Aviation weather in Canada: METAR, TAF, GFA and where to find them
Decode METAR and TAF, read the graphic area forecast, understand AWOS and LWIS reports, and know the official sources for drone flight planning in Canada.
Checked against the rules in force on 2026-10-01Good drone flights start with a weather check that goes beyond a phone app. Transport Canada expects you to read aviation weather products and to compare them with your aircraft's limits.
Where to look
The main official source for aviation weather is the NAV CANADA Collaborative Flight Planning Services (CFPS) website. Environment and Climate Change Canada provides general forecasts. Always check the actual conditions at your site before you fly; local winds can differ a lot from the nearest airport.
METAR
A METAR is an observation taken every hour at over 200 Canadian aerodromes. Canadian station codes start with C, for example CYYZ. The groups run in a fixed order: station, day and time in UTC, wind, visibility, weather, cloud, temperature and dew point, and altimeter setting.
- Wind 14021G26KT is from 140° true at 21 knots gusting 26.
- Cloud heights are in hundreds of feet above ground: BKN010 is broken cloud at 1,000 ft.
- The ceiling is the lowest broken or overcast layer. Few and scattered layers are not a ceiling.
- M05/M08 means temperature −5 °C and dew point −8 °C.
A SPECI is an extra report issued when conditions change significantly.
TAF
A TAF forecasts conditions at an aerodrome. FM marks a rapid change from a given time, TEMPO a temporary fluctuation, and PROB a probability. P6SM means visibility greater than 6 statute miles.
Graphic area forecast
The GFA is issued four times a day. Each issue has charts for the start of the period, 6 hours and 12 hours: one for clouds and weather and one for icing, turbulence and freezing level. Heights on GFAs and PIREPs are normally above sea level, unlike METARs and TAFs, which use height above ground. Mixing them up over high terrain can make a low cloud base look safe.
Automated reports
- METAR AUTO comes from an automated weather station that meets all reporting requirements. Stations outside lightning detection coverage cannot report thunderstorms.
- LWIS reports only wind, temperature, dew point and altimeter setting. It gives no cloud or visibility, so look at the sky yourself.
Sources: TC AIM MET 1.2 · TC AIM MET 4 · TC AIM RPA 3.2.22
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A METAR reports wind as 14021G26KT. What does this mean?
A METAR reports FEW010 SCT025 BKN040 OVC080. What is the ceiling?
Which is the main official source of aviation weather for flight planning in Canada?
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