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Welcome to METARs Downloader.

METARs Downloader is a METAR / SPECI data processor that you can use to produce weather content for a web site or web cam. It can also be used as a personal weather tracking tool by persons or organizations without a web site or web cam

Mount Washington NH., "Home of the world's worst weather", METAR data page online.
Mount Washington Data

Drop-in Slideshow Chart page
Drop-in Slideshow

METARs Downloader produces Thirty Five , (35) output items from the METAR data it downloads from the NWS servers. Thirty Three, (33) of these outputs are available as charts, images, or text files which can uploaded by the program to be used as web site content. Of those thirty three data items eleven are available as text output only. These are the chart data files, weather log file, raw METAR data, and raw TAF data. The software also has a extra feature for those who are in a marine environment, a built in NDBC - (N)ational (D)ata (B)uoy (C)enter browser where you can access data reported by C-MAN stations and buoys in the network.

METAR Data Available

Temperature °F
Heat Index °C *
Barometer Hg
Temperature °C
Wind Speed
Barometer hPa
Dew Point °F
Wind Direction
Decoded METAR Data
Dew Point °C
Sky Conditions
Ceiling
Heat Index °F *
Relative Humidity
Visibility

* Only appears when Temperature >= 80°F(26.6°C) and Dew Point >= 80°F(26.6°C) and Heat Index has been enabled in Options.

View sample charts, text, and images showing Heat Index

METARs Downloader Outputs
Click Blue Ball to View Example

Temperature\Dew Point\Heat Index Chart
View Example
Humidity Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Wind Direction Data - Text
View Example
Visibility Chart
View Example
Decoded METAR - Text
View Example
Temperature\Dew Point\Heat Index Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Humidity Chart Data - Text
View Example
Ceiling Chart
View Example
Visibility Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Decoded METAR - Image
View Example
Temperature\Dew Point\HeatIndex Data - Text
View Example
Wind Speed Chart
View Example
Ceiling Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Visibility Chart - Text
View Example
Statistics - Text
View Example
Barometer Chart
View Example
Wind Speed Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Ceiling Chart Data - Text
View Example
Weather Log - Text
View Example
Statistics - Image
View Example
Barometer Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Wind Speed Data - Text
View Example
Sky Conditions Chart
View Example
Weather Snapshot - Text
View Example
Delimited Text File
Import METAR Data Into Spreadsheets, etc
Barometer Chart Data - Text
View Example
Wind Direction Chart
View Example
Sky Conditions Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Weather Snapshot - Image
View Example
Web Cam Text Overlay / Banner File
View Example
Humidity Chart
View Example
Wind Direction Chart Thumbnail
View Example
Sky Conditions Chart - Text
View Example
Raw METAR Data - Text
View Example
Raw TAF Data - Text
View Example
.
     

As you continue reading this page you will see examples of all the features offered by METARs Downloader and how the data generated can be used.

Jump to Program Features

Screen Shots

Webcam Overlay / Banner

Below is a web cam image which has an overlay or banner with weather data that was made available for inclusion by your web cam software with METARs Downloader

Using Snapshot Text As Web Cam
Banner/Overlay
Web cam image from Lindsborg Kansas - GMT - 6
Webcam Image

Web cam powered by

[This image is updated regularly when the development machine is online.]

Currently Monitored METAR Station

ICAO Code: KSLN
Salina Municipal Airport
Salins KS. USA.

Snapshot

Upload a Snapshot containing METAR weather data to your site. You select the data and units to display and can change the labels used for the data. The snapshot can then be uploaded as a text file or as a .GIF image. When uploading as a .GIF the font and text color used in creating the .GIF image is the same as used to display the snapshot data in the main window.

Upload Weather Snapshot To Your Web Site As Text Or Image

Examples

[Removed the <Object> tag example used to display a text file. There are issues with IE7]

Adding Snapshot Text To Page
( SSI Example)
 
Temperature (62.6°F)(17°C)
Dew Point (55.4°F)(13°C)
Visibility (10SM)(16.09KM)
Pressure (29.83Hg)(1010.16hPa)
Wind (KT) 320@9KT
Sky Conditions Mostly Clear
Ceiling 1400
Humidity 77%
Adding Snapshot To Page
(<iframe> Tag Example)
Adding Snapshot Image To Page
(.GIF image)
In the image above the font, text color, and background color is set by the user.

Charts

Create and upload eight distinct charts to your site.:

  1. Temperature / Dew Point / Heat Index - Data may be displayed in Fahrenheit or Celsius Heat Index information is only shown on chart when temperature >= 80°F(26.6°C) and humidity is >= 40%
  2. Barometric Pressure - In Hg (inches of mercury) or hPa (hecto Pascals)
  3. Relative Humidity - In percentage
  4. Wind Speed - In whatever unit the reporting station uses, usually Kt (knots), mps (meters per second), or Kps (Kilometers per second)
  5. Sky Conditions - There are five conditions reported ranging from Clear to Overcast
  6. Ceiling - In hundreds of feet. International reporting standards consider a 12,000 ft ceiling as being "Clear". Most stations do not report cloud cover above 12,000 ft. although some stations do report higher ceilings.
  7. Visibility - In SM (Statute Miles) or KM (Kilometers)
  8. Wind Direction - In degrees

You define the output dimensions in pixels for the charts to be uploaded and also have the ability to Upload Thumbnails of the charts in the dimensions you choose. You have the choice of .JPG, .GIF, or .PNG as the image format used.
You also set how much time is covered by the charts and how often the updates are done.

Chart Data

Upload a text file containing the time and data which went into making the chart. There is one data file for each chart available for upload. These files are tab delimited. Example

Upload Charts as Thumbnails and/or Full Size Images
(.JPG, .GIF, or .PNG)

The Images below are thumbnails uploaded by METARs Downloader,

Thumbnails generated by METARs Downloader are generated without the detail text the larger charts contain which allow the thumbnails to look right at the smaller canvas/image sizes generally used in thumbnail images.

To view the full detail chart images click on any of the thumbnails below.

Chart Customizing

You can set the background, font, and line colors used in displaying the charts. The caption, legend, and interval text is optional and may be hidden. Grid Lines are also able to be included in the charts. Line symbols can be added to the line charts, you can also add symbols to the thumbnails or not. By using the configuration options there are many different styles available. Examples can be forund on the Chart Styles page.

Decoded METAR

Upload the current Decoded METAR Data to your site. The decoded data can be uploaded as text and/or as a .GIF image.

Upload Latest Decoded METAR As Text

Adding Decoded METAR data to your page using the <Iframe> Tag
 

Upload Latest Decoded METAR As Image

Uploaded .GIF image showing the latest METAR data



 
The METAR data above is a .GIF image created with METARs Downloader from the decoded METAR data obtained from the ADDS database. You set the image dimensions, the font, the color of the text and background then METARs Downloader does the rest. It determines the correct font size required to fill the dimensions you set, creates the image, and uploads the result.
[Font effects such as bold and italic are not supported. Fonts that appear bold or italic are supported]

Weather Log

The log of Observations for the period you select is available for upload also. An example of a log is shown below.

Upload Weather Log As Text

Weather Log Of METAR Observations
Download a copy of this data: weatherlog.txt
  • METARs Downloader has the option to keep adding to the log before cycling for up to 30 days, the default is 7 days.
  • The log is pruned at each update according to your retention settings.
  • The log can be turned off completely if desired.
  • You also have the option to upload the log at every update along with any other files, charts, or images you have chosen. .
The weather log is not available to be uploaded as a .GIF image, but by using the <Object> or the <Iframe> tags you can include the log on your page as content as shown by the example above

Statistics

Upload the Statistics for the period covered by the charts as text or as a .GIF image which you can use on your site. The font and color of the text used to create the .GIF is set by the user.

Upload Statistics As Image

Statistics As Image
(.GIF image)



 

The image above shows the statistics for the period covered by the charts. The font, text color, and background color used in creating the image is set by the user.

Upload Statistics As Text

Statistics As Text
(<Iframe> Tag Example)
 

The <Iframe> above displays the text file with the statistics for the period covered by the charts

Language - Localization

Starting with version 1.2.6.7 the user has the ability to customize the text of most of the uploaded outputs labels and text. This allows translation of the output to different languages.

Is My Location's Weather Data Available?

The data used to create the charts, images and text file comes from a database maintained by the National Weather Service in the United States. The database records observations from over 7,000 locations world-wide, most of which report at least once an hour.

Still wondering if you can get local or even regional weather data for your location? Click on the following link and a new window will open to a page where you can search for a reporting site near you.

Once you have located a site near you copy the four character ICAO code and then download a trial copy of METARs Downloader and see what it can do for you. The fully functional trial is available below, or click the link below to jump to the download

A few reasons to use METARs Downloader

Running a web cam with software that supports a text file overlay and you want to have current weather displayed on the image but haven't found a workable way to get the data and insert it into a file for display? Want to display weather data for your area on your web page but can't find the software that makes it possible?

A fisherman or hunter who would like to track the barometer of your favorite hunting/fishing spot? With METARs Downloader you can. You know, they say the big ones bite when the pressure is dropping.

Private or commercial aviator who would like to see the current METAR for the next airport to which you are going? METARs Downloader gets you the current data for a lot less than the competitors.

METARs Downloader provides weather data formatted for your web cam or other application where current weather data is desired. It gets the data from a US. government database which gathers information from thousands of reporting sites world-wide providing current weather data. Down load a Free 15 day trial today and see what METARs Downloader can do.

How it Works:

The software accesses the US Weather Services Aviation Digital Data Services (ADDS) database and using a ICAO station code gets a string of data that contains that stations most current readings. It then extracts the information you would like displayed and puts it in a file which you can use with your web cam software for display as an overlay or banner. It also has an upload option to upload the weather data in a file to a server for display on a web page. The uses of the data this program provides are not limited to web cams only.

What is METAR:

METAR is a French acronym with a loose English translation to "routine aviation weather observation". The data in the database METARs Downloader accesses is updated for each station every hour and as conditions warrant.
SPECI is the code name given to METAR formatted products which are issued on a special non-routine basis as dictated by changing meteorological conditions. The SPECI acronym roughly translates as Aviation Selected Special Weather Report.
METAR / TAF Information

Program Features:

  • Selectable Refresh Interval:
    30 to 1440 minutes (24 hours)
  • AutoRange:
    Five of the seven charts automatically select the optimum scale in which to display the data.
  • Language - Localization:
    Various text and labels used in the program and in the uploaded output can be changed to suit the users preferences. Allows output to be displayed in different languages.
  • Customizable::
    You set the font and background colors for all image displays and uploads, charts and data
  • Automatic Mode:
    Set program to begin the download cycle when started instead of waiting for the user to press the start button. This comes in handy when using the program with the task scheduler where the scheduler has been set to start the web cam software and the downloader at a pre-set time
  • Turn On/Off Output File Creation:
    Turn off output file if you are using the program to upload to server exclusively
  • Set The Data Labels For Output:
    i.e. use temp., temperature or any other name you want for the identifier.
  • Internet Update:
    Check for updates to program by selecting Update Program in the Help menu.
  • Selectable Display:
    Display English results or Metric results or a combination of the two.
  • Upload To Server:
    Upload files to remote server containing weather data.
  • View Decoded METAR Data:
    This option downloads the decoded METAR data from the database and displays it in the main window and makes it available for use in the program, This data is only updated in the database once an hour.
  • Upload Decoded METAR Data:
    Upload a text file and/or a .GIF containing the decoded METARs data to your server to be used on your page.
  • Log Cycling:
    You set the days to let the logs build, 1 to 365. Use the resulting weather log as a added data item for your site with the log upload.
  • Weather log Upload:
    By setting the log cycling to the number of days you want to display on your server
    and uploading the resulting file
  • Log Data To File:
    Record weather data to weather.log for review.
  • Save Copies Of Current Output Locally:
    Select a local directory where copies of the current uploadable files will be saved. Perfect for those running a server on the same system as METARs Downloader.
  • Save Data To Delimited File:
    Data may be saved to a delimited file which may be imported into a third party application such as a spreadsheet. The delimiter is selectable by the user.
  • Compact/Restore:
    Hide/Show the charts and decoded displays in the main window
    Full Mode
    Compact Mode
  • NDBC (N)ational (D)ata (B)uoy (C)enter Browser:
    Integrated browser used to display data from buoys and C-MAN stations around the world.
  • Upload Statistics:
    Upload weather statistics for the period covered by the charts as text or .GIF image
  • Charting:
    View the trends with the charting feature. To view the types and options available for the charts generated by METARs Downloader Visit the Charts page.
  • Upload Charts To Server:
    Upload your weather chart(s) to your web site as .JPG, .GIF, or .PNG
  • Upload Thumbnails Of Charts:
    Upload thumbnail image of the chart in the dimensions you specify (.GIF only)
  • Raw METAR Data:
    Upload a text file with the raw METAR data as it comes from the ADDS servers. Example
  • Raw TAF Data:
    Upload a text file with the raw TAF data as it comes from the ADDS servers. Example
  • Save Chart Images:
    Save a copy of the chart in one of five formats, JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG, and TIF. The size of the image can be set manually or can be the same as what is shown in the chart window
  • Upload Chart Data:
    Upload a tab delimited text file containing the time and data used in creating the displayed chart.
  • Choose Either Bars Or Lines To Be Displayed:
     You can set the data display style for your charts. Each data type has the option to be added to the chart as line data or bar data. You also can set the colors of the bars and lines
  • Line Symbols On Line Charts:
    Add line symbols to your line charts. Choose any one of three: circle, square, or triangle. You have the option not to add them to the thumbnails while still having them on the main charts..
  • Selectable Connection Modes:
    Standard data retrieval mode is FTP but user may choose to use the alternate HTTP method if having problems
  • Smart Downloading:
    The software makes repeated attempts to download data if the servers are acting up and switches to the best mode and server available without user input.
  • Much More

Download

Download the fully functional 15 day trial of
METARs Downloader

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