METAR and TAF for Drone Pilots in Canada: How to Read Them

A METAR is an hourly weather observation at an airport, and a TAF is a forecast for the area around it. For drone pilots in Canada, reading them means checking wind and gusts, visibility, cloud, temperature and dew point before every flight, and understanding the Advanced exam questions that use the same codes.

This guide decodes METAR and TAF reports line by line with Canadian examples, and shows how to turn the codes into a simple go or no-go decision for your drone.

Why METAR and TAF Matter for Drone Pilots

Consumer weather apps are useful, but aviation reports are written for pilots. They give precise wind speed and gusts, exact visibility, cloud heights and changes expected over the next hours. Transport Canada’s knowledge requirements for pilots of remotely piloted aircraft include meteorology, and the Advanced exam regularly tests the ability to interpret aviation weather. Our guide to the Advanced drone pilot certificate explains what the exam covers.

In Canada, METARs and TAFs are available through NAV CANADA’s flight planning weather services, and Environment and Climate Change Canada also publishes aviation weather information. Most sources use the same international format.

Weather is also one of the leading contributing factors in drone incidents. Gusts that exceed a small drone’s ability to hold position, sudden visibility loss in snow, and battery failures in cold air all appear regularly in incident reports. Reading the reports properly turns vague unease about the weather into a concrete decision.

How to Read a METAR Step by Step

Here is an example METAR in the format used at Canadian airports:

METAR CYUL 071800Z 27012G22KT 15SM FEW040 BKN090 M02/M08 A2998 RMK SC1AC5

Wind direction in a METAR is where the wind comes from, in degrees true. Speed is in knots. One knot is about 1.85 km/h, so 22 knots is roughly 41 km/h, which is above the wind resistance rating of many small consumer drones.

Some Canadian stations are automated and their reports include AUTO, while others are observed by people. Automated reports may also include special notes in the remarks when a sensor is unavailable. If the latest METAR is more than an hour old, look for a SPECI, a special report issued when conditions change significantly between routine observations.

Common weather codes

• -SN, SN, +SN: light, moderate or heavy snow.
• RA, DZ: rain and drizzle.
• FZRA, FZDZ: freezing rain or drizzle, a serious icing hazard.
• BR, FG: mist and fog, which reduce visibility.
• OVC, BKN, SCT, FEW: overcast, broken, scattered and few cloud coverage.
• CB, TCU: cumulonimbus and towering cumulus, signs of thunderstorms or strong convection.
• VRB: variable wind direction.

How to Read a TAF

A TAF forecasts conditions for an area around an airport, usually covering 24 or 30 hours. Example:

TAF CYOW 071740Z 0718/0818 24010KT P6SM SCT030 BKN080 TEMPO 0720/0724 24015G25KT FM080200 30008KT P6SM OVC020 PROB30 0806/0810 -SN

1. CYOW 071740Z: Ottawa, issued on the 7th at 17:40 UTC.
2. 0718/0818: valid from the 7th at 18:00 UTC to the 8th at 18:00 UTC.
3. 24010KT P6SM SCT030 BKN080: wind 240° at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 statute miles, scattered cloud at 3,000 ft, broken at 8,000 ft.
4. TEMPO 0720/0724 24015G25KT: temporarily between 20:00 and 24:00 UTC, wind 15 knots gusting 25.
5. FM080200: from the 8th at 02:00 UTC, a new set of conditions starts.
6. PROB30 0806/0810 -SN: 30% probability of light snow between 06:00 and 10:00 UTC.

The key TAF change groups are FM (from), TEMPO (temporary fluctuations), BECMG (becoming, a gradual change) and PROB30 or PROB40 (probability). If your planned flight falls inside a TEMPO or PROB group with strong gusts or precipitation, plan for the worse condition.

Also note the validity period carefully, since a TAF issued in the afternoon may not cover tomorrow evening.

Turning the Codes Into a Go or No-Go Decision

Use aviation weather alongside your drone’s published limits. A simple pre-flight weather check might look like this:

Remember that a METAR reflects conditions at the airport, which may differ from your site, especially near water, hills or tall buildings. Wind usually increases with height, so conditions at 100 m can be stronger than on the ground. Our guides on flying in wind and flying in Canadian winter cover those risks in more detail.

Where to Find Aviation Weather in Canada

Canadian pilots commonly use NAV CANADA’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services weather pages for METARs, TAFs, graphic area forecasts and NOTAMs. Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes public forecasts and warnings, which are useful for broader weather such as winter storms. Before each flight, combine the aviation reports with a check of airspace and site conditions, as described in our drone pre-flight checklist.

Transport Canada’s drone safety resources, including the knowledge requirements document, are available on tc.canada.ca.

FAQ: METAR and TAF for Drone Pilots

Do I need to read METARs for the Basic drone exam?

Basic pilots should understand weather hazards, but interpreting aviation weather reports is a stronger focus for Advanced operations. Learning both is useful for safe flying.

What does the Z mean in a METAR time?

Z stands for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Convert it to your local time zone; for example, Eastern Standard Time is UTC minus 5 hours.

How do I convert knots to km/h?

Multiply knots by about 1.85. For example, 15 knots is roughly 28 km/h.

What if there is no airport near my flying site?

Use the nearest stations, graphic area forecasts and local public forecasts, and observe conditions on site before launching.

Why does the TAF differ from my weather app?

TAFs are written by aviation forecasters for a specific area around an airport and focus on conditions that matter to aircraft, such as gusts, visibility and cloud. Weather apps often use automated models for a broader audience.

Fly With Better Weather Decisions

Reading METARs and TAFs takes a little practice, but it quickly becomes part of a reliable pre-flight routine. Decode the report, compare it with your drone’s limits, and when in doubt, wait it out.