If you’ve ever looked at a METAR and thought, “What is this secret code?”—you’re not alone! At first glance, these reports can seem intimidating, but once you break them down, they’re actually pretty straightforward.

For drone pilots, understanding METARs is essential for safe flying. Wind speed, visibility, and cloud cover all impact whether you should take off or wait for better conditions. Let’s dive in and decode METARs step by step.

Watch our Youtube video if you are a visual learner 🙂

What is a METAR?

METAR stands for METeorological Aerodrome Report. 

METAR’s are weather reports, updated hourly, mainly used in aviation to give pilots real-time weather conditions. Even though it’s designed for aircraft pilots, it’s just as useful for drone operators.

Knowing how to read METARs can help you:

• Avoid high winds that could impact drone stability

• Ensure visibility meets legal requirements

• Check cloud cover to stay below altitude limits

Breaking Down a METAR

A typical METAR report consists of several sections, each providing key weather data. Here’s what you’ll find:

1. Report Type – Type of report (METAR)

2. Station Identifier – Airport code (e.g., CYYZ for Toronto Pearson)

3. Date & Time – Issued in UTC

4. Wind Information – Wind direction in degrees true (to get degrees magnetic apply the magnetic variation to it) and speed (in knots)

5. Visibility – Reported in statute miles (SM)

6. Precipitation – Represented by abbreviations (list below⬇️)

7. Sky Conditions – Cloud cover and altitude in feet above ground level (ft AGL), demonstrated using abbreviations (list below⬇️)

8. Temperature & Dew Point – Reported in Celsius

9. Altimeter Setting – Air pressure at sea level

10. Remarks – Additional details

Now, let’s put this into practice with a real-world example!

Decoding a METAR Step by Step

Here’s our first METAR to break down:

METAR CYYZ 121400Z 08008KT 15SM OVC110 M00/M09 A3007 RMK AS8 SLP194

Breaking it Down

• CYYZ – This report is for Toronto Pearson Airport

• 121400Z – Issued on the 12th day (12) at 14:00 UTC (1400Z)

• 08008KT – Wind is from 080° (080, which is east) at 8 knots (8KT)

• 15SM – Visibility is 15 statute miles (15SM)

• OVC110 – Overcast cloud cover (OVC) at 11,000 feet AGL (110)

• M00/M09 – Temperature is -0°C (M=minus 00=degree value), dew point is -9°C (M=minus 09=degree value)

• A3007 – Altimeter setting (A) is 30.07 inHg (3007)

• RMK AS8 SLP194 – Remarks (RMK): altostratus cloud (AS) and 8 octas (8) meaning the overcast layer is composed of altostratus clouds. Sea-level pressure (SLP) 1019.4 hPa (194). 

Test Your METAR Skills!

Let’s see if you can decode this one:

METAR CYTZ 121200Z AUTO 07012KT 9SM CLR 00/M06 A3009 RMK SLP195

Got your answers? Let’s check:

• CYTZ – Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop)

• 121200Z – 12th day (12), 12:00 UTC (1200Z)

• AUTO – Automated station (AUTO, there was no human observer)

• 07012KT – Wind from 070° (070, which is east) at 12 knots (12KT)

• 9SM – Visibility is 9 statute miles (9SM)

• CLR – Clear skies (CLR)

• 00/M06 – Temperature is 0°C (00), dew point is -6°C (M=minus 06)

• A3009 – Altimeter setting (A) is 30.09 inHg (3009)

• SLP195 – Sea-level pressure (SLP) is 1019.5 hPa (195)

How did you do? If you got most of it right—congrats! You’re on your way to becoming a METAR pro.

For more practice, check out METARs here!

How METARs Help Drone Pilots

So how does reading METARS aid your drone flights? 

METARs give you weather data updated hourly, so checking them before takeoff is a must!

For example:

• If wind speeds are high, it may be unsafe to fly.

• If visibility is low, you may need to delay your flight.

• If cloud cover is thick, you need to ensure compliance with altitude limits.

Pro Tip: Use RPAS Wilco for Automated METARs

Need a simpler way to incorporate METARs into your drone flights? RPAS Wilco has you covered. 

As Canada’s #1 FREE drone compliance platform, we automatically pull METAR data for your flight location and time—straight from NAV CANADA—and integrate it into your site survey.

No more manual decoding. Just check your site survey and get the critical weather data you need. And the best part? It’s FREE! 

Download RPAS Wilco today and start flying smarter: RPAS Wilco

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to read METARs and apply them to your drone flights!

If you found this helpful, be sure to check out RPAS Centre’s FREE Advanced exam prep course, where we dive deeper into METARs, TAFs, VFRs, and more. (Check it out here)

Happy flying, and stay safe out there!