METAR
Encyclopedia
METAR is a format for reporting weather
information. A METAR weather report is predominantly used by pilot
s in fulfillment of a part of a pre-flight weather briefing, and by meteorologist
s, who use aggregated METAR information to assist in weather forecasting
.
Raw METAR is the most popular format in the world for the transmission of weather data. It is highly standardized through International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), which allows it to be understood throughout most of the world.
s or permanent weather observation stations
. Reports are generated once an hour, but if conditions change significantly, a report known as a special (SPECI) may be issued. Some METARs are encoded by automated airport weather station
s located at airports, military bases, and other sites. Some locations still use augmented observations, which are recorded by digital sensors, encoded via software, and then reviewed by certified weather observers or forecasters prior to being transmitted. Observations may also be taken by trained observers or forecasters who manually observe and encode their observations prior to transmission.
n countries continued to use a Surface Aviation Observation (SAO) for current weather conditions until 1 June 1996, when this report was replaced with an approved variant of the METAR agreed upon in a 1989 Geneva
agreement. The World Meteorological Organization
's (WMO) publication No. 782 "Aerodrome Reports and Forecasts" contains the base METAR code as adopted by the WMO member countries.
phrase message d’observation météorologique pour l’aviation régulière ("Meteorological observation message for routine aviation") and would therefore be a contraction of MÉTéorologique Aviation
Régulière. The United States
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) lays down the definition in its publication the Aeronautical Information Manual
as aviation routine weather report while the international authority for the code form, the WMO, holds the definition to be aerodrome routine meteorological report. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(part of the United States Department of Commerce
) and the United Kingdom
's Met Office
both employ the definition used by the FAA. METAR is also known as Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report or Meteorological Aerodrome Report.
, dew point
, wind
speed and direction, precipitation
, cloud
cover and heights, visibility
, and barometric pressure
. A METAR may also contain information on precipitation amounts, lightning
, and other information that would be of interest to pilots or meteorologists such as a pilot report or PIREP, colour state
s and runway visual range
(RVR).
In addition, a short period forecast called a TREND may be added at the end of the METAR covering likely changes in weather conditions in the two hours following the observation. These are in the same format as a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
(TAF).
The complement to METARs, reporting forecast weather rather than current weather, are TAFs. METARs and TAFs are used in VOLMET
broadcasts.
Manual 15-111 on Surface Weather Observations, being the authoritative document for the US Armed Forces. A very similar code form to the METAR is the SPECI. Both codes are defined at the technical regulation level in WMO Technical Regulation No. 49, Vol II, which is copied over to the WMO Manual No. 306 and to ICAO Annex III.
in Burgas
, Bulgaria
. It was taken on 4 February 2005 at 16:00 Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC).
METAR LBBG 041600Z 12003MPS 310V290 1400 R04/P1500N R22/P1500U +SN BKN022 OVC050 M04/M07 Q1020 NOSIG 9949//91=
near Trenton
, New Jersey
, and was taken on 5 December 2003 at 18:53 UTC.
METAR KTTN 051853Z 04011KT 1/2SM VCTS SN FZFG BKN003 OVC010 M02/M02 A3006 RMK AO2 TSB40 SLP176 P0002 T10171017=
Note that what follows are not part of standard observations outside of the United States and can vary significantly.
In Canada, RMK is followed by a description of the cloud layers and opacity, in eighths of the sky (okta
s). For example, CU5 would mean Cumulus in 5/8 of the sky.
age is reported by the number of 'okta
s' (eighths) of the sky that is occupied by cloud.
This is reported as:
METAR and TAF Abbreviations and Acronyms:
Format specifications
Software libraries
Current reports
Current and historical reports
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
information. A METAR weather report is predominantly used by pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s in fulfillment of a part of a pre-flight weather briefing, and by meteorologist
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
s, who use aggregated METAR information to assist in weather forecasting
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
.
Raw METAR is the most popular format in the world for the transmission of weather data. It is highly standardized through International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
(ICAO), which allows it to be understood throughout most of the world.
Origin
METARs typically come from airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s or permanent weather observation stations
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
. Reports are generated once an hour, but if conditions change significantly, a report known as a special (SPECI) may be issued. Some METARs are encoded by automated airport weather station
Automated airport weather station
Automated airport weather stations are automated sensor suites which are designed to serve aviation and meteorological observing needs for safe and efficient aviation operations and weather forecasting...
s located at airports, military bases, and other sites. Some locations still use augmented observations, which are recorded by digital sensors, encoded via software, and then reviewed by certified weather observers or forecasters prior to being transmitted. Observations may also be taken by trained observers or forecasters who manually observe and encode their observations prior to transmission.
History
The METAR format was introduced 1 January 1968 internationally and has been modified a number of times since. North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n countries continued to use a Surface Aviation Observation (SAO) for current weather conditions until 1 June 1996, when this report was replaced with an approved variant of the METAR agreed upon in a 1989 Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
agreement. The World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
's (WMO) publication No. 782 "Aerodrome Reports and Forecasts" contains the base METAR code as adopted by the WMO member countries.
Naming
The name METAR is commonly believed to have its origins in the FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
phrase message d’observation météorologique pour l’aviation régulière ("Meteorological observation message for routine aviation") and would therefore be a contraction of MÉTéorologique Aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
Régulière. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) lays down the definition in its publication the Aeronautical Information Manual
Aeronautical Information Manual
In United States aviation, the Aeronautical Information Manual is the Federal Aviation Administration's official guide to basic flight information and ATC procedures....
as aviation routine weather report while the international authority for the code form, the WMO, holds the definition to be aerodrome routine meteorological report. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(part of the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
) and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
both employ the definition used by the FAA. METAR is also known as Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report or Meteorological Aerodrome Report.
Information contained in a METAR
A typical METAR contains data for the temperatureTemperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
, dew point
Dew point
The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of humid air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface. The dew point is a saturation temperature.The dew point is...
, wind
Wind
Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space...
speed and direction, precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
, cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
cover and heights, visibility
Visibility
In meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing...
, and barometric pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
. A METAR may also contain information on precipitation amounts, lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, and other information that would be of interest to pilots or meteorologists such as a pilot report or PIREP, colour state
Colour state
Colour States are a system used for quickly showing meteorological conditions.Meteorological colour states are determined by the relevant worst condition from the visibility and significant cloud height. In the USA and parts of Europe the lowest significant cloud layer is 5 oktas or more; in the...
s and runway visual range
Runway visual range
Runway Visual Range is a term used in aviation meteorology to define the distance over which a pilot of an aircraft on the centreline of the runway can see the runway surface markings delineating the runway or identifying its centre line...
(RVR).
In addition, a short period forecast called a TREND may be added at the end of the METAR covering likely changes in weather conditions in the two hours following the observation. These are in the same format as a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
In meteorology and aviation, TAF is a format for reporting weather forecast information, particularly as it relates to aviation. "TAF" is an acronym of Terminal Aerodrome Forecast or, in some countries, Terminal Area Forecast....
(TAF).
The complement to METARs, reporting forecast weather rather than current weather, are TAFs. METARs and TAFs are used in VOLMET
VOLMET
VOLMET, or meteorological information for aircraft in flight, is the term applied to a worldwide network of radio stations that broadcast TAF, SIGMET and METAR reports on shortwave frequencies. In some countries, VOLMET stations broadcast on VHF frequencies too. Reports are sent using automated...
broadcasts.
Regulation
METAR code is regulated by the World Meteorological Organization in consort with the International Civil Aviation Organization. In the United States, the code is given authority (with some US national differences from the WMO/ICAO model) under the Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1 (FMH-1), which itself has paved the way for the US Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Manual 15-111 on Surface Weather Observations, being the authoritative document for the US Armed Forces. A very similar code form to the METAR is the SPECI. Both codes are defined at the technical regulation level in WMO Technical Regulation No. 49, Vol II, which is copied over to the WMO Manual No. 306 and to ICAO Annex III.
METAR conventions
Although the general format of METAR reports is a global standard, the specific fields used within that format vary somewhat between general international usage and usage within North America. Note that there may be minor differences between countries using the international codes as there are between those using the North American conventions. The two examples which follow illustrate the primary differences between the two METAR variations.International METAR codes
The following is an example METAR from Burgas AirportBurgas Airport
Burgas International Airport , is the airport of Burgas , Bulgaria.In 2009, the airport handled 1,683,786 passengers. In 2010, it handled 1,872,618 passengers, a 11.2% increase compared to 2009.-Future plans and expansion:...
in Burgas
Burgas
-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. It was taken on 4 February 2005 at 16:00 Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
(UTC).
METAR LBBG 041600Z 12003MPS 310V290 1400 R04/P1500N R22/P1500U +SN BKN022 OVC050 M04/M07 Q1020 NOSIG 9949//91=
- METAR indicates that the following is a standard hourly observation.
- LBBG is the ICAO airport codeInternational Civil Aviation Organization airport codeThe ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-character alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. These codes are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization, and published in ICAO Document 7910: Location Indicators.The ICAO codes are used by air traffic...
for Burgas AirportBurgas AirportBurgas International Airport , is the airport of Burgas , Bulgaria.In 2009, the airport handled 1,683,786 passengers. In 2010, it handled 1,872,618 passengers, a 11.2% increase compared to 2009.-Future plans and expansion:...
. - 041600Z indicates the time of the observation. It is the day of the month (the 4th) followed by the time of day (1600 Zulu time, which equals 4:00 pm Greenwich Mean TimeGreenwich Mean TimeGreenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
). - 12003MPS indicates the wind directionWind directionWind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates. For example, a northerly wind blows from the north to the south. Wind direction is usually reported in cardinal directions or in azimuth degrees...
is from 120° (east-southeastBoxing the compassBoxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two points of the compass in clockwise order. Such names are formed by the initials of the cardinal directions and their intermediate ordinal directions, and are very handy to refer to a heading in a general or colloquial fashion, without...
) at a speed of 3 MPSMetre per secondMetre per second is an SI derived unit of both speed and velocity , defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds....
(5.8 KT; 6.7 mph; 11 km/h). Speed measurements can vary from knots (KT) or meters/second (MPS). - 310V290 indicates the wind direction is varying from 310° true (northwest) to 290° true (west-northwest).
- 1400 indicates the prevailing visibilityPrevailing visibilityPrevailing visibility in aviation is a measurement of the greatest distance visible throughout at least half of the horizon, not necessarily continuously. To take the prevailing visibility, controllers reference a number of visual reference points: usually buildings, hills, or other geographic...
is 1400 m (4,593.2 ft). - R04/P1500N indicates the Runway Visual Range (RVR) along runwayRunwayAccording to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
04 is 1500 m (4,921.3 ft) and not changing significantly. - R22/P1500U indicates RVR along runway 22 is 1500 m (4,921.3 ft) and rising.
- +SN indicates snowSnowSnow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
is falling at a heavy intensity. If any precipitation begins with a minus or plus (-/+), it's either light or heavy. - BKN022 indicates a broken (over half the sky) cloud layer at 2200 ft (670.6 m) above ground levelAbove ground levelIn aviation and atmospheric sciences, an altitude is said to be above ground level when it is measured with respect to the underlying ground surface. This is as opposed to above mean sea level , or in broadcast engineering, height above average terrain...
(AGL). The lowest "BKN" or "OVC" layer specifies the cloud ceilingCeiling (cloud)- ICAO :The height above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 6000 meters covering more than halfthe sky.- United Kingdom :...
. - OVC050 indicates an unbroken cloud layer (overcast) at 5000 ft (1,524 m) above ground level.
- M04/M07 indicates the temperature is -4 C and the dewpoint is -7 C. An M in front of the number indicates that the temperature/dew point is below zeroMelting pointThe melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. At the melting point the solid and liquid phase exist in equilibrium. The melting point of a substance depends on pressure and is usually specified at standard atmospheric pressure...
(0) Celsius. - Q1020 indicates the current altimeterAltimeterAn altimeter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level. The measurement of altitude is called altimetry, which is related to the term bathymetry, the measurement of depth underwater.-Pressure altimeter:...
setting (QNHQNHQNH is one of the many Q codes. It is defined as, "barometric pressure adjusted to sea level." It is a pressure setting used by pilots, air traffic control , and low frequency weather beacons to refer to the barometric setting which, when set on an aircraft's altimeter, will cause the altimeter to...
) is 1020 hPa (30.12 inHg). - NOSIG is an example of a TREND forecast which is appended to METARs at stations while a forecaster is on watch. NOSIG means that no significant change is expected to the reported conditions within the next 2 hours.
- 9949//91 indicates the condition of the runway:
- 99 indicates either a specific runway (e.g. 25 = Rwy 25 or 25L; adding 50 will indicate Right Runway) or all the airport's runways ("99"). Some locations will report the runway using 3 characters (e.g. 25L)
- 4 means the runway is coated with dry snow
- 9 means 51% to 100% of the runway is covered
- // means the thickness of the coating was either not measurable or not affecting usage of the runway
- 91 means the braking index is bad, in other words the tires have bad grip on the runway
- CAVOK (abbreviation for Ceiling And Visibility OKay,) indicating no cloud below 5000 ft (1,524 m) and no cumulonimbiCumulonimbus cloudCumulonimbus is a towering vertical cloud that is very tall, dense, and involved in thunderstorms and other inclement weather. Cumulonimbus originates from Latin: Cumulus "Heap" and nimbus "rain". It is a result of atmospheric instability. These clouds can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold...
at any level, a visibility of 10 kmKilometreThe kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
(6 SMMileA mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
) or more and no significant weather. As of 5 November 2008 this was amended to include towering cumulus - = indicates the end of the METAR report
North American METAR codes
North American METARs deviate from the WMO (who write the code on behalf of ICAO) FM 15-XII code. Details are listed in the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), but the non-compliant elements are mostly based on the use of non-standard units of measurement. This METAR example is from Trenton-Mercer AirportTrenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport , formerly known as Mercer County Airport, is a public airport located in Ewing, New Jersey, four miles northwest of the central business district of Trenton, a city in Mercer County, New Jersey...
near Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and was taken on 5 December 2003 at 18:53 UTC.
METAR KTTN 051853Z 04011KT 1/2SM VCTS SN FZFG BKN003 OVC010 M02/M02 A3006 RMK AO2 TSB40 SLP176 P0002 T10171017=
- METAR indicates that the following is a standard hourly observation.
- KTTN is the ICAO identifier for the Trenton-Mercer Airport.
- 051853Z indicates the day of the month is the 5th and the time of day is 1853 Zulu/UTC, 6:53PM GMT, or 1:53PM Eastern Standard TimeEastern Time ZoneThe Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. - 04011KT indicates the wind is from 040° true (north east) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). In the United States, the wind direction must have a 60° or greater variance for variable wind direction to be reported and the wind speed must be 7 knots (13 km/h; 8 mph) or higher.
- 1/2SM indicates the prevailing visibility is 0.5 statute miles (800 m).
- VCTS indicates a thunderstormThunderstormA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
(TS) in the vicinity (VC), which means from 5-10 statute miles (8–16 km). - SN indicates snow is falling at a moderate intensity; a preceding plus or minus sign (+/-) indicates heavy or light precipitation.
- FZFG indicates the presence of freezing fogFogFog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. - BKN003 OVC010 indicates a broken (5/8 to 7/8 of the sky covered) cloud layer at 300 ft (91.4 m) above ground levelAbove ground levelIn aviation and atmospheric sciences, an altitude is said to be above ground level when it is measured with respect to the underlying ground surface. This is as opposed to above mean sea level , or in broadcast engineering, height above average terrain...
(AGL) and an overcast (8/8 of the sky covered) layer at 1000 ft (304.8 m). - M02/M02 indicates the temperature is -2 C and the dewpoint is -2 C. An M in front of the number indicates that the temperature/dew point is below zero (0) Celsius.
- A3006 indicates the altimeter setting is 30.06 inHg (1,017.9 hPa).
- RMK indicates the remarks section follows.
Note that what follows are not part of standard observations outside of the United States and can vary significantly.
- AO2 indicates that the station is automated with a rain/snow precipitation sensor. Stations that aren't equipped with a rain/snow sensor are designated AO1.
- TSB40 indicates the thunderstorm began at 40 minutes past the hour at 1840 Zulu/UTC, 6:40PM GMT, or 1:40PM Eastern Standard Time.
- SLP176 indicates the current barometric pressure extrapolated to sea level is 1017.6 hPa.
- P0002 indicates that 0.02 inch (0.0508 cm) of liquidLiquidLiquid is one of the three classical states of matter . Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow and take the shape of a container. Some liquids resist compression, while others can be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a container, and maintains a fairly...
-equivalent precipitation accumulated during the last hour. - T10171017 is a breakdown of the temperature and dew point in 8 digits separated into two groups of four. the first four digits (1017) is the temperature. The first digit (1) designates above or below zero Celsius (0=above zero 1=below zero). The next three digits in the group '017' is the temperature in degrees and tenths of a degree, -01.7 C. The last four digits '1017' is the same as the first group but for dew point, -01.7 C.
- = indicates the end of the METAR report.
In Canada, RMK is followed by a description of the cloud layers and opacity, in eighths of the sky (okta
Okta
In meteorology, an okta is a unit of measurement used to describe cloud cover. Sky conditions are estimated in terms of how many eighths of the sky are obscured by cloud, ranging from completely clear, 0 oktas, through to completely overcast, 8 oktas...
s). For example, CU5 would mean Cumulus in 5/8 of the sky.
Cloud reporting
Cloud coverCloud cover
Cloud cover refers to the fraction of the sky obscured by clouds when observed from a particular location...
age is reported by the number of 'okta
Okta
In meteorology, an okta is a unit of measurement used to describe cloud cover. Sky conditions are estimated in terms of how many eighths of the sky are obscured by cloud, ranging from completely clear, 0 oktas, through to completely overcast, 8 oktas...
s' (eighths) of the sky that is occupied by cloud.
This is reported as:
- SKC = 'No cloud/Sky clear' used worldwide but in North America is used to indicate a human generated report
- CLR = 'No clouds below 12000 ft (3,657.6 m) (US) or 10000 ft (3,048 m) (Canada)' used mainly within North America and indicates a station that is at least partly automated
- NSC = 'No (nil) significant cloud' (i.e. none below 5000 ft (1,524 m) and no TCUTowering cumulusTowering cumulus clouds can be based in the low or middle height ranges and achieve considerable vertical development in areas of deep, moist convection. They are an intermediate stage between cumulus mediocris and cumulonimbus...
or CBCumulonimbus cloudCumulonimbus is a towering vertical cloud that is very tall, dense, and involved in thunderstorms and other inclement weather. Cumulonimbus originates from Latin: Cumulus "Heap" and nimbus "rain". It is a result of atmospheric instability. These clouds can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold...
) not used in North America - FEW = 'Few' = 1-2 oktas
- SCT = 'Scattered' = 3-4 oktas
- BKN = 'Broken' = 5-7 oktas
- OVC = 'OvercastOvercastOvercast or overcast weather, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization, is the meteorological condition of clouds obscuring all of the sky. Overcast, written as "OVC" in the METAR observation, is reported when the cloud cover is observed to equal eight oktas .Sometimes clouds can be...
' = 8 oktas (ie full cloud coverage)
US METAR abbreviations
The following are METAR abbreviations used in the United States, however some are used worldwide:METAR and TAF Abbreviations and Acronyms:
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ | maintenance check indicator | (+) | heavy intensity |
| (-) | light intensity | / | indicator that visual range data follows; separator between temperature and dew point data. |
| ACC | altocumulus castellanus Altocumulus castellanus cloud Altocumulus Castellanus is named for its tower-like projections that billow upwards from the base of the cloud. The base of the cloud can form as low as 2,000 metres , or as high as 6,000 metres .... |
ACFT MSHP | aircraft mishap |
| ACSL | altocumulus standing lenticular cloud Lenticular cloud Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Lenticular clouds can be separated into altocumulus standing lenticularis , stratocumulus standing lenticular , and cirrocumulus standing lenticular... |
ALP | airport location point |
| AO1 | automated station without precipitation discriminator | AO2 | automated station with precipitation discriminator |
| APCH | approach | APRNT | apparent |
| APRX | approximately | ATCT | airport traffic control tower Control tower A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such... |
| AUTO | fully automated report | B | began |
| BC | patches | BKN | broken (5-7/8ths of the sky covered with cloud Cloud A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology... ) |
| BL | blowing | BR | mist Mist Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the... (from the word brume) |
| C | center (with reference to runway designation) | CA | cloud-air lightning Lightning Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms... |
| CB | cumulonimbus cloud Cumulonimbus cloud Cumulonimbus is a towering vertical cloud that is very tall, dense, and involved in thunderstorms and other inclement weather. Cumulonimbus originates from Latin: Cumulus "Heap" and nimbus "rain". It is a result of atmospheric instability. These clouds can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold... |
CBMAM | cumulonimbus mammatus cloud Mammatus cloud Mammatus, also known as mammatocumulus , is a meteorological term applied to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud... |
| CC | cloud-cloud lightning | CCSL | cirrocumulus Cirrocumulus cloud Cirrocumulus clouds are one of the three main types of high-altitude clouds, which also includes cirrus clouds and cirrostratus clouds. They usually occur at an altitude of to . Like other cumulus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds signify convection. Unlike other cirrus clouds, cirrocumulus include a... standing lenticular cloud Lenticular cloud Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Lenticular clouds can be separated into altocumulus standing lenticularis , stratocumulus standing lenticular , and cirrocumulus standing lenticular... |
| cd | candela Candela The candela is the SI base unit of luminous intensity; that is, power emitted by a light source in a particular direction, weighted by the luminosity function . A common candle emits light with a luminous intensity of roughly one candela... |
CG | cloud-ground lightning |
| CHI | cloud-height indicator | CHINO | sky condition at secondary location not available |
| CIG | ceiling | CLR | clear sky |
| CONS | continuous | COR | correction to a previously disseminated observation |
| DOC | Department of Commerce United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903... |
DOD | Department of Defense United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense is the U.S... |
| DOT | Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967... |
DR | low drifting |
| DS | duststorm Dust storm A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition... |
DSIPTG | dissipating |
| DSNT | distant | DU | widespread dust Dust Dust consists of particles in the atmosphere that arise from various sources such as soil dust lifted up by wind , volcanic eruptions, and pollution... |
| DVR | dispatch visual range | DZ | drizzle Drizzle Drizzle is a light rain precipitation consisting of liquid water drops smaller than those of rain, and generally smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter. Drizzle is normally produced by low stratiform clouds and stratocumulus clouds. Precipitation rates due to drizzle are on the order of a millimetre... |
| E | east, ended, estimated ceiling (SAO) | FAA | Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S... |
| FC | funnel cloud Funnel cloud A funnel cloud is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets, associated with a rotating column of wind and extending from the base of a cloud but not reaching the ground or a water surface. A funnel cloud is usually visible as a cone-shaped or needle like protuberance from the main cloud... |
FEW | few clouds (1-2/8ths of the sky covered with cloud Cloud A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology... ) |
| FG | fog Fog Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated... |
FIBI | filed but impracticable to transmit |
| FIRST | first observation after a break in coverage at manual station | FMH-1 | Federal Meteorological Handbook No.1, Surface Weather Observations & Reports (METAR) |
| FMH2 | Federal Meteorological Handbook No.2, Surface Synoptic Codes | FROPA | frontal Weather front A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front... passage |
| FRQ | frequent | FT | feet |
| FU | smoke Smoke Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest... |
FZ | freezing |
| FZRANO | freezing rain sensor not available | G | gust |
| GR | hail Hail Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms... |
GS | small hail and/or snow pellets |
| HLSTO | hailstone | HZ | haze Haze Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories of fog, ice fog, steam fog, mist, haze, smoke, volcanic... |
| IC | ice crystals, in-cloud lightning | ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth... |
| INCRG | increasing | INTMT | intermittent |
| KT | KNOTS | L | left (with reference to runway designation) |
| LAST | last observation before a break in coverage at a manual station | LST | Local Standard Time |
| LTG | lightning Lightning Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms... |
LWR | lower |
| M | minus, less than | max | maximum |
| METAR | routine weather report provided at fixed intervals | MI | shallow |
| min | minimum | MOV | moved/moving/movement |
| MT | mountain Mountain Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River... s |
N | north |
| N/A | not applicable | NCDC | National Climatic Data Center National Climatic Data Center The United States National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina is the world's largest active archive of weather data. The center became established in late 1951, with the move into the new facility occurring in early 1952.... |
| NE | northeast | NOS | National Ocean Survey National Ocean Service The National Ocean Service , an office within the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is responsible for preserving and enhancing the nation’s coastal resources and ecosystems along of shoreline bordering of coastal, Great Lakes, and ocean waters... |
| NOSPECI | no SPECI reports are taken at the station | NOTAM | Notice to Airmen NOTAM NOTAM or NoTAM is the quasi-acronym for a "Notice To Airmen". NOTAMs are created and transmitted by government agencies and airport operators under guidelines specified by Annex 15: Aeronautical Information Services of the Convention on International Civil Aviation... |
| NW | northwest | NWS | National Weather Service National Weather Service The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government... |
| OCNL | occasional | OFCM | Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology |
| OHD | overhead | OVC | overcast (8/8ths of the sky covered with cloud Cloud A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology... ) |
| OVR | over | P | indicates greater than the highest reportable value |
| PCPN | precipitation Precipitation (meteorology) In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation... |
PK WND | peak wind |
| PL | ice pellets Ice pellets Ice pellets are a form of precipitation consisting of small, translucent balls of ice. Ice pellets usually are smaller than hailstones. They often bounce when they hit the ground, and generally do not freeze into a solid mass unless mixed with freezing rain... |
PNO | precipitation amount not available |
| PO | dust/sand whirls (dust devil Dust devil A dust devil is a strong, well-formed, and relatively long-lived whirlwind, ranging from small to large . The primary vertical motion is upward... s) |
PR | partial |
| PRES | Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point... |
PRESFR | pressure Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point... falling rapidly |
| PRESRR | pressure Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point... rising rapidly |
PWINO | precipitation identifier sensor not available |
| PY | spray | R | right (with reference to runway designation), runway Runway According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth... |
| RA | rain Rain Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface... |
RTD | Routine Delayed (late) observation |
| RV | reportable value | RVR | Runway visual range Runway visual range Runway Visual Range is a term used in aviation meteorology to define the distance over which a pilot of an aircraft on the centreline of the runway can see the runway surface markings delineating the runway or identifying its centre line... |
| RVRNO | RVR Runway visual range Runway Visual Range is a term used in aviation meteorology to define the distance over which a pilot of an aircraft on the centreline of the runway can see the runway surface markings delineating the runway or identifying its centre line... system values not available |
RY | runway Runway According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth... |
| S | snow Snow Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by... , south |
SA | sand |
| SCSL | stratocumulus Stratocumulus cloud A Stratocumulus cloud belongs to a class of clouds characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumuli, and the whole being at a lower altitude, usually below 2,400 m... standing lenticular cloud Lenticular cloud Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Lenticular clouds can be separated into altocumulus standing lenticularis , stratocumulus standing lenticular , and cirrocumulus standing lenticular... |
SCT | scattered (3-4/8ths of the sky covered with cloud) |
| SE | southeast | SFC | surface (i.e. ground level) |
| SG | snow grains Snow grains Snow grains are a form of precipitation characterized as:*white, opaque grains of ice*very small Snow grains are a form of precipitation characterized as:*white, opaque grains of ice*very small... |
SH | shower(s) |
| SKC | sky clear | SLP | sea-level pressure Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point... |
| SLPNO | sea-level pressure Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point... not available |
SM | statute miles |
| SN | snow Snow Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by... |
SNINCR | snow increasing rapidly |
| SP | snow pellets | SPECI | an unscheduled report taken when certain criteria have been met |
| SQ | squall Squall A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed which is usually associated with active weather, such as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. Squalls refer to an increase in the sustained winds over a short time interval, as there may be higher gusts during a squall event... s |
SS | sandstorm Dust storm A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition... |
| STN | station | SW | snow Snow Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by... shower, southwest |
| TCU | towering cumulus Towering cumulus Towering cumulus clouds can be based in the low or middle height ranges and achieve considerable vertical development in areas of deep, moist convection. They are an intermediate stage between cumulus mediocris and cumulonimbus... |
TS | thunderstorm Thunderstorm A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the... |
| TSNO | thunderstorm Thunderstorm A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the... information not available |
TWR | tower Control tower A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such... |
| UNKN | unknown | UP | unknown precipitation Precipitation (meteorology) In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation... |
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time Coordinated Universal Time Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose... |
V | variable |
| VA | volcanic ash Volcanic ash Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact... |
VC | in the vicinity |
| VIS | visibility Visibility In meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing... |
VISNO | visibility at secondary location not available |
| VR | visual range | VRB | variable |
| VV | vertical visibility | W | west |
| WG/SO | Working Group for Surface Observations | WMO | World Meteorological Organization World Meteorological Organization The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873... |
| WND | wind Wind Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space... |
WS | wind shear Wind shear Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere... |
| WSHFT | wind shift | Z | Zulu, i.e., Coordinated Universal Time Coordinated Universal Time Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose... |
See also
- Surface weather observationSurface weather observationSurface weather observations are the fundamental data used for safety as well as climatological reasons to forecast weather and issue warnings worldwide. They can be taken manually, by a weather observer, by computer through the use of automated weather stations, or in a hybrid scheme using...
- SYNOPSYNOPSYNOP is a numerical code used for reporting weather observations made by manned and automated weather stations. SYNOP reports are typically sent every six hours on shortwave using RTTY...
- CLIMATCLIMATCLIMAT is a code for reporting monthly climatological data assembled at land-based meteorological surface observation sites to data centres. CLIMAT-coded messages contain information on several meteorological variables that are important to monitor characteristics, changes, and variability of climate...
- TAFTerminal Aerodrome ForecastIn meteorology and aviation, TAF is a format for reporting weather forecast information, particularly as it relates to aviation. "TAF" is an acronym of Terminal Aerodrome Forecast or, in some countries, Terminal Area Forecast....
External links
Decoding- METAR Study Guide approved by the National Weather Services Directorate of Environment Canada
- Wunderground METAR Tutorial
- METARreader.com online decoder
Format specifications
- Meteorological Service For International Air Navigation - July 2007 (PDF format see Table A3-2)
- OFCM.gov - Complete documentation on the METAR format
- Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45F
- NOAA.gov - Information on METAR and TAF reports. Also provides a link to current metar reports and cycle files.
- WMO documentation on METAR format
Software libraries
- Perl modules for parsing METAR reports at the CPANCPANCPAN, the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network, is an archive of nearly 100,000 modules of software written in Perl, as well as documentation for it. It has a presence on the World Wide Web at and is mirrored worldwide at more than 200 locations...
website - PhpWeather is a PHPPHPPHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
application (with a GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
) that parses METAR reports. - pymetar PythonPython (programming language)Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
library for METAR fetching and parsing - python-metar a Python package for parsing METAR reports
Current reports
- Selection of worldwide METAR reports from the US NOAA
- List of Stations in NOAA database. Use CTRL+F to search for a station. Input 4 letter ICAO identifier to Worldwide METAR Data Access from the US NOAA link.
Current and historical reports
- Wunderground searchable by location, can view historical METARs by location.