What's New in Version 2

Version 2 is the latest version of the CheckWX Aviation Weather API

This release introduces new features, improved response consistency, additional decoded fields and more.

We continue to support Version 1 for existing users, however Version 1 will no longer receive updates. We strongly recommend migrating your application to Version 2 to take advantage of it's powerful new features.

Short Response Format

In addition to our current Raw and Decoded METAR/TAF response formats, we have introduced a new Short response format.

The Short format provides more information then the Raw format, but significantely less fields than the Decoded format.

Example:

https://api.checkwx.com/v2/metar/ktpa/short

Response:

{
  "results": 1,
  "data": [
    {
      "icao": "KTPA",
      "raw_text": "SPECI KTPA 252358Z 15010G17KT 10SM TS SCT037CB BKN180 BKN250 29/24 A3007 RMK AO2 TSB57 OCNL LTGIC SW AND DSNT S TS SW MOV NE CB DSNT S VCSH SW T02940239",
      "observed": "2026-06-25T23:58:00Z"
    }
  ]
}

For additional information and examples, see METAR Response formats and TAF Response formats.

Decoded Remarks

A much requested feature, our METAR decoded response now includes decoded remarks!

METAR Remarks

RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/1817 WSHFT 1812 TSB05RAB22 SLP114 FRQ LTGICCCCG TS OHD AND NW-N-E MOV NE P0013 T02270215

Decoded Remarks

"Automated station type AO2",

"Peak wind 290° at 28 knots at 18:17",

"Wind shift at 18:12",

"Thunderstorm began at 05 mins past the hour and is continuing",

"Rain began at 22 mins past the hour and is continuing",

"Sea-level pressure 1011.4 hPa",

"Frequent Lightning (Intracloud, Cloud-to-Cloud, Cloud-to-Ground)",

"Thunderstorm Overhead and NW-N-E moving NE",

"0.13 inches of precipitation in the last hour",

"Exact temperature 22.7°C, dewpoint 21.5°C"

New METAR Fields

These new fields have been added to METAR decoded JSON responses.

report

object

Examples:
- type
  
  string
  
  Report type
  
  METAR , SPECI
- flags
  
  string
  
  Report flags
  
  AUTO , COR
- status
  
  string
  
  Report status text
  
  Automated Report , Corrected Report
colors

string

Airfield weather state categories

BLU , GRN
runway_state

object
- runway
  
  string
  
  Runway identifier
  
  18/36
- condition
  
  object
  
  Runway conditions
  code
  
  string
  
  Condition code
  
  SNOCLO
  
  desc
  
  string
  
  Human-readable translation of the code
  
  Closed due to snow
- deposit
  
  object
  
  Runway deposit type
  code
  
  string
  
  Deposit code
  
  1 , 7
  
  desc
  
  string
  
  Human-readable translation of the code
  
  Damp , Ice
- contamination
  
  object
  
  Runway contamination extent
  code
  
  string
  
  Contamination code
  
  1
  
  desc
  
  string
  
  Human-readable translation of the code
  
  11–25%
- depth
  
  object
  
  Runway deposit depth
  code
  
  string
  
  Deposit depth code
  
  1
  
  millimeters
  
  integer
  
  Deposit depth in millimeters
  
  10
- friction
  
  object
  
  Runway braking friction
  code
  
  string
  
  Friction code
  
  1
  
  friction
  
  integer
  
  Runway deposit depth in millimeters
  
  10
  
  braking
  
  integer
  
  Runway deposit depth in millimeters
  
  10
runway_visual

object
- runway
  
  string
  
  Runway identifier
  
  24
- visual_range
  
  object
  
  Runway visual range
  minimum
  
  object
  
  feet
  
  integer
  
  Minimum range in feet
  
  492
  
  meters
  
  integer
  
  Minimum range in meters
  
  150
  
  maximum
  
  object
  
  feet
  
  integer
  
  Maximum range in feet
  
  1000
  
  meters
  
  integer
  
  Maximum range in meters
  
  304
  
  trend
  
  object
  
  code
  
  string
  
  Trend code
  
  D
  
  text
  
  string
  
  Human-readable translation of the code
  
  Downward trend, RVR is decreasing
- text
  
  string
  
  Description of the runway visual
  
  Runway 24 , 150 meters
trend

object

Weather trend
- change
  
  object
  
  Weather trend change
  code
  
  string
  
  Trend change code
  
  BECMG
  
  text
  
  string
  
  Human-readable translation of the code
  
  Gradual lasting changes
- clouds
  
  array
  
  See Clouds field
- colors
  
  string
  
  See Colors field
- conditions
  
  array
  
  See Conditions field
- dewpoint
  
  object
  
  See Dewpoint field
- pressure
  
  object
  
  See Pressure field
- temperature
  
  object
  
  See Temperature field
- wind
  
  object
  
  See Wind field
- visibility
  
  object
  
  See Visibility field
visibility

object
- direction
  
  string
  
  Prevailing visibility direction
  
  120NW
- minimum
  
  object
  
  Minimum visiblity if reported
  miles
  
  float
  
  Minimum visibility in statute miles
  
  1
  
  meters
  
  float
  
  Minimum visibility in meters
  
  1609
wind

object
- direction
  
  string
  
  Wind compass direction
  
  SW
windshear

array

Array of one or more Runway windshear reports

['Runway 09R']
remarks

array

Array of decoded remarks from the RMK section of a METAR

['Sea-level pressure 1007.3 hPa']

For a full list of all fields see METAR Fields.

Version 2 Migration Guide

The Version 2 release introduces new and updated decoded JSON structures, however some of these changes are not backward compatible with Version 1.

If your application already uses/v2/in the base URL, no migration action is required.

If your application does not specify a version number then you are using Version 1 by default and you should review this guide before upgrading.

The following base URLs determine which API version you are using:

Base URL

Version

https://api.checkwx.com/

Version 1

https://api.checkwx.com/v1/

Version 1

https://api.checkwx.com/v2/

Version 2

To begin using Version 2 in your application, please update your base URL to include v2 as shown above.

Breaking Changes

Version 2 contains some JSON field changes that are not backward compatible with Version 1.

Who is Affected?

Only clients consuming decoded JSON responses in Version 1 are affected by these changes.

If your application uses our raw text METAR/TAF endpoints, then no changes are required to start using Version 2.

Wind (METAR/TAF)

The Wind JSON field structure has changed:

Version 1

{
	"wind": {
		"degrees": 340,
		"speed_kph": 30,
		"speed_kts": 16,
		"speed_mph": 18,
		"speed_mps": 8,
		"gust_kph": 41,
		"gust_kts": 22,
		"gust_mph": 25,
		"gust_mps": 11
	}
}

Version 2

{
	"wind": {
		"degrees": 340,
		"speed": {
			"kph": 30,
			"kts": 16,
			"mph": 18,
			"mps": 8
		},
		"gust": {
			"kph": 41,
			"kts": 22,
			"mph": 25,
			"mps": 11
		}
	}
}

Visibility (METAR/TAF)

The Visibility JSON fields have a small change. Both miles_text and meters_text have been combined into a single text field. The new text field will only match the reported value.

For example, if the METAR visibility is given in Meters, then the text will reflect Meters. If reported in Miles, then text is reflected in Miles (i.e. 1/2 mile visibility).

Version 1

{
	"visibility": {
		"miles_text": "Greater than 10",
		"meters_text": "Greater than 10,000",
		"miles": 10.0,
		"meters": 9999
	}
}

Version 2

{
	"visibility": {
		"text": "Greater than 10 miles",
		"miles": 10.0,
		"meters": 9999
	}
}

Barometer (METAR)

The Barometer JSON field has been renamed to Pressure. It has also been shortened to just mb and hg values.

Version 1

{
	"barometer": {
		"hg": 29.92,
		"hpa": 1013.0,
		"kpa": 101.32,
		"mb": 1013.21
	}
}

Version 2

{
	"pressure": {
		"hg": 29.92,
		"mb": 1013.21
	}
}

Deprecated Fields

The following fields have been permanently removed from the response JSON:

Field

Endpoints

elevation

METAR

clouds.base_feet_agl
clouds.base_meters_agl

METAR/TAF

snow

METAR

rain

METAR

Documentation

Pages

What's New in Version 2

Short Response Format

Decoded Remarks

New METAR Fields

Version 2 Migration Guide

Breaking Changes

Who is Affected?

Wind (METAR/TAF)

Visibility (METAR/TAF)

Barometer (METAR)

Deprecated Fields