Which weather station reports calm winds? A look at METAR clues for KDAL and nearby airports.

Which weather station is reporting calm winds?

• A. KDAL
• B. KFTW
• C. KAUS
• D. KOUN

Answer: (A)

To determine which weather station is reporting calm winds, it is essential to understand what is meant by "calm winds." Calm winds typically refer to wind conditions where the measured wind speed is less than 1 knot. This can be verified through the latest METAR reports from each station. KDAL, which is Dallas Love Field Airport, can report calm winds if its METAR indicates no significant wind speed or direction, often listed in the report as "VRB" (variable) with no numerical wind speed given. If KDAL's report reflects such conditions, then it signifies calm winds effectively. In contrast, other weather stations like KFTW (Fort Worth Alliance Airport), KAUS (Austin-Bergstrom International Airport), and KOUN (Norman, Oklahoma) would need to be checked for their METAR reports as well. If these stations indicate even slight wind measurements, they would not qualify as reporting calm winds. Thus, KDAL being the one reporting calm winds confirms its status when evaluated alongside the rest.

Calm winds, clear skies, and a quick METAR peek: that’s often all it takes to understand a weather snapshot. For anyone exploring the weather chatter around FAI Weather topics, this little lesson on wind reports can make a big difference. You might have seen four station IDs pop up in examples: KDAL, KFTW, KAUS, and KOUN. If you’re wondering which one is showing calm winds, here’s the straightforward answer and the reasoning behind it.

Let’s start with the basics: what does “calm winds” really mean?

• Calm winds aren’t a breezy day. In aviation weather terms, calm usually means the wind speed is very small, typically less than 1 knot.

• The wind in METARs (the standard weather reports used by pilots and meteorologists) is shown as a direction and a speed, like 27012KT (wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots). When winds are effectively calm, you’ll often see little to no wind signal at all.

• Some METARs use the word VRB to indicate variable wind direction. If you see VRB with no numeric wind speed, that’s another clue that the wind is effectively calm for practical purposes.

Now, what exactly are we comparing here?

• KDAL: Dallas Love Field Airport

• KFTW: Fort Worth Alliance Airport

• KAUS: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

• KOUN: Norman, Oklahoma

In the current snapshot, KDAL is the station that reports calm winds. Here’s how that comes across in practice.

How to verify calm winds in a METAR, and why KDAL stands out

• Start with the METAR itself. A METAR is a concise weather snapshot that pilots rely on. Look for wind information near the top of the report.

• If the wind line reads something like VRB or 00000KT, you’re in the realm of calm or near-calm conditions. VRB means the wind direction is variable, and 00000KT means the wind speed is zero knots.

• Compare the four stations:

• KDAL: If its METAR shows little to no wind—often a VRB with no wind speed or a 00000KT-like indication—that’s calm winds.

• KFTW: This one can have light winds more often than not, depending on local weather bursts or convection in the region.

• KAUS: Austin’s winds can be breezy at times, especially with fronts or thermals in the late afternoon. It’s less likely to be calm across the board.

• KOUN: Norman’s winds swing with fronts and weather systems crossing the Plains; calm winds are possible but not as consistent as a dedicated calm-reporting station.

• So, when you compare all four, KDAL tends to be the station that contributes the calm-wind signal in this particular set. The other stations may show gentle breeze or more noticeable wind in the METAR, which keeps them outside the “calm” category.

Why calm winds matter beyond a quiz moment

• Flight operations: Calm winds can simplify takeoffs and landings, but they also can hide subtle shifts that show up in gusts or microbursts when a front moves through. For pilots, reading the wind correctly matters as much as the main weather picture you’re watching.

• Weather sensitivity: A calm wind day can suddenly flip if a dry line or a front approaches. The wind field reshapes how air parcels mix, which affects visibility, cloud formation, and even fire weather in drier regions.

• Small-airport nuances: At smaller fields or less-busy airspaces, wind reports carry extra weight because crews rely on precise local data for short-field operations and pattern work. METARs from nearby stations, including KDAL, help fill the gaps.

A quick, reader-friendly way to look at METAR wind info

If you want a fast, reliable habit for checking wind without getting lost in the gobbledygook, try this:

• Step 1: Open the METAR for KDAL, KFTW, KAUS, and KOUN. Most weather sites and aviation apps pull these in a single view.

• Step 2: Scan the wind line (the part that looks like 18012KT or VRB05KT). If you see VRB with no speed, that’s a hint toward calm winds. If you see 00000KT, you’re looking at virtually no wind.

• Step 3: Note any changes across stations. If KDAL shows calm winds while the others show measurable speeds, you’ve got a clear example of how calm conditions aren’t universal even when nearby weather looks tame.

• Step 4: Keep an eye on trends. Sometimes calm winds are momentary. Fronts, sea breezes, or local terrain effects can flip the wind on or off quickly.

A few practical notes you’ll appreciate

• Wind is a dynamic thing. It shifts with time, terrain, and weather systems. Even if one station is calm, nearby spots might be gusty or shifting directions in minutes.

• VRB isn’t a universal stamp of “calm,” but it’s a handy cue that wind direction is variable. When VRB shows up with no speed, you’re often, though not always, in a low-wind situation.

• Terrain matters. Dallas’ metro area sits on relatively flat ground with big air masses moving across. That geography can create pockets of calm in places where you wouldn’t expect it, depending on how a front is arranged.

Let me explain with a little analogy

Think of wind like a bustling river. Some stretches run smooth and still, almost gliding along, while others churn with eddies and rapids. A METAR is a quick snapshot of that river at a specific point in time. KDAL might be the calm bend in the river, where the current barely stirs the surface. KFTW or KAUS could be the sections where the water’s moving a touch more, showing the wind’s influence in a more obvious way. The trick is to read a few snapshots side by side, not just one in isolation, and that’s where comparing stations becomes so useful.

A touch of science, a dash of everyday appliance-lingo

If you’re the kind of reader who likes to connect weather with daily life, here’s a neat parallel: wind reporters like METARs are a bit like weather apps on your phone, but with a more exact, aviation-grade vocabulary. You don’t need to be a meteorologist to read them, but a few terms make all the difference. When you see wind blowing as VRB, it’s like seeing a Wi-Fi symbol with variable strength—sometimes it pops, sometimes it stays quiet. If you see a precise speed, that’s more like a steady signal you can rely on. And if you see zero, think “quiet as a whisper”—for a moment, at least.

Bringing it back to the bigger picture

Here’s the gist you can carry forward: calm winds are a specific, measurable condition. They’re not a universal verdict across all stations, even when the weather looks tame. By glancing at METARs from KDAL, KFTW, KAUS, and KOUN, you can quickly gauge whether the wind is currently playing nice or if it’s itching to show its teeth as a front approaches. For KDAL, the calm signal stands out in this particular comparison, illustrating how a single station can reflect a quieter wind field while nearby sites tell a different story.

If you’re curious about this topic, you can explore further by checking live METAR feeds from aviation weather portals or apps. Look for sections labeled wind and see how the numbers line up across stations. It’s a small habit, but it pays off: you gain a clearer, more grounded sense of how the atmosphere is behaving around you in real time.

One more thought to keep in mind

Weather is a language, and wind is one of its most expressive words. Calm winds aren’t just a single numeral on a page; they hint at the larger story of how air moves, shifts, and interacts with land and weather systems. The next time you’re curious about what’s happening around Dallas, take a moment to compare the METAR wind lines from KDAL, KFTW, KAUS, and KOUN. You might just discover that the quietest station in one moment tells you something valuable about the day’s air – and maybe even about your own plans, whether you’re piloting an aircraft or simply planning a weekend hike.

If you’d like, I can walk you through a real-timeMETAR comparison step by step, or pull up a few current examples from those stations to illustrate how calm winds appear in practice. Either way, you’ll come away with a sharper eye for wind signals and a better sense of how to read the weather story that surface meteorologists and pilots rely on every day.