Which weather data should be reviewed for wind, visibility, icing, and turbulence during preflight planning?

• A. METARs only
• B. METARs and TAFs only
• C. METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, radar/satellite, and ATIS
• D. Radar only

Answer: (C)

When planning a flight, you need both what’s happening now and what’s expected, along with any notices that could affect operations. METARs give the current airport conditions, including wind speed and direction and visibility, which are essential for your departure and initial leg. TAFs forecast how those conditions will evolve during your planned flight window, so you can anticipate changes in wind, visibility, and cloud cover that could influence routing, altitude choices, or alternate plans. NOTAMs flag weather-related or operational advisories that might affect your route, airport availability, or procedures—things you won’t learn from the weather observations alone. Radar and satellite imagery provide a real-time view of precipitation and storm activity, helping you assess the potential for turbulence and icing along and ahead of your route. ATIS offers airport-specific weather and runway information, giving you current winds, altimeter, visibility, and other critical on-site details. Together, these sources give a complete picture of wind, visibility, icing, and turbulence for preflight planning.