Weather Information practice questions

Answer: B) 4,000 ft AGL

• AIncorrect. Recheck the formula.
• BCorrect. Spread 10°C ÷ 2.5 × 1,000.
• CIncorrect. Recheck the formula.
• DIncorrect. Recheck the formula.

Answer: D) Moist air is cooled as it moves up rising terrain

• AIncorrect. That's frontal fog.
• BIncorrect. That's steam fog.
• CIncorrect. That's radiation fog.
• DCorrect. It can cover large areas.

Answer: A) It is the initial surface wind surge from the storm's downdrafts and usually arrives before the heavy rain

The first gust is the sudden surface wind surge from thunderstorm downdraft outflow. It usually comes before the heavy rain and can arrive well ahead of the storm.

• ACorrect. The first gust is the first surge of downdraft outflow at the surface. It usually comes before the heavy precipitation and can sharply change wind speed and direction.
• BIncorrect. Inflow feeds the updraft. The first gust is cool downdraft outflow, and it usually arrives ahead of the heavy precipitation, not after it.
• CIncorrect. The first gust is sudden, not gradual. Strong gusts typically last only about 5 to 10 minutes with each cell.
• DIncorrect. Outflow spreads out from the storm, and gust fronts can move well ahead of the precipitation, so the wind shift may hit an airport before the storm arrives.

Answer: C) 1,500 ft

• AIncorrect. That's the temperature rule.
• BIncorrect. It's 1,500 ft.
• CCorrect. Temperatures aren't given for 3,000 ft.
• DIncorrect. It's 1,500 ft.

Answer: A) Evaporating rain

• ACorrect. Rain evaporating before reaching the ground; it can signal dry microbursts.
• BIncorrect. It's evaporating precipitation.
• CIncorrect. It's evaporating precipitation.
• DIncorrect. It's evaporating precipitation.

Answer: B) 800 ft AGL

• AIncorrect. The broken layer is lower.
• BCorrect. The lowest broken or overcast layer is the ceiling.
• CIncorrect. 008 means 800 ft.
• DIncorrect. Broken layers form ceilings.

Answer: A) The storm cells are hidden in the cloud mass and can't be seen and avoided visually

Embedded thunderstorms are hidden inside other cloud layers. Without airborne radar, a pilot can't see or avoid them, so FAA guidance advises against flying into such a cloud mass.

• ACorrect. Embedded thunderstorms are hidden by other clouds. Without airborne radar, the pilot can't detect and avoid them and may fly into one without warning.
• BIncorrect. Embedded thunderstorms are full thunderstorms with all the usual hazards, including severe turbulence, hail, icing and lightning.
• CIncorrect. There is no such prohibition. The concern is that the pilot can't see and avoid the hidden cells, not a limit on clearances.
• DIncorrect. Thunderstorms extend from low levels to great heights. The danger is that the cells are hidden inside other clouds, not that they exist only at high altitude.

Answer: B) An unscheduled advisory for an ARTCC's area that is valid for up to 2 hours

A CWA is an unscheduled advisory issued by NWS meteorologists at an ARTCC for conditions meeting or approaching in-flight advisory criteria. It is valid for up to 2 hours and is a nowcast, not a planning product.

• AIncorrect. This describes a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF). A CWA is unscheduled and covers hazards across an ARTCC's area, not a single airport.
• BCorrect. NWS meteorologists at the ARTCC issue CWAs for conditions that meet or approach national in-flight advisory criteria. A CWA is valid for up to 2 hours and is essentially a nowcast.
• CIncorrect. CWAs are issued as needed rather than on a schedule. Because of their short lead time, they are not a flight-planning product; aircrews use them to anticipate and avoid hazards en route and in the terminal area.
• DIncorrect. This describes a pilot weather report (PIREP). A CWA is an advisory issued by meteorologists, not a pilot observation.

Answer: A) A rapid change to a new set of prevailing conditions beginning at 1500Z on the 15th

FM followed by DDhhmm marks a rapid change to new prevailing conditions starting at that day and time. TEMPO is for temporary fluctuations, and BECMG is for gradual changes.

• ACorrect. FM is followed by the six-digit day, hour and minute when a rapid change, usually within an hour, is expected to begin. The new conditions last until the next change group or the end of the forecast.
• BIncorrect. That describes a TEMPO group. TEMPO covers occasional conditions, each lasting generally less than an hour, that occur during less than half of the stated period.
• CIncorrect. That describes a BECMG group, which forecasts a gradual change over a longer period, usually about two hours.
• DIncorrect. The valid period appears in the TAF heading as a DDhh/DDhh group (for example 1512/1612). It is not written with the FM indicator.

Answer: B) 29.92 inHg

• AIncorrect. It's 29.92.
• BCorrect. Or 1013.2 hPa.
• CIncorrect. It's 29.92.
• DIncorrect. That's about 14.7 psi.