MetarDecoder

METAR & TAF Decode Examples

Twelve representative reports decoded field by field into plain English. They span the full range of conditions — from a clear VFR afternoon to dense-fog LIFR, thunderstorms, snow, freezing rain, and multi-period TAF forecasts — so you can see the codes in context.

These are illustrative examples selected to demonstrate common conditions. Each was decoded and reviewed on September 6, 2026. To decode a current, live report, use the decoder.

01 · METAR

Clear, calm VFR day

VFR
KAUS 121553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/14 A3005
  • Austin, observed at 15:53 UTC on the 12th.
  • Wind calm (00000KT); visibility 10 statute miles.
  • Sky clear (CLR) with no clouds detected below 12,000 ft.
  • Temperature 28 °C, dew point 14 °C; altimeter 30.05 inHg.
  • No ceiling and 10 SM visibility → VFR.
02 · METAR

Gusty wind, still VFR

VFR
KDEN 121553Z 31018G28KT 10SM FEW120 SCT200 22/M01 A2992
  • Denver. Wind from 310° at 18 knots, gusting 28.
  • Visibility 10 SM; few clouds at 12,000 ft, scattered at 20,000 ft.
  • Temperature 22 °C, dew point −1 °C (M01 = minus 1).
  • Only few/scattered layers, so there is no ceiling → VFR despite the gusts.
03 · METAR

Marginal VFR from a low broken layer

MVFR
KBOS 121554Z 09012KT 8SM BKN025 OVC040 18/12 A2989
  • Boston. Wind 090° at 12 knots; visibility 8 SM.
  • Broken layer at 2,500 ft is the ceiling; overcast above at 4,000 ft.
  • A 2,500 ft ceiling falls in the 1,000–3,000 ft band → MVFR.
  • Visibility alone would be VFR, but the more-restrictive value wins.
04 · METAR

IFR in steady rain

IFR
KSEA 121553Z 17014KT 2SM RA BR OVC008 11/10 A2970
  • Seattle. Wind 170° at 14 knots; visibility 2 SM.
  • Moderate rain (RA) with mist (BR); overcast ceiling at 800 ft.
  • Temperature 11 °C, dew point 10 °C — nearly saturated.
  • Ceiling 800 ft and visibility 2 SM are both IFR → IFR.
05 · METAR

LIFR in dense fog

LIFR
KSFO 121556Z 00000KT 1/4SM FG VV002 14/14 A3001
  • San Francisco. Wind calm; visibility only 1/4 SM in fog (FG).
  • Sky obscured — vertical visibility 200 ft (VV002) acts as an indefinite ceiling.
  • Temperature and dew point both 14 °C: saturated air.
  • Visibility 1/4 SM and 200 ft ceiling are both below the IFR floor → LIFR.
06 · METAR

Thunderstorm with heavy rain

IFR
KMCO 121552Z 25020G35KT 1 1/2SM +TSRA BKN010CB OVC030 26/24 A2985
  • Orlando. Wind 250° at 20 knots gusting 35.
  • Visibility 1½ SM in a thunderstorm with heavy rain (+TSRA).
  • Broken cumulonimbus at 1,000 ft (BKN010CB) is the ceiling; overcast at 3,000 ft.
  • Ceiling 1,000 ft with 1½ SM visibility → IFR, and the CB signals turbulence, lightning, and possible hail.
07 · METAR

Snow and freezing conditions

IFR
KORD 121551Z 03016KT 3/4SM -SN BR OVC007 M03/M05 A2978
  • Chicago. Wind 030° at 16 knots; visibility 3/4 SM.
  • Light snow (-SN) with mist; overcast ceiling at 700 ft.
  • Temperature −3 °C, dew point −5 °C (M = minus).
  • Ceiling 700 ft and 3/4 SM visibility → IFR trending toward LIFR on visibility.
08 · METAR

Freezing rain hazard

LIFR
KBUF 121554Z 06012KT 1/2SM FZRA BR OVC004 M01/M02 A2969
  • Buffalo. Wind 060° at 12 knots; visibility 1/2 SM.
  • Freezing rain (FZRA) with mist — a serious icing hazard.
  • Overcast ceiling at 400 ft; temperature −1 °C, dew point −2 °C.
  • Ceiling 400 ft and 1/2 SM visibility are both below IFR minimums → LIFR.
09 · METAR

Reading the remarks (RMK) section

VFR
KATL 121552Z 27008KT 10SM FEW250 31/19 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP158 T03110189
  • Atlanta. Wind 270° at 8 knots; visibility 10 SM; few clouds at 25,000 ft → VFR.
  • AO2: automated station with a precipitation discriminator.
  • SLP158: sea-level pressure 1015.8 hPa.
  • T03110189: precise temperature 31.1 °C and dew point 18.9 °C.
10 · TAF

A straightforward VFR forecast

KRDU 121130Z 1212/1312 20008KT P6SM SCT050
  FM121800 22012KT P6SM BKN060
  • Raleigh-Durham, issued 11:30 UTC on the 12th, valid 12:00 on the 12th to 12:00 on the 13th.
  • Initial: wind 200° at 8 knots, visibility greater than 6 SM (P6SM), scattered clouds at 5,000 ft.
  • From 18:00 UTC (FM121800): wind shifts to 220° at 12 knots, broken clouds at 6,000 ft.
  • Conditions remain comfortably VFR throughout.
11 · TAF

TAF with a TEMPO deterioration

KIAD 121120Z 1212/1312 18010KT P6SM BKN035
  TEMPO 1214/1218 3SM TSRA BKN015CB
  FM122000 20008KT P6SM SCT040
  • Washington Dulles, valid 12:00 on the 12th to 12:00 on the 13th.
  • Base forecast: wind 180° at 10 knots, >6 SM, broken at 3,500 ft.
  • TEMPO 1214/1218: temporarily between 14:00 and 18:00, visibility 3 SM in thunderstorms and rain with a broken CB layer at 1,500 ft.
  • From 20:00: improving to scattered at 4,000 ft and >6 SM.
12 · TAF

TAF with BECMG and a PROB group

KPDX 121128Z 1212/1312 14006KT 5SM BR OVC012
  BECMG 1216/1218 16008KT P6SM SCT025
  PROB30 1300/1304 2SM BR
  • Portland, valid 12:00 on the 12th to 12:00 on the 13th.
  • Start: wind 140° at 6 knots, 5 SM in mist, overcast at 1,200 ft (MVFR).
  • BECMG 1216/1218: becoming, over 16:00–18:00, wind 160° at 8 knots, >6 SM, scattered at 2,500 ft.
  • PROB30 1300/1304: 30% probability of 2 SM in mist between 03:00 and 04:00 UTC.

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