What is a METAR?
METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized weather observation format used at airports worldwide. Issued every hour (sometimes every 30 minutes at busy airports), it tells pilots and controllers the current conditions.
Reading a METAR
KATL 301853Z 27012G18KT 10SM FEW250 28/14 A3002
KATL- airport (Atlanta)301853Z- day 30, time 18:53 UTC27012G18KT- wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 1810SM- visibility 10 statute milesFEW250- few clouds at 25,000ft28/14- temperature 28C, dewpoint 14CA3002- altimeter setting 30.02 inHg
Why controllers care
Wind determines which runways to use. Aircraft land and take off into the wind. A METAR showing 27012KT means runway 27 is the preferred runway. If wind shifts to 09015KT, the airport switches to runway 09.
Visibility and ceiling determine whether IFR or VFR procedures are in effect, affecting separation minimums and approach types available.
In radarcontrol.io
Every airport has live METAR data fetched from aviation weather services. The wind data automatically determines runway selection. Major airports also receive live ATIS broadcasts. The weather panel shows decoded METAR with flight category (VFR/IFR).