What is a METAR report?

A METAR report is a routine weather report that provides current aerodrome weather information. These reports are issued at regular intervals, typically every hour, and include essential data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover, and weather phenomena. This information is vital for pilots and dispatchers in operational planning and decision-making, as it gives an accurate depiction of the weather conditions at an airport at the time of reporting.

The characteristics of the METAR report make it distinct from other types of weather reports. Unlike forecasts, which look ahead to predict future conditions, METARs present the current state of the weather. They are also not emergency alerts; those are categorized differently and are issued under particular conditions that require immediate attention. Furthermore, while visual flight rules (VFR) relate to weather conditions that allow pilots to fly by visual reference rather than by instruments, METAR reports support both VFR and instrument flight rules (IFR) by providing the essential conditions necessary for safe flight operations.