What Does RMK Mean in a METAR?
RMK means remarks identifier: everything after it is the remarks section. It stands for ReMarKs.
RMK in a real report
A2990 RMK AO2 SLP125
What it changes for you
The body of a METAR is a snapshot. The remarks are the context, and several of them change how much weight the snapshot deserves.
The ones worth finding every time:
AO1orAO2, saying what kind of station produced the reportPK WND, the strongest gust in the last hourWSHFTandFROPA, telling you something moved throughPRESRRorPRESFR, the pressure responding to it- Any sensor-inoperative group, which tells you what is missing
The ones that mean something is missing
RVRNO, PWINO, TSNO, VISNO, CHINO and SLPNO each say a sensor is out.
A $ means the station needs maintenance. None of those make the report wrong,
and all of them narrow what it covers.
Related codes
Decode a report containing this code
Paste a METAR, TAF, PIREP or SIGMET into the WxDecoder decoder. Every group comes back in plain English. The raw code sits beside it, so you can check the decode rather than trust it.
Frequently asked questions
What does RMK mean in a METAR?
Remarks. Everything after RMK is extra information the coded body cannot carry: sensor status, pressure detail, precipitation timing, peak wind, and plain-language notes from the observer. It is where the report explains itself.
Are METAR remarks worth reading?
Often they are the most useful part. The body tells you the current conditions. The remarks tell you how they got there, what the station cannot see, and which sensors are out of service.