Aviation weather is its own language. Once you learn to read METARs, interpret TAFs, and use radar effectively, you unlock a deeper understanding of the conditions that shape every flight.
METARs: the current snapshot
A METAR, or Meteorological Aerodrome Report, tells you what conditions look like right now at a specific airport. It is typically issued hourly, with special reports called SPECIs published when conditions change significantly.
Anatomy of a METAR
A typical METAR includes the station identifier, date and time in Zulu, wind direction and speed, visibility, present weather phenomena, cloud layers, temperature and dewpoint, and altimeter setting. For example:
KJFK 031856Z 27015G25KT 10SM FEW040 SCT250 22/12 A3002 RMK AO2This tells us winds are from 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots, with 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet, temperature 22°C, dewpoint 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02.
Aviator Assistant EFB decodes METARs into plain language so you can interpret them at a glance without relying entirely on memorization.
TAFs: the forecast ahead
A TAF, or Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, projects conditions at an airport over a future period, typically 24 or 30 hours. It uses the same coded format as METARs, with additional change indicators like TEMPO for temporary fluctuations, BECMG for becoming, and FM for from.
Reading change groups
Understanding change groups is the key to using TAFs effectively. A TEMPO group describes conditions expected to last less than an hour at a time. A BECMG group indicates a gradual transition. FM marks an abrupt change beginning at a specific time.
When planning a flight, compare the TAF at your destination to your expected arrival time. If the forecast shows deteriorating conditions near your ETA, plan an alternate and calculate fuel accordingly.
Radar: seeing the weather
Radar imagery shows where precipitation is occurring and how intense it is. For pilots, the key is understanding what you are looking at and how the weather is moving.
- Green returns indicate light precipitation, which may be flyable but should still be monitored.
- Yellow and orange indicate moderate to heavy precipitation and require increased caution.
- Red and magenta indicate severe weather and should be avoided entirely.
- Movement trends matter as much as current position, so always watch where the weather is heading.
WeatherScope provides live radar with AI-powered analysis that helps you understand not just where weather is now, but where it is going and what it means for your plans.
Beyond the basics: AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPs
METARs, TAFs, and radar form the core of your aviation weather picture, but they should not be the only sources you check. AIRMETs warn of hazards significant to light aircraft, including turbulence, icing, and IFR conditions. SIGMETs cover hazards significant to all aircraft. PIREPs provide real-world reports from pilots already in the air and are often some of the most useful weather data available.
Putting it all together
The best pilots do not just check one source. They build a composite weather picture. Start with the big picture using area forecasts and radar, then zoom in to specifics using METARs and TAFs at key airports, and layer on pilot reports, NOTAMs, AIRMETs, and SIGMETs.
Tools like the Aviator Assistant EFB and WeatherScope bring these data sources together in a single view so pilots can make more informed go/no-go decisions.
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WeatherScope combines live radar, AI alerts, and decoded aviation weather in one app.
Build weather into your apps
Access METAR, TAF, radar, and forecast data through Aviator Assistant weather APIs.