ICAO Aviation Weather Report METAR/SPECI Code Format

Index

General Format of the METAR/SPECI Code

METAR contains a report of wind, visibility, runway visual range, present weather, sky condition, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting collectively referred to as "the body of the report." In addition, coded and/or plain language information which elaborates on data in the body of the report may be appended to the METAR. The contents of the remarks will vary according to the type of weather station. At designated stations, the METAR may be abridged to include one or more of the above elements.

The METAR/SPECI code format has two major sections: the Body, consisting of a maximum of 11 groups, and the Remarks, consisting of 2 categories. Together, the body and remarks make up the complete METAR/SPECI.

The groups of the METAR code format contain a non-uniform number of characters. When an element or phenomenon does not occur, the corresponding group, or the extension of a group, is omitted from a particular report. The groups enclosed in brackets are used in accordance with regional or national decisions.

The International Format of the METAR/SPECI Code

The following is the international format of the used by most countries. Each group provides a link to further details concerning observing and coding standards of the element.

{

METAR or SPECI Message type

_CCCC Location identifier

_GGggZ Date- time group

_dddff(f)Gfmfm Wind group

_(

KMH or KT or MPS

)

dn dndnVdxdxdx Variable wind group

_{

VVVVDv_Vx VxVxVxDv or CAVOK Visibility group

_{

RDR DR/VRVRVRVRI or RDRDR/VRVRVR VRVVRVRVRVRi Runway Visual Range group

_w'w'(ww) Present weather group

_

{

NsNsNs hshshs or VVhs hshs or SKC Cloud groups

_T'T'/T'dT'd Temperature/ Dew Point groups

_Q PHPHPHPH Sea-level Pressure group

_REw'w' Recent Weather group

_{	WS_TKOF_RWY DRDR and/or WS_LDG_RWYDRDR Takeoff and Landing Conditions groups

United States Format of the METAR/SPECI Code

The format below is used by the United States and contains the modifications relating to the exceptions requested by the United States. Most exceptions deal with the units used to report certain weather elements. Each group provides a link to further details concerning observing and coding standards of the element.

{

METAR or SPECI Message type

_CCCC Location identifier

_YYGGggZ_ Date- time group

{

COR or AUTO Corrected or Automated Ob AUTO omitted when observer logs on

_dddff(f)Gfm fmKT Wind group

_dndn dnVdxdxdx Variable wind group

_VVVVVSM Visibility group

_{

RDR DR/VRVRVRVR FT or RDNDN/VNVN VN VNVVXVXVX VXFT Runway Visual Range group

_w'w' Present Weather group

_{

NsNsNshs hshs or VVhshs hs or SKC/CLR Sky Condition group

_T'T'/T'dT'd Temperature/ Dew Point groups

_APHPHPHPH Sea-level Pressure group

_RMK_(Automated, Manual, Plain Language)_ (Additive Data and Automated Maintenance Indicators) Remarks Section groups

Additional Data and Coding Missing Data in METAR/SPECI Observations

The underline character "_" indicates a required space between the groups. If a group is not reported, the preceding space is also not reported. In addition to the format given, agencies shall provide for the inclusion of any special Beginning-of-Message, End-of-Message, or End-of-Transmission signals required by their communication system.

The actual content of a METAR or SPECI depends on the observation program at the individual station. At designated station, the 0000, 0600, 1200, and 1800 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) METAR's include additional data specified by the responsible agency and are known as 6-hourly reports. At designated stations, the 0300, 0900, 1500, and 2100 UTC METAR's are known as 3-hourly reports and also contain additional information specified by the responsible agency.

When an element does not occur, or cannot be observed, the corresponding group and preceding space are omitted from that particular report.