Interactive METAR Decoder
Paste a METAR or SPECI observation to explore common weather groups.
→ Full METAR & Weather Reference GuideDecoder corrections: 1 October 2026. Handles common METAR/SPECI groups; remarks and trend groups may remain raw. Unsupported tokens are shown, not discarded. Samples are training examples, not live reports.
Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center decoding guide · Explore a TAF timeline
Sample METARs
Click any example to load it into the decoder and decode it automatically.
What is a METAR?
A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardised format for reporting current surface weather conditions at an airport or aerodrome. Issued every 30–60 minutes, METARs encode wind, visibility, cloud cover, temperature, dew point and pressure into a compact string that pilots and dispatchers can decode at a glance. A SPECI is a special report issued when conditions change significantly between routine observations. Learn more in the full reference guide →
Read the report, then check its context
This decoder explains common groups from one observation. It does not retrieve live weather, validate a complete briefing or decide whether a flight is suitable.
Try a short example
METAR KJFK 011200Z 27015KT 1 1/2SM BKN020 12/08 A2992
The observation is for day 1 at 12:00 UTC: wind from 270° true at 15 kt, visibility 1½ statute miles (about 2.41 km), a broken layer at 2,000 ft above aerodrome level, temperature 12°C, dew point 8°C and altimeter setting 29.92 inHg. This is a fictional training example.
Keep the units attached
Statute miles and nautical miles differ. Cloud bases refer to the aerodrome, not mean sea level. Compare directions using a consistent true or magnetic reference.
Look for gaps
Unrecognised groups remain visible. Remarks and trend forecasts may be shown without a full interpretation. A decoded fragment does not establish that a report is complete or current.