Lesson 7 – METARs and TAFs
Reading METARs and TAFs
Lesduur is: 120 minOnderdelen in deze les
Reading METARs and TAFs
Open the lesson by framing the purpose clearly: pilots need both a report of current conditions and a forecast of expected conditions. This lesson focuses on recognising the difference and decoding the main groups in a simple teaching example.
Learning goal
I can explain the difference between a METAR and a TAF, and decode the main information in a simple aviation weather report.
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What weather details would a pilot want before a flight?
Use this to surface prior knowledge from the starter idea. Likely responses include wind, visibility, cloud, rain, pressure, temperature and time. Briefly group answers into current conditions and expected later conditions to set up METAR versus TAF.
Why pilots need weather information
Weather at an aerodrome can change quickly
Pilots need clear information before departure and arrival
Some information describes current conditions
Other information describes expected conditions later
This opens from everyday intuition: a pilot wants to know what the weather is doing now and what it may do next. That sets up the central contrast between METAR and TAF.
Two kinds of aerodrome weather information
Aviation weather messages do two different jobs. One gives an observation of the weather at a particular time. The other gives a forecast for a period ahead. Reading them correctly matters because they answer different questions.
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METAR: observed weather
A METAR is a routine aviation weather report
It describes observed conditions at an aerodrome
It refers to the weather at a particular time
Key idea: METAR = current weather information
Keep the definition tightly linked to observation and current conditions. Avoid drifting into forecast language here.
TAF: forecast weather
TAF stands for Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
It gives forecast weather information for an aerodrome
It covers a specified future period
Key idea: TAF = expected weather information
Students may not need to memorise the full expansion immediately, but they should recognise TAF as forecast information for an aerodrome.
METAR and TAF compared
METAR → observed conditions, happening now
TAF → forecast conditions, expected later
METAR reports what the aerodrome is like at the time of observation
TAF helps show what may change during the forecast period
This is the key contrast slide for the first subtopic. Reinforce the words observed/current versus forecast/future.
Which statement best matches a TAF?
Observed now
Forecast later
Pressure only
Wind only
Checks the core contrast from slides 2–6. Distractors reflect likely over-simplifications or confusion with single METAR groups.
METAR and TAF
A METAR gives observed weather for an aerodrome at a particular time. A TAF gives forecast weather for a specified future period.
The blanks anchor the load-bearing contrast: observed/current at a time versus forecast over a future period.
A simple teaching METAR
`EGXX 121450Z 24012KT 9999 SCT025 18/11 Q1015`
This teaching example is made of separate information groups. Each group gives one part of the weather report, such as place, time, wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, dew point or pressure.
Make clear that this is a fictional teaching example, not a live operational report. Students should see that a METAR is built from coded sections rather than one sentence.
The information groups
`EGXX | 121450Z | 24012KT | 9999 | SCT025 | 18/11 | Q1015`
EGXX = aerodrome identifier
121450Z = time of observation
24012KT = wind
9999 = visibility
SCT025 = cloud
18/11 = temperature and dew point
Q1015 = QNH pressure
This slide maps the structure before the class decodes each group in detail. It helps students see the order and purpose of the sections.
Aerodrome and time
EGXX is the aerodrome identifier
It tells the reader which aerodrome the report is for
121450Z gives the day and time of the observation
`12` = day of the month, `1450` = time, `Z` = UTC
You can mention that many aviation weather messages use standard identifiers and UTC so reports are clear and consistent across places.
Wind in a METAR
`24012KT`
`240` = wind direction
`12` = wind speed
`KT` = knots
Meaning: wind is from 240° at 12 knots
Flag a common misconception: the direction shows where the wind is coming from, not where it is going to.
Visibility, cloud and temperature
`9999` = visibility of 10 km or more
`SCT025` = scattered cloud with a base at 2,500 ft above aerodrome level
`18/11` = temperature 18°C and dew point 11°C
Keep the decoding literal and simple. Students do not need a full cloud-amount scale yet beyond recognising SCT as scattered.
Pressure in a METAR
`Q1015`
`Q` shows a QNH pressure group
`1015` is the pressure value in hectopascals
Meaning: QNH 1015 hPa
If useful, explain that QNH is an aerodrome pressure setting used in aviation, but keep the main learning point on identification and decoding.
Putting the METAR together
`EGXX 121450Z 24012KT 9999 SCT025 18/11 Q1015`
This report says that at EGXX, on the 12th at 14:50 UTC, the wind was from 240° at 12 knots, visibility was 10 km or more, there was scattered cloud at 2,500 ft, the temperature was 18°C, the dew point was 11°C, and the QNH was 1015 hPa.
Model how to turn coded groups into plain English. This helps prepare students to decode a whole report independently.
What does 24012KT mean?
From 240° at 12 knots
To 240° at 12 knots
From 240° at 12 km/h
To 240° at 12 km/h
Targets two common misconceptions from the deck: wind direction is where it comes from, and KT means knots.
Decode the METAR
In the teaching METAR, 9999 means visibility of 10 km or more. SCT025 means scattered cloud at 2,500 ft, and Q1015 gives the QNH pressure.
Students should connect exact code groups to meanings rather than only recalling definitions in isolation.
Which METAR group would you decode first, and why?
Expected elements: EGXX aerodrome identifier; 121450Z date/time in UTC; wind from 240 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 km or more; scattered cloud at 2,500 ft; temperature 18°C; dew point 11°C; QNH 1015 hPa. Accept concise plain-English paraphrases.
A simple teaching TAF
`TAF EGXX`
`121100Z 1212/1318`
`18008KT 9999 SCT020`
`TEMPO 1214/1218 4000 RA BKN010`
A TAF gives forecast weather for an aerodrome over a validity period.
Present the TAF as a forecast made of similar coded groups, but with time periods and forecast changes. Students should notice both familiarity and difference compared with a METAR.
TAF validity period
`1212/1318`
This shows the period covered by the forecast
The first part gives the start of validity
The second part gives the end of validity
A TAF should be read by asking: When does it begin, and when does it end?
The exact interpretation of the date-time group can be guided carefully, but the essential idea is validity over a future period.
Base forecast conditions
From the example forecast:
`18008KT` = wind from 180° at 8 knots
`9999` = visibility 10 km or more
`SCT020` = scattered cloud at 2,000 ft
Point out that some groups look just like METAR groups, but in a TAF they describe expected conditions rather than observed ones.
Temporary changes in a TAF
`TEMPO 1214/1218 4000 RA BKN010`
TEMPO means a temporary period of different conditions
`1214/1218` gives the period for that temporary change
`4000` = reduced visibility
`RA` = rain
`BKN010` = broken cloud at 1,000 ft
Students do not need a full catalogue of TAF change groups here. Focus on TEMPO as a sign that conditions may worsen for part of the forecast period.
What the TAF is telling us
The forecast begins with fairly good conditions, then shows a temporary deterioration:
Base forecast → wind from 180° at 8 knots, visibility 10 km or more, scattered cloud at 2,000 ft
TEMPO period → lower visibility, rain, and broken cloud at 1,000 ft
This is the main interpretive step: students should read a TAF as a weather story over time, not just a list of codes.
What does TEMPO show in a TAF?
Current pressure
Aerodrome code
Temporary change
Observation time
Checks understanding of the TAF-specific change group introduced on slides 14–18.
Read the forecast
In the example TAF, the validity period shows when the forecast begins and ends. The base forecast gives wind from 180° at 8 knots with scattered cloud. The TEMPO section shows rain and lower cloud for part of that period.
Echoes the wording of slides 15–18 and checks that students can read a TAF as a forecast over time.
How does the forecast trend change in the example TAF?
Improving
Deteriorating
Unchanged
Unclear
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Current or forecast?
METAR sits at now: it reports what is currently observed
TAF points into the future: it forecasts what is expected
A pilot needs both, because current conditions and later changes are not the same thing
Use a simple timeline verbally if helpful: past–now–future, with METAR at now and TAF extending forward.
Using METAR and TAF together
A pilot may see:
METAR: good conditions now
TAF: temporary deterioration later
These messages do not contradict each other. They describe different aspects of the weather.
This is the operational link: students should avoid the mistake of choosing one report and ignoring the other.
Recognising a weather trend
If conditions are good now but the TAF shows rain, lower cloud and reduced visibility later, the trend is deteriorating.
That matters because a safe flight decision depends on both the present situation and the expected changes.
Tie the forecast changes directly to operational significance without drifting into detailed flight planning rules.
Common mistakes to avoid
A METAR is not a forecast
A TAF is not a report of current weather
`24012KT` means wind from 240°, not towards 240°
`KT` means knots, not km/h
`9999` means 10 km or more, not exactly 9,999
`SCT025` means 2,500 ft, not 250 ft
This slide directly addresses misconceptions embedded in the teacher's source material. Read each one against the correct interpretation.
A good METAR and worse TAF later means…
Reports disagree
Ignore the TAF
Use both together
Ignore the METAR
This checks the operational idea from slides 19–22: the messages describe different aspects of the weather, not a contradiction.
Why might a pilot need both a METAR and a TAF?
Expected elements: METAR gives current observed conditions; TAF gives forecast conditions for a future period; a pilot needs both because weather can change and temporary deterioration matters.
What is one thing from this lesson you will remember?
Reflection only. Invite students to name one idea, code or distinction that has stuck, such as METAR versus TAF, wind from direction, 9999, SCT025 or TEMPO.
What helped you understand METARs and TAFs best today?
Reflection only. Encourage students to mention a specific support: the worked METAR, the comparison slides, the TAF timeline, decoding in groups, or spotting mistakes.
Key terms
Use the glossary to lock in the exact meanings of the lesson's core terms and codes.
Glossary
METAR - A routine aviation weather report giving observed conditions at an aerodrome.
TAF - A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast giving forecast weather for an aerodrome over a set period.
aerodrome identifier - A code that shows which aerodrome a weather report refers to.
UTC - Coordinated Universal Time, used in aviation time groups.
wind direction - The direction the wind is coming from.
knots - The unit commonly used for wind speed in aviation.
visibility - How far conditions allow objects to be seen.
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Glossary
scattered cloud - A cloud amount shown by the code SCT.
broken cloud - A greater cloud coverage shown by the code BKN.
cloud base - The height of the base of a cloud layer above aerodrome level.
dew point - The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapour can condense.
QNH - An aviation pressure setting reported in hectopascals.
validity period - The time period covered by a forecast.
TEMPO - A TAF group showing temporary changes during part of the forecast period.
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