What is the difference between METAR and TAF in terms of timing and purpose?

• A. The difference: METAR is a current weather observation; TAF is forecast for the next 24 hours (often 30 hours).
• B. METAR is a forecast for the next 24 hours; TAF is a current observation
• C. METAR is a forecast for 30 hours; TAF is a current observation
• D. METAR and TAF are both forecasts for 12 hours

Answer: (A)

Current weather reporting separates what’s happening now from what’s expected to happen. METAR is a current weather observation for a specific airport, typically issued hourly, and it shows the present conditions such as wind, visibility, weather, sky condition, temperature, and altimeter. It’s what you look at to know the immediate flight environment.

TAF, on the other hand, is a forecast for the same area, covering the next roughly 24 hours (often up to 30 hours). It’s designed to help with flight planning and operations, outlining expected trends, timing windows for changes, and notable conditions like wind shifts, visibility, precipitation, and cloud cover. It’s updated with amendments as needed.

So, METAR tells you what’s happening right now, while TAF tells you what’s expected to happen in the near future to aid planning.