Aviation glossary

What is METAR?

Meteorological Aerodrome Report

A METAR is a routine observation of the actual weather currently reported at an aerodrome.

A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a coded report of the weather observed at an aerodrome at a given time. Most reporting stations issue one every half hour or hour, with a SPECI issued between routine reports when conditions change significantly.

A typical METAR gives the wind, visibility, cloud, temperature and dew point, and the QNH pressure setting, for example: EGBB 131350Z 29011KT 9999 BKN045 17/07 Q1021. It tells you what the weather is doing now, where a TAF tells you what it is forecast to do.

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Related terms

TAFA TAF is a forecast of the expected weather at an aerodrome over a set period, usually 9, 24 or 30 hours.CAVOKCAVOK means visibility is 10 km or more, there is no significant cloud below 5,000 ft, and no significant weather: in short, excellent flying conditions.Flight category (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR)Flight category is a colour-coded summary of conditions (VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR) derived from the cloud ceiling and visibility.QNHQNH is the altimeter pressure setting that makes the altimeter read height above mean sea level, so it shows the aerodrome's elevation when you are on the ground.

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