What is a METAR and what does it report?

What is a METAR and what does it report?

• A. A METAR is a forecast; it reports predicted weather
• B. A METAR is a current weather observation report; it provides wind, visibility, weather phenomena, sky condition, temperature, and altimeter
• C. A METAR is a radar image
• D. A METAR reports only cloud height

Answer: (B)

A METAR is a current weather observation report for an aviation station. It provides the present conditions the pilot needs: wind direction and speed, visibility, any weather phenomena (like rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms), sky condition and cloud base/amount, air temperature and dew point, and the altimeter setting. It’s issued regularly, usually hourly, and can be amended if conditions change. It’s not a forecast, it’s not a radar image, and it doesn’t report only cloud height—the key is that it reflects the actual, on‑the‑ground conditions at the moment of observation.

A METAR is a current weather observation report for an aviation station. It provides the present conditions the pilot needs: wind direction and speed, visibility, any weather phenomena (like rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms), sky condition and cloud base/amount, air temperature and dew point, and the altimeter setting. It’s issued regularly, usually hourly, and can be amended if conditions change. It’s not a forecast, it’s not a radar image, and it doesn’t report only cloud height—the key is that it reflects the actual, on‑the‑ground conditions at the moment of observation.