How to Read a METAR (Australian Aviation Weather Report)
Study guideLast reviewed: 2026-09-08
A METAR is a routine observation of the actual weather at an aerodrome. In Australia the Bureau of Meteorology issues them about every half hour; a SPECI is an unscheduled report issued when a condition crosses a defined threshold. Both use the same code, and the groups always appear in the same order, so decoding is a matter of working left to right.
Step by step
Report type and location. METAR or SPECI, then the four-letter ICAO location indicator (for example YSSY for Sydney).
Day and time. Six digits followed by Z: the day of the month then the time in UTC. 042130Z is the 4th at 2130 UTC.
Wind. Direction in degrees true rounded to the nearest 10, then speed in knots, then KT. G marks a gust (for example 25015G28KT). VRB means the direction is varying at 3 kt or less; a dddVddd group after the wind shows the range when it varies more at higher speed. 00000KT is calm.
Visibility. Prevailing visibility in metres. 9999 means 10 km or more. CAVOK replaces the visibility, weather and cloud groups when visibility is 10 km or more, there is no cloud below 5000 ft (or the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is higher) and no cumulonimbus, and no significant weather.
Weather. Intensity first: a minus sign is light, no sign is moderate, a plus sign is heavy. Then the phenomena, for example RA rain, SHRA rain showers, TS thunderstorm, DZ drizzle, FG fog, BR mist, HZ haze.
Cloud. Amount then height in hundreds of feet above aerodrome elevation: FEW is 1 to 2 oktas, SCT 3 to 4, BKN 5 to 7, OVC 8. SCT025 is scattered cloud at 2500 ft. CB or TCU is appended to the layer that contains it. NSC or NCD means nothing significant; SKC means sky clear.
Temperature and dew point. Air temperature then dew point in whole degrees Celsius, separated by a slash. An M prefix means minus, so 03/M01 is 3 °C with a dew point of minus 1 °C.
QNH. The letter Q then four digits: the QNH in hectopascals. Q1018 is 1018 hPa. Remarks after RMK can include recent weather and a trend.
Perth, observed on the 4th at 2130 UTC. Wind 240 degrees true at 12 knots. Visibility 10 km or more. Few cloud at 2500 ft and scattered cloud at 4000 ft above the aerodrome. Temperature 19 °C, dew point 12 °C. QNH 1017 hPa.
Common mistakes
A METAR reports what is happening now, not a forecast — pair it with the TAF for the same aerodrome before you plan.
Wind direction in a METAR and TAF is degrees true; the tower passes you degrees magnetic on the radio.
Cloud height in a METAR is above aerodrome level, not above mean sea level.
CAVOK is not the same as SKC — CAVOK still allows cloud at or above 5000 ft.
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