Given varying observations, how is prevailing visibility reported?

Prevailing visibility is reported as the average of all observed values collected within a specific time period. This approach takes into account the varying conditions that may be present at different times, providing a more representative measure of visibility that better reflects the overall weather conditions experienced at a given location.

By averaging all the visibility measurements, this method accounts for fluctuations that might occur due to factors such as changing weather patterns or disturbances. This is crucial for aviation and other weather-sensitive operations, as it conveys a more reliable assessment of how far one can see at any given time.

The other methods of reporting visibility, such as considering the highest observed value or the lowest observed value, do not provide a comprehensive view of visibility conditions. For instance, reporting the highest observed value could misrepresent conditions if visibility had dropped significantly at any point. Similarly, taking the most recent observation alone could overlook previous conditions that may still significantly impact visibility.