Metar codes
Metar codes are of the form:YMML 302200Z 36023G33KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 BKN120 22/17 Q1001
INTER 2200/0100 3000 TSRA BKN010 FEW040CB FM2200 MOD/SEV TURB BLW 5000FT This is a coded observation of the current weather, which is mainly used for aviation. Each section has a definite format.
Station ID (YMML)
A four-character ICAO station code. Example: YMML is Melbourne, Australia.Time of report (302200Z)
Format: ddhhmmZdd - day of month.
hhmm - hour and minute of report.
Z - indicates Zulu timezone, or UT. Example 302200Z 22:00Z on the 30th of the month.
Wind speed and direction (36023G33KT)
| Format: | dddkkKT |
| dddkkGkkKT | |
| dddkkKT dddVddd | |
| VRBkkKT |
kk - the wind speed in knots.
Gkk - if the wind is gusting, the gust speed in knots is added. (as in theis example).
dddVddd - If the wind direction is variable and the wind speed is greater than 6 knots, give the direction range. e.g. 23013KT 210V250
VRBkk - If the wind speed is variable and less than 6 knots, use VRB05KT.
Example: 36023G33KT 360 degrees heading, 23 kts speed with gusts to 33 kts.
Visibility (9999)
Format: vvvvvSM vvvvv - visibility in statute miles. Visibility in fractional miles is encoded with a space, i.e. 2 1/4SM. Automated systems with visibilities less then 1/4 of a mile is encoded M1/4SM.9999 - Visibility greater than maximum recorded value (e.g. 30 miles) is written as 9999
Runway visual range (N/A)
| Format: | Rdd/vvvvFT |
| Rdd/vvvvVvvvvFT |
vvvvFT - the reported visual range in feet.
vvvvVvvvvFT - a range of visual ranges for that runway.
M - The actual value is less than the reported value.
P - The actual value is more than the reported value.
Examples: R26L/2400FT -- Runway 26 Left has a range of 2400 ft.
R08/0400V0800FT -- Runway 08 has a visual range between 400 and 800 feet.
Current weather (N/A)
| Intensity | Description | Precipitation | Obscuration | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - Light | MI Shallow | DZ Drizzle | BR Mist | PO Well developed dust / sand whirls |
| Moderate | PR Partial | RA Rain | FG Fog | SQ Squalls |
| + Heavy | BC Patches | SN Snow | FU Smoke | FC Funnel clouds inc tornadoes or waterspouts |
| VC Vicinity | DR Low drifting | SG Snow grains | VA Volcanic ash | SS Sandstorm |
| BL Blowing | IC Ice crystals | DU Widespread dust | DS Duststorm | |
| SH Showers | PL Ice pellets | SA Sand | ||
| TS Thunderstorm | GR Hail | HZ Haze | ||
| FZ Freezing | GS Small hail | PY Spray | ||
| UP Unknown |
TSRA - Thunderstorms and rain.
Cloud cover (FEW018 SCT030 BKN120)
Format: nnnhhh nnn - Sky condition.| SKC | (0/8) | |
| CLR | (0/8) | |
| FEW | (1/8, 2/8) | |
| SCT | (3/8, 4/8) | |
| BKN | (5/8, 6/8, 7/8) | |
| OVC | (8/8) | |
| VV | (8/8) - vertical visibility. |
Examples:
FEW018 Few clouds at 1800 ft,
SCT030 Scattered clouds at 3000 ft,
BKN120 Broken clouds at 12,000 ft.
Temperature (22/17)
Format: tt/dd tt - Temperature in degrees celcius.dd - Dewpoint in degrees celcius.
M - indicates a negative temperature or dewpoint.
Example 22/17 Temperature 22 degrees C, dewpoint 17 degrees C.
Atmospheric pressure (Q1001)
| Format: | Qpppp |
| Ahhhh |
Ahhhh - Pressure in inches of Hg multiplied by 100 (29.95 inHg is encoded as A2995).
Example Q1001 is an atmospheric pressure of 1001 hPa, 1001 millibars, which is equivalent to 29.56 inHg.
Remarks (remainder of report)
Format: RMK Additional remarks may be placed in the final body of the METAR report. The format of these remarks can be any of the following.Volcanic eruptions
Format: Plain language. Includes: Name of the volcano, Lat and Long or the direction and distance, date and time of the erruption, size, description of an ash cloud.Funnel cloud
Format: Type B(hh)mm LOC| Type - | Type of funnel clound. Can be one of |
| TORNADO | |
| FUNNEL CLOUD | |
| WATERSPOUT |
LOC - Location or direction of movement.
Example, TORNADO B24 3 SW indicates a tornado sighted at 24 minutes past the hour, 3 miles SW of the station.
Type of automated station
Format: AO1 or AO2. AO1 - station without a precipitation descriminator.AO2 - station with a precipitation descriminator.
Peak wind
Format: PK WND dddff(f)/(hh)mm ddd - wind directionff(f) - wind speed in kts
(hh)mm - time at which wind speed occurred.
Example: PK WND 32024/45 means a peak wind of 24 kts at 320 degrees occurred at 45 mins past the hour.
Wind shift
Format: WSHIFT (hh)mm [FROPA] (hh)mm - The time the wind shift occurred.FROPA - If the wind shift was the result of a frontal passage.
Visibility
| Format: | TWR VIS vvvvv |
| SFC VIS vvvvv | |
| VIS lllllVuuuuu | |
| VIS [DIR] vvvvv | |
| VIS vvvvv [LOC] |
SFC VIS - Surface visibility
VIS [DIR] - Sector visibility with additional direction (e.g. VIS NE 2 - 2 miles visibility in the NE).
VIS vvvvv [LOC] - Visibility at a second location.
vvvvv - Visibility in statute miles.
VIS lllllVuuuuu - Variable visibility.
Lightning
Format: Frequency LTG(type) [LOC] Frequency can be one of:| OCNL | Occasional, less than 1 flash per min | |
| FRQ | Frequent, 1 to 6 flashes per min | |
| CONS | Continuous, more than 6 flashes per min |
| CG | Cloud-ground | |
| IC | In cloud | |
| CC | Cloud-cloud | |
| CA | Cloud-air |
Example, FRQ LTGICCC VC, which indicates frequent in-clound and cloud-cloud ligntning in the vicinity.
Begining end ending precipitation
Format: wwB(hh)mmE(hh)mm ww - weather phenomonon (eg RA).(hh)mm - begining or ending time.
Thunderstorm location
Format: TS LOC (MOV DIR) LOC - locationDIR - direction
Example, TS NW MOV NE Thunderstorms from the NW are moving to the NE.
Hailstone size
Format: GR [size] size - size of the hailstones in inches.Virga
Format: VIRGA (DIR) DIR - direction.Variable ceiling height
Format: CIG hhhVhhh hhh - Ceiling height in feet.Obscurations
Format: ww [nnn]hhh ww - weather phenomenon[nnn] - amount of obscuration, if applicable (e.g. FEW, SCT, OVC)
hhh - height of obscuration.
Examples, FG FEW000, would be fog covering up to 2/8 of the sky at ground level.
Variable sky condition
Format: nnn(hhh) V nnn nnn amount of obscuration (FEW, OVC etc)hhh height of obscuration if applicable.
Siginificant cloud types
Format: type dir (mov) Type - one of,| CB | Cumulonimbus | |
| CBMAM | Cumulonimbus mammatus | |
| TCU | Towering cumulonimbus | |
| ACC | Altocumulus castellanus | |
| CLD | Standing lenticular or rotor clouds |
mov - Movement of cloud if appropriate.
Ceiling height at second location
Format: CIG hhh [LOC] hhh - Height of ceiling in flight level units (100 feet).[LOC] - Location of ceiling if appropriate.
Pressure rising or falling rapidly
Format: PRESRR or PRESFRSea-level pressure
Format: SLPppp ppp - pressure in hPa. If no pressure measurement is available, then NO is recorded.Aircraft mishap
Format: ACFT MSHP [Plain language]Snow increasing rapidly
Format: SNINCR [iiiii/ggggg] iiiii - Increase in snow level in inches per hour.ggggg - Snow level on the ground in inches.
