What is the primary function of an AWOS?

The primary function of an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) is indeed to broadcast local minute-by-minute weather data. AWOS provides real-time observations that include critical weather information such as temperature, wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover, and atmospheric pressure. This timely data is essential for pilots for pre-flight planning and for making in-flight decisions, as it reflects current conditions at a specific location.

While long-term weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, and historical weather data are important aspects of meteorology, they do not fall under the core functionality of AWOS. Long-term forecasts rely on different models and analyses that look at broader trends over time. Severe weather warnings, on the other hand, are typically the responsibility of agencies like the National Weather Service, which uses a different set of tools to analyze data and issue alerts. Historical weather data is gathered and stored over time, but it is not the immediate observational data that AWOS is designed to provide. Thus, the focus of AWOS centers around the immediate, live weather conditions that are critical for aviation safety and operations.