Determine the wind and temperature aloft forecast for DEN at 9,000 feet.

• A. 230° true at 21 knots, temperature -4°C
• B. 230° true at 21 knots, temperature -2°C
• C. 210° true at 21 knots, temperature -4°C
• D. 230° true at 24 knots, temperature -4°C

Answer: (A)

Reading wind and temperature aloft forecasts means looking at three values for the requested altitude: wind direction the air is coming from (true), wind speed in knots, and the forecast temperature in Celsius. The direction is given as the from-direction, not the direction the wind is blowing toward.

For 9,000 feet, the forecast is wind from 230° true at 21 knots with a temperature of -4°C. This exact combination is what you use for planning at that level. The other options change one of the three values—either the wind direction (210°), the wind speed (24 knots), or the temperature (-2°C)—and thus do not match the forecast data.

Understanding that the wind is from 230° tells you it’s a southwest flow, which affects glide angles and crosswind components depending on your course. The -4°C temperature indicates the air temperature at that altitude, which along with altitude influences air density and lift potential.