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ADX · 13% of the exam

Weather Analysis and Forecasts practice questions

10 free Weather Analysis and Forecasts questions for the Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) Knowledge Test exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question ADX quiz

What this domain covers

Reading and applying observations, forecasts and charts: METARs, TAFs, advisories, pilot reports and the analysis and prognostic charts used to plan a flight.

Exam weight
13%
On a real exam
≈ 10 questions
In our bank
77 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Decoding METARs and TAFs
  • SIGMETs, AIRMETs and Center Weather Advisories
  • Winds and temperatures aloft forecasts
  • Surface analysis and constant pressure charts
  • Prognostic and significant weather charts

How to study it

Decode a set of real METARs and TAFs every day until the remarks and change groups read easily; then practise checking whether a forecast meets alternate minimums.

Sample Weather Analysis and Forecasts questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    How often are G-AIRMETs issued?

    • AEvery 6 hours
    • BEvery 15 minutes
    • COnce a day
    • DOnce a week
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Every 6 hours

    • ACorrect. They include snapshots at 3-hour intervals.
    • BIncorrect. That's too often.
    • CIncorrect. They're issued every 6 hours.
    • DIncorrect. They're issued every 6 hours.

  2. Question 2

    On a station model, a pennant on a wind barb represents:

    • A100 knots
    • B10 knots
    • C5 knots
    • D50 knots
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 50 knots

    • AIncorrect. A pennant is 50.
    • BIncorrect. That's a full barb.
    • CIncorrect. That's a half barb.
    • DCorrect. A full barb is 10; a half barb is 5.

  3. Question 3

    The present weather group of a METAR shows "3SM BR". Which obscuration does the code BR identify?

    • AFog
    • BHaze
    • CMist
    • DSmoke
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Mist

    BR is the METAR code for mist, used when visibility is 5/8 SM to 6 SM. When visibility drops below 5/8 SM, the obscuration is reported as fog (FG).

    • AIncorrect. Fog is coded FG and is reported when visibility is less than 5/8 statute mile.
    • BIncorrect. Haze is coded HZ. It is a dry obscuration made of fine particles, not water droplets.
    • CCorrect. BR (from the French 'brume') means mist. It is used only when visibility is from 5/8 statute mile to 6 statute miles, so 3SM fits.
    • DIncorrect. Smoke is coded FU (from the French 'fumée').

  4. Question 4

    What does a high-level significant weather chart show?

    • ASurface fronts and pressure centers only, with no altitude information
    • BJet streams, CB areas, turbulence and tropopause heights
    • CAirport METARs
    • DRunway closures
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Jet streams, CB areas, turbulence and tropopause heights

    • AIncorrect. It shows high-level hazards.
    • BCorrect. It covers FL250 to FL630.
    • CIncorrect. It shows high-level hazards.
    • DIncorrect. It shows high-level hazards.

  5. Question 5

    In a TAF, 'TEMPO' describes conditions that are expected:

    • AWith 30% probability
    • BTo prevail for the whole period
    • COnly at night
    • DBriefly, under an hour each
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Briefly, under an hour each

    • AIncorrect. That's PROB30.
    • BIncorrect. That's the main forecast.
    • CIncorrect. It's temporary fluctuations.
    • DCorrect. Covering less than half the period.

  6. Question 6

    What does a non-convective SIGMET cover?

    • AThunderstorms only
    • BLight turbulence and light icing only
    • CSevere icing, severe turbulence, dust storms or volcanic ash
    • DRoutine hourly airport weather observations from automated stations
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Severe icing, severe turbulence, dust storms or volcanic ash

    • AIncorrect. Those are convective SIGMETs.
    • BIncorrect. Those are AIRMET-level hazards.
    • CCorrect. Convective SIGMETs cover thunderstorms.
    • DIncorrect. Those are METARs.

  7. Question 7

    In a METAR, 'BKN008' reports:

    • ABroken clouds at 800 ft
    • BBroken clouds at 8,000 ft
    • CVisibility of 8 miles
    • DWind gusts to 8 knots
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Broken clouds at 800 ft

    • ACorrect. Heights are in hundreds of feet AGL; this is a ceiling.
    • BIncorrect. 008 means 800 ft.
    • CIncorrect. It's a cloud layer.
    • DIncorrect. It's a cloud layer.

  8. Question 8

    A destination METAR shows VCSH in the present weather group. What is being reported?

    • AShowers at the airport whose intensity the observer could not determine
    • BShowers in the vicinity of the airport but not at the point of observation
    • CVirga, meaning shower precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground
    • DShowers forecast to begin at the airport within the next hour
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Showers in the vicinity of the airport but not at the point of observation

    VC means vicinity, so VCSH means showers are occurring near the station but not at the point of observation. No intensity is coded with it, and it is read as 'showers in the vicinity'.

    • AIncorrect. VC means the showers are in the vicinity, not at the point of observation. Intensity is not coded with VCSH.
    • BCorrect. VC means in the vicinity, not at the aerodrome. VCSH reports showers near the station, generally within 5 to 10 SM, and is spoken as 'showers in the vicinity'.
    • CIncorrect. Virga is reported in the remarks section as VIRGA, not with the VCSH descriptor.
    • DIncorrect. A METAR is an observation, not a forecast. VCSH describes showers occurring nearby at the time of the observation.

  9. Question 9

    In a METAR, 'VRB03KT' means wind:

    • AGusting to 30 knots
    • BFrom 030° at 3 knots
    • CVariable at 3 knots
    • DCalm for 3 hours
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Variable at 3 knots

    • AIncorrect. VRB means variable.
    • BIncorrect. VRB means variable.
    • CCorrect. Light and variable direction.
    • DIncorrect. VRB means variable.

  10. Question 10

    Within how many feet of station elevation are winds aloft forecasts not given?

    • A1,500 feet
    • B5,000 feet
    • C500 feet
    • D10,000 feet
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 1,500 feet

    • ACorrect. Temperatures aren't given within 2,500 feet.
    • BIncorrect. The limit is 1,500 feet.
    • CIncorrect. The limit is 1,500 feet.
    • DIncorrect. The limit is 1,500 feet.

Weather Analysis and Forecasts: FAQs

How much of the ADX exam is Weather Analysis and Forecasts?

Weather Analysis and Forecasts is 13% of the ADX exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 80-question form works out to roughly 10 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Weather Analysis and Forecasts domain cover?

Reading and applying observations, forecasts and charts: METARs, TAFs, advisories, pilot reports and the analysis and prognostic charts used to plan a flight.

How should I study Weather Analysis and Forecasts for ADX?

Decode a set of real METARs and TAFs every day until the remarks and change groups read easily; then practise checking whether a forecast meets alternate minimums.

Where can I practise more Weather Analysis and Forecasts questions?

This page has 10 free Weather Analysis and Forecasts questions with answers. The ExamWize ADX question bank has 77 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other ADX topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the ADX cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Weather Analysis and Forecasts exam-ready

The full ADX bank has 77 Weather Analysis and Forecasts questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full ADX practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with FAA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.