diff --git a/simgear/environment/metar.cxx b/simgear/environment/metar.cxx
index 9342c548..a19e48bf 100644
--- a/simgear/environment/metar.cxx
+++ b/simgear/environment/metar.cxx
@@ -493,7 +493,6 @@ bool SGMetar::scanVisibility()
 		distance = i;
 	} else {
 // M?(\d{1,2}|\d{1,2}/\d{1,2}|\d{1,2} \d{1,2}/\d{1,2})(SM|KM)
-		modifier = 0;
 		if (*m == 'M')
 			m++, modifier = SGMetarVisibility::LESS_THAN;