When wind speed exceeds 6 knots and the direction changes by 60 degrees or more, how are extreme wind directions encoded in column 6?

When wind speeds exceed 6 knots and there is a change in direction of 60 degrees or more, extreme wind directions are encoded in a clockwise direction in column 6. This method is based on the standardized protocols followed in aviation weather reporting to maintain consistency and clarity.

In aviation, wind direction is typically described in terms of degrees from true north (0 degrees). When wind conditions change significantly, indicating an abrupt shift, a clockwise encoding simplifies communication for those interpreting the data. This ensures that pilots, meteorologists, and other aviation professionals can quickly understand the wind's behavior and assess its potential impact on flight operations.

The choice to encode such extreme changes in a clockwise manner helps to standardize reporting. It allows for an intuitive grasp of how winds are shifting and assists in forecasting and operational planning. In contrast, the other responses do not align with established practices in aviation weather coding, which strictly define the treatment of significant wind direction changes.