METAR & TAF decoder
Paste a METAR, SPECI or TAF – or enter an ICAO code and load the current report. The decoder explains every group in plain English and shows ceiling, flight category, estimated cloud base and links to density altitude and crosswind.
Example report – replace it with your own
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How to read a METAR
A METAR is the routine weather report of an aerodrome, issued every 30 or 60 minutes; a SPECI is a special report when the weather changes significantly. The groups always come in the same order: station, time, wind, visibility, runway visual range, weather, clouds, temperature and dew point, pressure, and finally the trend for the next two hours.
The example in the decoder field reads: Zurich, 8th at 15:50 UTC, wind 240° at 15 kt gusting 27 kt, visibility 8 km in light rain showers, scattered cumulonimbus at 4,000 ft, 13 °C, QNH 1011 – and temporarily thunderstorms.
How to read a TAF
A TAF is the forecast for an aerodrome, usually valid for 24 or 30 hours. After the validity period follows the main forecast, then change groups: FM (from a time, replaces everything), BECMG (gradual change within the period), TEMPO (temporary fluctuations, each less than an hour and together less than half of the period) and PROB30/PROB40 (probability of 30 or 40 %).
TX and TN give the forecast maximum and minimum temperature with the time. The decoder shows each block with its time window so you can see at a glance what applies at your departure and arrival time.
Beyond the decoding
From temperature and dew point the decoder estimates the base of convective clouds (spread × 400 ft) and the relative humidity. Ceiling and visibility give the flight category (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR in the US definition – for orientation, not a VMC check). One click takes the values to the density altitude and crosswind calculators.
The live data come from BriefingPal's own server, which mirrors the reports published by aviationweather.gov. Small airfields often have no METAR; use the nearest larger aerodrome. For flight preparation the official briefing remains authoritative – in Switzerland MeteoSwiss and skybriefing.
Example decoded: METAR LSZH
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
METAR LSZH | Report type and ICAO code of the station (Zurich) |
081550Z | Day 08 of the month, 15:50 UTC (Z = UTC) |
24015G27KT | Wind from 240° true at 15 kt, gusts 27 kt |
210V280 | Wind direction varies between 210° and 280° |
8000 | Prevailing visibility 8,000 m (9999 = 10 km or more) |
-SHRA | Light rain showers |
FEW025 SCT040CB BKN070 | 1–2 oktas at 2,500 ft, 3–4 oktas cumulonimbus at 4,000 ft, 5–7 oktas at 7,000 ft – heights above the aerodrome |
13/08 | Temperature 13 °C, dew point 8 °C (M = minus) |
Q1011 | QNH 1011 hPa (A2985 = 29.85 inHg in North America) |
TEMPO 4000 TSRA | Trend for the next 2 hours: temporarily 4,000 m in thunderstorm with rain |
Common METAR and TAF abbreviations
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
-, + | light, heavy |
VC | in the vicinity (8–16 km) |
SH | showers |
TS | thunderstorm |
FZ | freezing |
BC / MI / PR | patches / shallow / partial (fog) |
BL / DR | blowing / low drifting |
RA | rain |
DZ | drizzle |
SN | snow |
SG | snow grains |
GR | hail |
GS | small hail / snow pellets |
PL | ice pellets |
BR | mist (visibility 1–5 km) |
FG | fog (visibility below 1 km) |
HZ | haze |
FU | smoke |
SA / DU | sand / dust |
SQ | squalls |
FC | funnel cloud |
FEW / SCT / BKN / OVC | 1–2 / 3–4 / 5–7 / 8 oktas |
CB / TCU | cumulonimbus / towering cumulus |
VV | vertical visibility (sky obscured) |
CAVOK | visibility ≥ 10 km, no cloud below 5,000 ft/MSA, no CB/TCU, no significant weather |
NSC / NCD | no significant cloud / no cloud detected |
NOSIG | no significant change in the next 2 h |
BECMG / TEMPO | becoming / temporarily |
PROB30 / PROB40 | probability 30 % / 40 % |
FM | from (time) |
RE… | recent weather (last hour) |
WS | wind shear |
AUTO | automatic station |
Frequently asked questions
What does CAVOK mean?
Ceiling and visibility OK: visibility 10 km or more, no cloud below 5,000 ft or the highest minimum sector altitude (whichever is higher), no cumulonimbus or towering cumulus, and no significant weather.
Are cloud heights in a METAR above sea level?
No. Cloud bases in METAR and TAF are given in hundreds of feet above the aerodrome (AGL). FEW035 means 1–2 oktas with a base 3,500 ft above the field.
Is the METAR wind true or magnetic?
The wind direction in METAR and TAF refers to true north. ATIS and tower give it relative to magnetic north.
What is the difference between BECMG and TEMPO?
BECMG describes a permanent change that happens gradually within the given period. TEMPO describes temporary fluctuations after which the main conditions return.
Why is there no METAR for my airfield?
Only aerodromes with a weather observation or an automatic station issue METARs. For small airfields use the nearest aerodrome with a report, the area forecast and model weather – BriefingPal shows all of these along your route.
What does NOSIG mean?
No significant change: the observer expects no significant change in the next two hours.
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