Checking local weather alerts…
Loading
Preparing your latest data and actions.
Learn how airport observations, forecasts and hazard maps describe different parts of the weather picture.
A METAR reports weather measured at an airport at a stated time. It describes an observation, not a forecast. Read the station identifier and observation time first. Then look at wind, visibility and cloud cover. A SPECI is an additional report issued when certain conditions change. Reports may be automated, and not every station measures every element. Conditions at a nearby landing zone or along a flight route can differ from those at the reporting airport.
A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast describes expected conditions around an airport during a specified period. Check both the issue time and the hours the forecast covers. Different groups describe expected changes within that period; they are not all conditions expected at once. A forecast may be amended as conditions change. A TAF does not describe the entire route between airports.
Aviation advisories describe hazards such as turbulence, icing and thunderstorms over an area and time period. SIGMETs cover significant aviation hazards. G-AIRMETs describe other widespread conditions that can affect flight. Center Weather Advisories provide short-term information for air traffic services. Check each product’s area, altitude range and valid time. A hazard can exist outside a drawn boundary or between updates; an empty map is not proof of a safe flight.
The time a page loads is different from the time weather was observed or a forecast was issued. An observation reports an earlier measurement. A forecast applies to its stated future period. Aviation reports commonly use UTC, also called Zulu time, marked with Z. Check the date as well as the hour, especially around midnight. If a report is missing or old, seek an updated source rather than assuming conditions have stayed the same.
A weather summary does not determine whether an aircraft can fly or a landing zone can be used. Flight decisions also depend on the aircraft, crew qualifications, route, airspace, terrain and operating procedures. A nearby airport report does not confirm conditions or obstacles at a landing zone. Use this guide to understand the terms; pilots and operators must obtain the information required for their flight and make decisions through their established procedures.