previous METAR, in one or more elements.

Here is an example of how a METAR can look.

METAR KHWO 121856Z AUTO 27005KT 2 SM +RABR OVC007 17/16 A2980

METAR What type of report

KHWO Station identifier, each station that is reporting is listed by a four letter ICAO identifier.

KHWO is Hollywood North Perry Airport

121856Z time of METAR report, the date 12 is day of month 1856 is the time in ZULU time UTC,

The report in this example was issued on the 12th of the month at 1856Z time.

AUTO When a METAR is created totally by a automated weather observation station, the modifier AUTO follows the date time .

In the remarks section the type of sensor will be reported A01 is a station without a precipitation discriminator, this means that the station cannot difference the precipitation, for example between water or snow.

A02 have the capabilities to discriminate the difference between precipitations.

27005KT Wind information, the wind direction are reported in a five digit group, or if the wind is speed is higher than 99 knots, it is six digits.

The first three digits represents the direction from which the wind is blowing, the wind direction is with reference to the true north.

If the wind direction is variable the letters VRB is used.

The next digits show the speed of the wind. The wind speed is reported in Knots.

In the example above, the wind direction is from 270 which is west, and the speed is 05 knots.

If the wind was gusty it will be reported with a G, and followed by the highest gusty winds.

For example 27020G35KT

2 SM Visibility, visibility is reported in statue miles SM, in this example we have a visibility of two statue miles. The type of visibility here is Prevailing Visibility, that means that it is the greatest distance an observer can see and identify objects through at least half of the horizon.

Sometimes you can see RVR runway visual range be reported following prevailing visibility,

RVR is based on what a pilot in a moving aircraft should see when looking down the runway. RVR is

Designated with an R followed by the runway number for example R09L/2300FT.

This means runway 09 Left visual range 2300 feet.


+RABR Weather Phenomena, this covers seven types of precipitation, eight kinds of obscurations, and also five other weather events. The code in the example here +RABR, is heavy rain and mist.

This is a weather condition that will reduce the visibility significant.

Here is a list of the different codes for weather phenomena.

Precipitation

RA-Rain

DZ-Drizzle

IC- Ice crystals

GR-Hail

GS-Small hail/snow pellets

SG-Snow grains

PE-Ice Pellets

Obstructions to visibility

FG-Fog

BR-Mist

FU-Smoke

HZ-Haze

PY-Spray

SA-Sand

DU-Dust

VA-Volcanic ash.

Other weather Phenomena

SQ-Squall

DS-Dust storm

FC-Funnel Cloud, Tornado, waterspout

SS-Sandstorm

PO-Dust/sand whirls



OVC Sky condition, the amount of clouds covering the sky is reported in eights or octas of sky cover.

CLR is clear.

FEW is when the cloud coverage is 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky.

SCT, scattered clouds, cover 3/8 to 4/8 of the sky.

BKN broken clouds covering 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky.

OVC, is overcast.


007 Height of the sky condition, in this example the overcast is 700 feet AGL Above Ground Level.


17/16 Temperature and Dewpoint, the air temperature and dewpoint is reported in degrees Celsius.

In this example the temperature is 17 Celsius and the dewpoint 16 Celsius.

If the temperature is below 0 degrees Celsius it is reported with a M before.

If it is minus 2 celsius, it is reported M02.


A2980 The altimeter setting is reported in inches of mercury.

RMK Remakrs, sometimes in a METAR, there can be remarks.

The types of information included in remarks, are wind data, variable visibility, beginning and ending times of different weather phenomena.