How to Read a METAR for the Part 107 Test
A METAR is a coded weather report for a specific airport. Part 107 questions ask you to decode visibility, wind, cloud coverage, and conditions. Here is how the code is structured, the abbreviations to memorize, and a worked example.
A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a coded weather report for a specific airport, updated hourly. The Part 107 test asks you to decode visibility, wind, sky condition, and ceiling height from these reports.
METARs always follow the same order of fields, so once you know the structure, decoding gets fast. The trick is memorizing about a dozen abbreviations.
What is the structure of a METAR?
A standard METAR has the same fields in the same order every time:
- Type (METAR for routine, SPECI for special)
- Station identifier (4-letter ICAO code, e.g., KATL for Atlanta)
- Date and time (DDHHMMZ in Zulu / UTC)
- Wind (direction and speed)
- Visibility (in statute miles)
- Present weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
- Sky condition (cloud coverage and base height)
- Temperature/dew point (in Celsius)
- Altimeter setting (in inches of mercury)
- Remarks (RMK section for additional info)
How do I decode a METAR example?
Here is a worked example:
`METAR KATL 121753Z 18015G25KT 5SM BR FEW020 SCT250 28/24 A2992 RMK AO2`
Breaking it down field by field:
| Field | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Type | METAR | Routine hourly report |
| Station | KATL | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson |
| Date/time | 121753Z | 12th day of the month, 17:53 UTC |
| Wind | 18015G25KT | From 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 |
| Visibility | 5SM | 5 statute miles |
| Weather | BR | Mist (visibility 5/8 to 6 statute miles) |
| Sky | FEW020 SCT250 | Few clouds at 2,000 ft AGL, scattered at 25,000 ft AGL |
| Temp/dew | 28/24 | 28°C temperature, 24°C dew point |
| Altimeter | A2992 | 29.92 inches of mercury |
| Remarks | RMK AO2 | Automated station with precipitation sensor |
What sky condition codes do I need to know?
| Code | Meaning | Cloud coverage |
|---|---|---|
| SKC or CLR | Sky clear | 0 oktas |
| FEW | Few | 1-2 oktas |
| SCT | Scattered | 3-4 oktas |
| BKN | Broken | 5-7 oktas |
| OVC | Overcast | 8 oktas |
An okta is one-eighth of the sky. "Few clouds" means 1 to 2 eighths of the sky is covered.
The cloud base height follows the coverage code, in hundreds of feet AGL above the station. `FEW020` means few clouds based at 2,000 feet AGL.
What are the common weather abbreviations?
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RA | Rain |
| SN | Snow |
| BR | Mist |
| FG | Fog |
| HZ | Haze |
| TS | Thunderstorm |
| SH | Showers |
| DZ | Drizzle |
| + | Heavy (prefix, e.g., +RA = heavy rain) |
| - | Light (prefix, e.g., -SN = light snow) |
| VC | In the vicinity (within 5 to 10 SM of the station) |
Prefix modifiers stack: `+TSRA` reads as "thunderstorm with heavy rain." Each pair of letters is its own phenomenon.
How do I read wind in a METAR?
Wind format is DDDSSKT or DDDSSGGSKT if there are gusts.
- DDD = direction, three digits, in degrees true (not magnetic). 180 means wind from the south.
- SS = speed, in knots.
- G = gust indicator. If present, the next two digits are the gust speed.
- KT = knots, the unit. METARs in the US always use knots.
Example: `27015G25KT` means wind from 270 degrees (west) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
Variable wind: `VRB05KT` means wind direction is variable at 5 knots. Below 6 knots, the FAA does not require a specific direction.
Calm wind: `00000KT` means wind is calm (below 3 knots).
How do I read visibility in a METAR?
Visibility is in statute miles, always. No unit conversion required for the Part 107 cloud clearance rule, which is also in statute miles.
Whole numbers, fractions, or both. "5SM" is 5 statute miles. "1 1/2SM" is one and a half statute miles. "10SM" is 10 statute miles (the maximum reported).
For Part 107, you need at least 3 statute miles. If a METAR shows visibility less than 3 SM, you cannot legally fly in those conditions, even if the conditions look fine to you on the ground.
How is a TAF different from a METAR?
A TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a forecast, not a report. It uses the same general format as a METAR but adds time periods showing how conditions are expected to change over the next 24 to 30 hours.
The Part 107 test asks you to read TAFs the same way you read METARs, with the added skill of identifying time blocks (FM = "from this time," BECMG = "becoming," TEMPO = "temporarily").
Content here is derived from the FAA Aviation Weather Services Advisory Circular (AC 00-45) and the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C). It is for educational purposes. Always verify current weather from official FAA sources before flight.
Practice with real FAA style questions and get detailed explanations for every answer.