Free tool
METAR and TAF decoder
Decode a report
Paste a METAR, SPECI or TAF to see each group in plain English, with the section of the FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B) that explains it.
The examples were written for practice: they aren't real reports. For study only, not for flight planning or navigation.
How to use it
- Copy a whole METAR, SPECI or TAF, starting from its report type or station identifier.
- Paste it in the box and press Decode.
- Read the meaning of each group. Anything the decoder doesn't know is listed under "Not recognized", so nothing is skipped without telling you.
A METAR is the routine report made near the top of the hour, and a SPECI is an unscheduled special report (Aviation Weather Handbook, p. 24-6). A TAF forecasts the weather within 5 statute miles of the center of an airport's runway complex, usually for 24 hours (Aviation Weather Handbook, p. 27-6).
What it reads
- METAR and SPECI: report type, station, date and time, AUTO or COR, wind (with gusts and variable direction), visibility, runway visual range, present weather, sky cover and the ceiling, temperature and dew point, the altimeter setting, and common remarks such as AO2, PK WND, SLP and the T group (temperature and dew point to tenths of a degree).
- TAF: the header (type, station, issue time and valid period), the base forecast, and each FM, TEMPO and PROB30 group, including wind shear and NSW.
It is a practice decoder, not a weather service. It has no live data and doesn't check whether a report is current. For real flights, use an official source such as aviationweather.gov, which the National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center runs (Aviation Weather Handbook, p. 3-6).
Learn to read them yourself
The test expects you to decode reports without help. Start with how to read a METAR and how to read a TAF, then try the free Part 107 weather questions. Part 107 Complete adds a METAR and TAF trainer that tests you on 39 example reports, with feedback on every answer: see what's in Part 107 Complete.
Questions people ask
- What is the difference between a METAR and a TAF?
- A METAR is an observation: the weather at an airport when the report was made, usually near the top of the hour. A TAF is a forecast for the area around one airport, usually for the next 24 hours.
- Can I use this decoder to plan a real flight?
- No. It is a study aid. Get your weather from an official source and read the full report yourself; check anything the decoder lists as not recognized.
- Why does it say a group is not recognized?
- It reads the groups the FAA Aviation Weather Handbook explains for U.S. reports. Anything else, including typos and codes from other countries, is listed as not recognized so you can check it against the original report.
- Is it free, and is my report sent anywhere?
- It's free with no account, and the decoding happens in your browser: the text you paste isn't sent to us.
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