In a METAR, how is wind information reported and in what units?

• A. As wind direction and speed (e.g., 18015G25KT); units are knots.
• B. As wind velocity and gust rate; units are mph.
• C. As wind direction and speed; units are meters per second.
• D. As gusts only; units are knots.

Answer: (A)

Wind in a METAR is reported as the direction from which the wind is blowing and the speed in knots, with optional gust information. The format shows the wind direction in tens of degrees, followed by the speed in knots, and if gusts are present, a G and the gust speed before the KT unit. The example 18015G25KT means wind from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. Knots are the standard aviation unit for wind in METARs, not mph or meters per second. This is why the other descriptions don’t fit: wind is not reported as velocity or in mph/m/s, and gusts are only part of the data when they accompany a defined wind direction and speed.