🌤️ METAR, TAF, NOTAM: learning to read aviation weather
🎯 Why is this needed?
Flying without weather is like going to a restaurant without a menu! 😄 You should know:
💨 Wind (runway selection!)
☁️ Cloudy
👁️ Visibility
🌧️Precipitation
📡 METAR - current weather
Example:
UUEE 071200Z 24015G25KT 9999 FEW025 SCT040 04/M02 Q1015 NOSIG
🔍 Let's sort it out:
UUEE = 📍 Sheremetyevo
071200Z = 📅 07th, ⏰ 12:00 UTC
24015G25KT = 💨 Wind 240° 15 knots, gusts 25
9999 = 👁️ Visibility 10+ km
FEW025 SCT040 = ☁️ Clouds:
FEW = small (1-2/8)
025 = at 2500 feet
SCT = Scattered (3-4/8)
040 = at 4000 feet
Cloud cover:
☀️ FEW - not enough
🌤️ SCT - absent-minded
⛅ BKN - torn (5-7/8)
☁️ OVC - solid (8/8)
04/M02 = 🌡️ +4°C, dew point -2°C (M = minus)
Q1015 = 📊 Pressure 1015 hPa
NOSIG = ✅ No change
🌧️ Weather codes
Intensity:
- = weak
(nothing) = moderate
+ = strong
Types:
🌧️ RA = rain
🌨️ SN = snow
🌫️ FG = fog
⚡ TS = thunderstorm
🌧️ SH = showers
🧊 GR = hail
Examples:
-RA = light rain
+TSRA = severe thunderstorm with rain
FZFG = freezing fog
📅 TAF - forecast
Example:
TAF OMDB 071100Z 0712/0818 24015KT 9999 FEW030
TEMPO 0712/0716 24020G30KT BECMG 0800/0802 28012KT
Let's look at:
OMDB 071100Z = 📍 Dubai, ⏰ released 07/11:00Z
0712/0818 = 📆 Period: from 07/12Z to 08/18Z
24015KT 9999 FEW030 = 💨 Basic weather
TEMPO 0712/0716 = ⚠️ At times from 12Z to 16Z
💨 The wind will increase to 20kt gusts 30
BECMG 0800/0802 = 🔄 Gradually from 00Z to 02Z
💨 The wind will change to 280° 12kt
Important groups:
⚡ TEMPO - temporary (<1 hour)
📈 BECMG - gradually
🎲 PROB30/40 — probability 30%/40%
🔄 FM - quick change
📋 NOTAM - operational information
What happens:
🚧Runway closure:
RWY 24L CLOSED 0712120000-0712180000
📡 Non-working equipment:
ILS RWY 06 U/S
🎪 Obstacles:
CRANE 150M HEIGHT
⚔️ Military zones:
MILITARY EXERCISES PROHIBITED
🔍Where to watch?
🌐 metar-taf.com - official
🌐 SimBrief - built into the planner
🌐 metar.vatsim.net - for VATSIM
📱 Aviation Weather (app)
Remember: Weather is safety! 😉
Happy flying! ✈️☁️