Identify the type of report. The first word will be "METAR" if it's a standard hourly report or "SPECI" if the report is issued to cover rapidly changing conditions.
Identify the originating location of the report. A four-letter code beginning with the letter "K" identifies the airport where the METAR was created. The code can be entered in lieu of a city name at Aviation Weather Center website to find the location. KORD is Chicago O'Hare International Airport. KLAX is Los Angeles International Airport, for example.
Check the date and time of the report which is represented by the first group of six numbers. The first two numbers identify the day of the month, and the next four numbers identify the time the report was issued. For example, "250900" is the twenty-fifth day of the month at 9 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time.
Find the direction and speed of the wind using the five-number code. The first three numbers indicate the compass heading the wind is coming from and two digits to show the speed in knots. If the code read "18015", it reports the wind from 180 degrees (south) at 15 knots.
Identify the visibility in miles, which is the number preceding the letters "SM". "3SM" indicates a visibility of three statute miles.
Identify the type of weather conditions using the codes identified in Chapter 12 of the Federal Aviation Administration's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. For example, "RA" is the code for rain.
Determine the height of the clouds shown in hundreds of feet. Letters preceding the number describe the layers such as broken or overcast. The code "BKN030" indicates a broken layer of clouds at 3,000 feet.
Identify the temperature and dew point in degrees Celsius. For example, "20/15" is a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 15 degrees Celsius.
Identify the altimeter setting which is the four numbers preceded by the letter "A". "A2995" indicates an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury.
Identify the type of report. UA is a routine report and UUA is an urgent report.
Find the location where the pilot reported the conditions. The location is reported in a numbered format describing the distance and direction from a fixed navigational aid.
Determine the time, altitude and the type of aircraft listed in the report. The standard format is "TM" for time, "FL" for altitude, and "TP" for type of aircraft.
Determine the type of weather the pilot is reporting to the station. "WX" includes visibility and general conditions such as rain. "TA" identifies temperature, "WV" identifies wind direction and speed, "TB" identifies turbulence, "IC" identifies icing and "RM" is used for general remarks.
