Which time interval defines 3-hourly METAR observations?

Which time interval defines 3-hourly METAR observations?

• A. 0200, 0800, 1400, 2000
• B. 0300, 0900, 1500, 2100
• C. 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800
• D. 0400, 1000, 1600, 2000

Answer: (B)

Three-hourly METAR observations follow a fixed daily pattern of four updates, all timed in UTC. The standard anchor times for this cadence are 0300, 0900, 1500, and 2100 UTC, which repeat every day. This arrangement gives regular, predictable weather reports without overlapping the hourly METARs, and it’s the schedule reflected in many AFMAN 15-111 study resources. If you see a METAR timestamp at one of these four times, it’s part of the 3-hourly cadence. The other time sets correspond to different reporting schedules and don’t match this established 3-hourly pattern.

Three-hourly METAR observations follow a fixed daily pattern of four updates, all timed in UTC. The standard anchor times for this cadence are 0300, 0900, 1500, and 2100 UTC, which repeat every day. This arrangement gives regular, predictable weather reports without overlapping the hourly METARs, and it’s the schedule reflected in many AFMAN 15-111 study resources. If you see a METAR timestamp at one of these four times, it’s part of the 3-hourly cadence. The other time sets correspond to different reporting schedules and don’t match this established 3-hourly pattern.