Skip to main content
ExamWize
Sign up

PAR · 17% of the exam

Weather Information practice questions

10 free Weather Information questions for the Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) Knowledge Test exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question PAR quiz

What this domain covers

Weather theory and the weather products a pilot uses to plan a flight.

Exam weight
17%
On a real exam
≈ 10 questions
In our bank
100 questions

Topics that come up most

  • METAR, TAF and area forecasts
  • Fronts, stability and thunderstorms
  • Icing and fog
  • Wind and turbulence
  • Weather charts and briefings

How to study it

Decode reports until it's quick, then focus on what each weather type means for a VFR flight.

Sample Weather Information questions

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

  1. Question 1

    Which weather is typical ahead of a warm front?

    • ADry air, unlimited visibility
    • BNarrow line of storms
    • CClear skies, gusty winds
    • DStratiform clouds, steady rain
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Stratiform clouds, steady rain

    • AIncorrect. Warm fronts bring moisture.
    • BIncorrect. That is typical of fast cold fronts.
    • CIncorrect. This is not typical ahead of a warm front.
    • DCorrect. Warm fronts bring widespread layered clouds and steady precipitation.

  2. Question 2

    Why might a winds aloft (FB) forecast show no wind for the 3,000-foot level at a high-elevation station?

    • AIt is too near the station
    • BWinds there are always calm
    • CThe forecast has expired
    • DTemperatures are too cold
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) It is too near the station

    • ACorrect. Winds are not forecast for levels within 1,500 feet of station elevation.
    • BIncorrect. Winds are simply not forecast there.
    • CIncorrect. This is not the reason.
    • DIncorrect. This is not the reason.

  3. Question 3

    A fast-moving cold front typically brings:

    • ACalm, stable air
    • BSteady drizzle for days
    • CSquall lines, gusty winds
    • DThick radiation fog
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Squall lines, gusty winds

    • AIncorrect. Cold fronts are often turbulent.
    • BIncorrect. That is more typical of warm fronts.
    • CCorrect. Fast cold fronts can produce squall lines and strong gusts ahead of them.
    • DIncorrect. This is not typical.

  4. Question 4

    Which characteristics are typical of an unstable air mass?

    • AStratiform clouds, steady rain, smooth air and poor visibility
    • BCumuliform clouds, showers, turbulence and good visibility
    • CClear skies with calm wind and fog at night
    • DNo clouds at any altitude and no turbulence
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Cumuliform clouds, showers, turbulence and good visibility

    • AIncorrect. That describes stable air.
    • BCorrect. Rising air creates convective clouds.
    • CIncorrect. That is typical of stable air under high pressure.
    • DIncorrect. Unstable air usually produces clouds.

  5. Question 5

    A TAF includes the group "TEMPO 1418/1420 3SM -SHRA BKN020". How should a pilot interpret this group?

    • ABrief fluctuations to these conditions, each generally under an hour, occurring during less than half of the 1800Z–2000Z period
    • BA rapid, lasting change to these conditions beginning at 1800Z and continuing until the next change group
    • CA gradual change to these conditions during 1800Z–2000Z, with the new conditions persisting afterward
    • DA 30 or 40 percent chance that these conditions will occur at some point between 1800Z and 2000Z
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Brief fluctuations to these conditions, each generally under an hour, occurring during less than half of the 1800Z–2000Z period

    TEMPO marks temporary fluctuations. Each lasts generally less than an hour, and together they occur during less than half of the stated time period.

    • ACorrect. TEMPO describes temporary conditions that are expected to last generally less than an hour at a time and to occur during less than half of the stated period.
    • BIncorrect. A rapid, lasting change is shown with an FM (from) group, not TEMPO.
    • CIncorrect. A gradual change that then persists describes BECMG (becoming), which TAFs no longer use in the U.S.
    • DIncorrect. A percentage chance is shown with a PROB30 or PROB40 group.

  6. Question 6

    In a winds aloft forecast, what does "731960" decode to?

    • A730° at 19 knots, temperature 60°C
    • B230° at 119 knots, temperature −60°C
    • C073° at 196 knots, no temperature given
    • D731° at 96 knots, temperature −60°C
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 230° at 119 knots, temperature −60°C

    • AIncorrect. Directions over 360 mean the 100-knot code is used.
    • BCorrect. Subtract 50 from direction and add 100 to speed.
    • CIncorrect. That misreads the groups.
    • DIncorrect. Direction can't exceed 360°.

  7. Question 7

    Which AIRMET covers IFR conditions and mountain obscuration?

    • ASierra
    • BTango
    • CZulu
    • DCharlie
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Sierra

    • ACorrect. AIRMET Sierra covers IFR and mountain obscuration.
    • BIncorrect. Tango covers turbulence and strong surface winds.
    • CIncorrect. Zulu covers icing and freezing levels.
    • DIncorrect. This is not an AIRMET name.

  8. Question 8

    What weather is typical under a high-pressure system?

    • AStrong, gusty winds in every case
    • BWidespread thunderstorms and heavy rain
    • CGenerally fair weather with sinking air
    • DContinuous freezing rain
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Generally fair weather with sinking air

    • AIncorrect. Highs often bring lighter winds.
    • BIncorrect. Lows are more often associated with storms.
    • CCorrect. Sinking air discourages cloud formation.
    • DIncorrect. That isn't typical of highs.

  9. Question 9

    Wind direction in a written METAR is referenced to which north?

    • ATrue north
    • BMagnetic north
    • CGrid north
    • DCompass north
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) True north

    • ACorrect. Written reports use true north; ATIS and tower winds are magnetic.
    • BIncorrect. ATIS and tower use magnetic.
    • CIncorrect. This is not used.
    • DIncorrect. This is not used.

  10. Question 10

    A pilot plans to pass beneath the anvil of a large cumulonimbus cloud, several miles away from the storm's main rain shaft. Why does FAA guidance advise against this?

    • APrecipitation from the anvil is mostly virga, so the main concern there is reduced visibility
    • BThe anvil marks a storm's dissipating stage, so the main hazard is icing from leftover drizzle
    • CHail can fall from beneath the anvil, and lightning can strike aircraft in clear air near the storm
    • DHail stays within the main rain shaft, so the anvil's main hazard is a steady downdraft
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Hail can fall from beneath the anvil, and lightning can strike aircraft in clear air near the storm

    The AIM tells pilots not to fly under a thunderstorm's anvil. Hail can fall there, lightning can strike in clear air near the storm, and severe turbulence is possible. Severe storms should be avoided by at least 20 miles.

    • AIncorrect. The AIM tells pilots to expect possible hail with any thunderstorm, especially beneath the anvil of a large cumulonimbus. The danger goes well beyond reduced visibility.
    • BIncorrect. A large anvil spreads from an active, mature cumulonimbus. The hazards beneath it include hail, lightning and severe turbulence, not just leftover icing.
    • CCorrect. The AIM warns that hail is possible with any thunderstorm, especially beneath the anvil of a large cumulonimbus. It also says lightning can strike aircraft flying in the clear in the vicinity of a thunderstorm.
    • DIncorrect. Hail is not confined to the main rain shaft. It can fall beneath the anvil, miles from the core. The AIM also warns of severe turbulence near and under the anvil.

Weather Information: FAQs

How much of the PAR exam is Weather Information?

Weather Information is 17% of the PAR exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 60-question form works out to roughly 10 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Weather Information domain cover?

Weather theory and the weather products a pilot uses to plan a flight.

How should I study Weather Information for PAR?

Decode reports until it's quick, then focus on what each weather type means for a VFR flight.

Where can I practise more Weather Information questions?

This page has 10 free Weather Information questions with answers. The ExamWize PAR question bank has 100 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other PAR topics

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

Get Weather Information exam-ready

The full PAR bank has 100 Weather Information 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 PAR 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.