METAR & TAF Decoder
A METAR is a routine airport weather observation, usually issued every 30 or 60 minutes; enter an ICAO or IATA code or airport name (for example KJFK, EGLL or YSSY) to see the latest METAR and TAF decoded into plain English.
For general informational use. Verify critical aviation calculations and weather with an authoritative source.
Three METARs decoded, group by group
The reports below are written for practice. They follow the real format, but they are not live observations. For current weather, use the decoder above.
1. A clear desert morning
METAR OMDB 041000Z 32012KT 280V350 CAVOK 33/14 Q1010 NOSIG
| OMDB | Dubai International (ICAO code) |
| 041000Z | 4th day of the month, 10:00 UTC |
| 32012KT 280V350 | Wind from 320° true at 12 kt, varying between 280° and 350° |
| CAVOK | Visibility 10 km or more, no cloud below 5,000 ft or the highest minimum sector altitude, no cumulonimbus or towering cumulus, no significant weather |
| 33/14 | Temperature 33 °C, dew point 14 °C |
| Q1010 | QNH 1010 hPa |
| NOSIG | No significant change expected in the next 2 hours |
2. A wet, gusty arrival in the US
METAR KJFK 041051Z 03015G25KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC015 08/07 A2982
| 03015G25KT | Wind from 030° at 15 kt, gusting 25 kt |
| 4SM | Visibility 4 statute miles |
| -RA BR | Light rain and mist |
| BKN008 OVC015 | Broken cloud at 800 ft, overcast at 1,500 ft. The ceiling is 800 ft (the lowest broken or overcast layer) |
| 08/07 | Temperature 8 °C, dew point 7 °C: a 1 °C spread, so low cloud and mist are no surprise |
| A2982 | Altimeter 29.82 inHg |
With an 800 ft ceiling this is IFR weather. If it were your destination forecast around your arrival time, you would need an alternate: see the 1-2-3 rule.
3. A typical European day
METAR EGLL 040950Z 24008KT 9999 FEW030 SCT045 12/06 Q1018 NOSIG
| 24008KT | Wind from 240° at 8 kt |
| 9999 | Visibility 10 km or more |
| FEW030 SCT045 | Few clouds at 3,000 ft, scattered at 4,500 ft. No ceiling, because neither layer is broken or overcast |
| 12/06 | Temperature 12 °C, dew point 6 °C |
| Q1018 | QNH 1018 hPa |
Cloud cover in eighths
| Code | Meaning | Oktas |
|---|---|---|
| FEW | Few | 1–2 |
| SCT | Scattered | 3–4 |
| BKN | Broken | 5–7 |
| OVC | Overcast | 8 |
For the full rules, including TAF change groups, read How to Read a METAR and TAF.
How to use the METAR & TAF weather tool
Use this page when you want a quick view of the latest available aerodrome observation and forecast for an airport. You can start with an airport name, a three-letter IATA code or a four-character ICAO location indicator. USFITools resolves the airport and then requests the latest available reports. The raw aviation report is kept visible because pilots, dispatchers and aviation students often need the original coded text as well as a convenient summary.
How to use it
- Enter an airport name, IATA code or ICAO code.
- Choose the correct airport when more than one match is available.
- Select Get METAR & TAF to retrieve the latest available reports.
- Read the raw report and verify operational information with an approved aviation weather source before using it for a flight-related decision.
Method and calculation
METAR describes observed weather at or near an aerodrome, while TAF describes forecast conditions for a defined period. Not every airport issues a TAF, and reports can be amended or unavailable. The tool requests current data from AviationWeather.gov and caches results briefly to reduce unnecessary server traffic.
Worked example and practical notes
For Dubai International, searching DXB or OMDB should resolve the airport before the weather request. A returned METAR may include wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, dew point and altimeter information. The raw report remains the authoritative text supplied by the data service.
Weather data source: AviationWeather.gov. Always use sources and procedures approved for your operation.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Read the guide: How to Read a METAR and TAF: A Line-by-Line Guide
Frequently asked questions
What is a METAR?
A METAR is an aviation routine weather report describing observed conditions at or near an aerodrome.
What is a TAF?
A TAF is an aerodrome forecast covering expected weather for a stated period. Not every airport issues a TAF.
Can I search by IATA code?
Yes. USFITools can resolve many airport names, IATA codes and ICAO codes before requesting the weather report.
Can I use this for flight planning?
Use it as an informational convenience only. Operational decisions should be verified with approved aviation weather sources and procedures.