In flight planning, which sources provide the most complete weather picture for both current conditions and forecast?

• A. METAR and TAF
• B. METAR only
• C. TAF only
• D. METAR and NOTAMs

Answer: (D)

For flight planning you need both the actual weather right now and what’s expected to happen. METARs provide real-time observations at a station—wind, visibility, precipitation, cloud cover, temperature, dew point, and altimeter—so you know the current conditions. TAFs give the forecast for the same location over the next 24 to 30 hours, including expected changes, timing, and any significant variations. Put together, they deliver a complete current-and-forecast weather picture.

NOTAMs, while essential for operational awareness, are notices about changes to facilities, services, or airspace—and they may flag weather-related impacts—but they do not supply weather data or forecasts themselves. They’re important to consider in planning, but they don’t replace METAR and TAF for a full weather picture.