Which of the following is included in a METAR report?

A METAR report, which stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report, provides essential and timely observations of current weather conditions at airports and other key locations. It is primarily focused on real-time data necessary for safety and operational purposes. The correct choice highlights that a METAR report includes critical weather elements, such as wind speed and direction, visibility measurements, and temperature readings.

These components are vital for pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists as they assess the weather situation. The report is generated at regular intervals or whenever significant changes occur, thus providing an accurate snapshot of the weather at the time of the report.

In contrast, monthly precipitation totals are typically found in climatological summaries and are not part of a routine METAR report. Forecast predictions are generally issued separately as TAFs (Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts), which provide expected weather conditions for a specific period ahead, usually up to 24 or 30 hours. Lastly, a METAR does include cloud cover information, but it is not limited to that alone; therefore, focusing on cloud cover only does not represent the breadth of information contained in a METAR.