METAR/TAF Decoder Key
Decode any FAA Part 107 weather question field by field — wind, visibility, sky condition, temperature/dew point, altimeter, and the TAF change-group codes.
METAR KINK 121845Z 11012G18KT 15SM SKC 25/17 A3000
| Field | Raw | Decoded |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 11012G18KT | 110° true at 12 kt., gusting to 18 kt. |
| Visibility | 15SM | 15 statute miles |
| Sky condition | SKC | Sky clear |
| Temperature/dew point | 25/17 | 25°C / 17°C — always Celsius |
| Altimeter | A3000 | 30.00" Hg — "A" + 4 digits, implied decimal |
remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf, pp. 16–17; sport_rec_private_akts.pdf, Figure 12, p. 2-12.
Sky-condition contractions
Sky coverage is reported in eighths of the sky, from horizon to horizon; the three-digit height that follows is in hundreds of feet AGL.
| Sky coverage | Contraction |
|---|---|
| Less than 1/8 (clear) | SKC, CLR |
| 1/8–2/8 (few) | FEW |
| 3/8–4/8 (scattered) | SCT |
| 5/8–7/8 (broken) | BKN |
| 8/8 (overcast) | OVC |
faa-h-8083-25c.pdf, Figure 13-6, p. 13-6. Clouds above 12,000 ft. aren't detected or reported by an automated station.
Report types & runway visual range
| SPECI | An unscheduled special report issued between routine METARs for a rapid weather change — a report type, not a location code. |
|---|---|
| R04/2200 | Runway visual range: 2,200 ft. on Runway 4 — "R" + runway number + slash + visibility in feet. |
remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf, p. 16.
TAF structure
| Issued | 4 times a day — 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Within 5 statute miles of the airport |
| Valid period | 24 or 30 hours, e.g. "1218/1324" = the 12th at 1800Z to the 13th at 2400Z UTC |
remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf, pp. 18–19.
Change-group codes
| TEMPO | Temporary fluctuation, under 1 hour at a time, within the stated window |
|---|---|
| BECMG | Gradual change, established by the end of the stated window |
| PROB40 | A 40% probability, not a certainty, of the stated conditions |
remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf, pp. 16, 19.
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