Which wind parameter is not included in the body of the METAR/SPECI wind element?

The wind parameters included in the METAR/SPECI wind element are wind speed and wind direction. These two parameters provide crucial information about how strong the wind is blowing and from which direction it is coming, which are both vital for assessing weather conditions.

Wind gusts refer to brief increases in wind speed over the average wind; while these are important in understanding variations in wind strength, they are reported separately in METAR/SPECI reports. Squalls, which are sudden, sharp increases in wind speed and strength often associated with thunderstorms, are also not included. Instead, squalls may be noted elsewhere in the report or in associated remarks.

The correct answer indicates that squalls do not form part of the standard wind parameters reported, which is crucial for understanding how wind information is conveyed in routine weather observations.