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metar-taf-decoder

Converts raw METAR and TAF report text into plain-English prose summaries.

Updated Aug 6, 2026
Search Tags:#taf#briefing#decode#plain english#metar#aviation weather#avwx-engine
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/vrai/ga_weather_briefing_agentic --skill metar-taf-decoder-vrai
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: metar-taf-decoder
Source: https://github.com/vrai/ga_weather_briefing_agentic/tree/main/skills/metar-taf-decoder
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/vrai/ga_weather_briefing_agentic --skill metar-taf-decoder-vrai

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires avwx-engine, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Raw METAR and TAF aviation weather reports are dense coded strings that are hard to read at a glance. This Skill decodes them into plain-English prose summaries (and phonetic speech renderings) offline, so pilots and briefings can present what a report actually means without manual interpretation. ## Core Features & Use Cases - METAR decoding: Renders a raw METAR as a single prose summary plus a phonetic "speech" string suitable for reading aloud. - TAF decoding: Produces one summary per forecast period (base, FM, BECMG, TEMPO, PROB), each paired with flight rules (VFR/IFR) and validity windows. - Station-mismatch guard: Cross-checks the parsed station identifier against the supplied ICAO label and refuses to return a decode on mismatch, protecting against avwx-engine's fuzzy station lookup silently misdecoding garbled input. - Use Case: After fetching live reports with metar-taf-fetcher, decode several airfields' METARs and TAFs in one call to include human-readable prose alongside the raw text in a GA weather briefing. ## Quick Start Decode the raw METAR and TAF text returned by metar-taf-fetcher for EGLL into plain-English summaries using the metar-taf-decoder skill.

Frequently Asked Questions about metar-taf-decoder

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I decode a METAR into plain English in Python?▼

Pass the raw METAR string prefixed with its ICAO label to decode_metar_taf.py via the --metar flag, e.g. 'EGLL:METAR EGLL 301120Z ...'. The script uses avwx-engine's offline parser and returns a JSON summary string plus a phonetic speech rendering.

How do I decode a TAF forecast into readable text?▼

Supply the raw TAF with its station label via the --taf flag. The output contains one prose summary per forecast period (base, FM, BECMG, TEMPO, PROB), each paired with its flight rules category and validity start/end times.

Does METAR decoding require an internet connection or API key?▼

No. Decoding is a pure text-in/text-out operation using avwx-engine's offline parser, with no network calls, no credentials, and no re-fetching. You must supply the raw report text yourself, typically from a fetcher skill.

Why does a decoded METAR sometimes return a note instead of a summary?▼

A non-null note means the report could not be reliably decoded or the parsed station identifier did not match the supplied label. This guard prevents avwx-engine's fuzzy station lookup from silently misdecoding garbled text into a plausible-looking report for an unrelated airport.

What are the limitations of avwx-engine METAR decoding?▼

Prose quality depends entirely on avwx-engine's parser, which is not aviation-authoritative and makes its own interpretation choices for variable wind, CAVOK, and remarks. The decoded summary is a rendering aid; the raw report text remains the authoritative source.

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