What is the primary purpose of METAR reports?

The primary purpose of METAR reports is to provide real-time weather observations. METAR is an aviation routine weather report that includes information such as temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover, and significant meteorological events like precipitation or thunderstorms. These reports are typically generated hourly and are crucial for pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists as they require up-to-date weather information to ensure safe flight operations and effective air traffic management.

While other options may relate to weather in some way, they do not accurately reflect the function of METAR reports. Predicting long-term climate trends, analyzing historical weather data, and creating weather forecasts are not the primary intent of METAR, which focuses exclusively on current conditions rather than long-term prediction or analysis.