Author Topic: How to Read METAR  (Read 14502 times)

Offline Aviation Freak

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How to Read METAR
« on: July 14, 2008, 04:09:05 PM »
I guess this is one thing a pilot must read before they depart. :P
I've figured out most of it except what is beyond the RMK part is.

METAR KJFK 141551Z 23010KT 10SM FEW055 BKN120 BKN250 24/16 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP116 T02390161

METAR from wunderground.com

EDIT:
I don't know if it's just me, but this one seems longer? http://flightaware.com/live/airport/KJFK
« Last Edit: July 14, 2008, 04:18:28 PM by Aviation Freak »

Offline Fabo

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2008, 04:22:27 PM »
METAR - we know

KJFK - JFK International, NYC, NY

141551Z - 14th of respective month, issued at 15 51Z

23010KT - wind 230 degrees 10 knots

10SM - visibility 10 statute miles or better

FEW055 - few clouds at 5500ft AGL

BKN120 - broken clouds at 12 000 AGL

BKN250 - broken clouds at 25 000

24/16 - temperature 24 degrees, dewpoint 16, now cause this is JFK I think Fahrenheit (?)

A2987 - altimeter  29.87, roughly equivalent to Q1011.5 hPa

RMK - remarks

AO2 - METAR message is autogenerated, has precip sensors and is observed by real operator

SLP116 - sea level pressure in dunno

T02390161 - hourly temperature and dewpoint - 0 means 0C+, then 239 means 23.9°C, same for dewpoint


PS: this might help if you cant decipher ;) http://weather.cod.edu/notes/metar.html
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Offline G-man

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2008, 04:53:42 PM »
OK--I'll buy a beer for anyone who can translate the portion of this TAF that is in red AND explain for who and why that information is presented. ::drinking:: ::drinking::

KSUU 141555Z AUTO 23019KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A2989 RMK AO2 PK WND 23028/1530 SLP122 T01810128 $

KSUU 141212 24018G25KT 9999 SKC QNH2984INS
BECMG 1415 24015KT 9999 SKC QNH2982INS
BECMG 2324 24020G25KT 9999 SKC QNH2980INS T32/23Z T15/13Z     

I gave you the METAR also--not that it will help.. ::whistle:: ::whistle:: And yes I do know what it means. ::whistle:: ::whistle::.
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline AirScorp

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2008, 08:36:53 PM »
Knew the what, found out the who and still can't think of why.. Will hold back for someone to get the beer :)
It's all Greek to me!

Offline Oddball

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2008, 11:01:01 PM »
I'm not even going to try decipher that got enough to do as it is lol.
"You can teach monkeys to fly better than that!"and "spring chicken to sh**e hawk in one easy lesson"

Offline Aviation Freak

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2008, 11:38:35 PM »
24/16 - temperature 24 degrees, dewpoint 16, now cause this is JFK I think Fahrenheit (?)
SLP116 - sea level pressure in dunno


PS: this might help if you cant decipher ;) http://weather.cod.edu/notes/metar.html

It has to be Celsius because 24°F would mean it's oddly cold for summer. :P

116 hPa?  ???

I guess I'm set now. :D Thanks!

Offline G-man

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2008, 12:01:09 AM »

SLP116 - sea level pressure in dunno

116 hPa?  ???

[/quote]

It is 31.16--they drop the 3 or the 2, (as in 29.92).
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline Thunder Eagle

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2008, 12:29:43 AM »

SLP116 - sea level pressure in dunno

116 hPa?  ???


It is 31.16--they drop the 3 or the 2, (as in 29.92).
[/quote]

Close... but not quite right.   It's 1011.6 hPa.  The first 10 part is assumed... unless the station is hit by a hurricane and it's a 9 instead.

Offline chuckar101

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2008, 02:01:47 AM »

SLP116 - sea level pressure in dunno

116 hPa?  ???


It is 31.16--they drop the 3 or the 2, (as in 29.92).

Close... but not quite right.   It's 1011.6 hPa.  The first 10 part is assumed... unless the station is hit by a hurricane and it's a 9 instead.
[/quote]

On hpa just add a nine or ten to the front, whichever brings the number closest 1000.
WOW I did that!

Offline G-man

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2008, 02:20:01 AM »
On hpa just add a nine or ten to the front, whichever brings the number closest 1000.

Yep---thats what comes with not paying attention-- ::drinking:: ::drinking::

Still not takers on the SUU TAF though--c'mon..at least guess..Airscoop??
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline AirScorp

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2008, 02:51:29 AM »
Ok I'll give it a shot:

What I knew: T32/23Z means surface Temperature is predicted to be 32 degrees at(/) 23:00 Zulu time

What I found out: It's for the air force guys. Seems that the only airports that have this code group are military airports, at least in the US.

What I don't know: Why they put the surface temp in the end of the TAF in that format instead of also giving temp and dewpoint information on every line like the METAR. That would make more sense. Except if they list the max and minimum temp forecasted for the day, but I think the code for max temp should be something like TX32/23Z.

Hehe, the internet is a great thing  |:)\ So, why is it there G-man?
It's all Greek to me!

Offline G-man

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2008, 05:39:44 AM »
Ok I'll give it a shot:
What I found out: It's for the air force guys. Seems that the only airports that have this code group are military airports, at least in the US.
So, why is it there G-man?

Pretty good--I'll buy you a beer.

It is the forecasted highest and lowest temperature for the next 24 hours... It is only on "MAC" bases--(Military Air Command), they use it for planning the best time to take off for the most efficient flight.

T32/23Z T15/13Z Highest temp of 32 C will occur @ 2300Z and lowest temp of 15 C will occur @ 1300Z.

Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline TheSoccerMom

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2008, 05:42:53 AM »
Whoaaa, cool.....

Never would have guessed it!  And here I thought it was what hours the airport bar was open....   ::whistle::

"23Z until 13Z"......   ::silly::

 :D

Don't make me come back there!!!!

Offline G-man

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2008, 05:43:49 AM »
Whoaaa, cool.....

Never would have guessed it!  And here I thought it was what hours the airport bar was open....   ::whistle::

"23Z until 13Z"......   ::silly::

 :D


Like it--like it a lot.. ::drinking:: ::drinking::
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline AirScorp

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Re: How to Read METAR
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2008, 11:26:09 AM »
Whoaaa, cool.....

Never would have guessed it!  And here I thought it was what hours the airport bar was open....   ::whistle::

"23Z until 13Z"......   ::silly::

 :D



Nyaaaa! That's what airport NOTAMs are for  ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking:: ::drinking::
It's all Greek to me!