How To Read METAR Report

METAR Report

(Meteorological Terminal Aviation Weather Report)

METAR reports are used to to report the expected weather conditions at an airport during a specific period of time. 

Example KPHX 221851Z 22005KT 10SM FEW100 FEW250 26/M01 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP074 T02561006

A METAR report is composed by :

• Type of Report
• Station Identifier
• Date & Time of the Report
• Station Modifier
• Wind Speed & Direction
• Visibility
• Weather Intensity
• Sky Condition & Cloud Cover
• Temperature & Dew Point
• Altimeter Setting
• Remarks

Type of report: Could be METAR which is updated on en hourly basis, or SPECI can be issue at any time to update the METAR report on critical weather conditions.

Station Identifier: You can see this at the airport identifier, which is given by a 4 letter code. The first letter identifies the county, the next 3 letters identify the airport. This letters are established by the ICAO. 

The United States is designiated by the letter "K" with the exception of Alaska which is designated by the letters "PA _ _ _" followed by the 3 letters for the airport and Hawaii dsignated by the letters "PH _ _ _".