What wind is forecast for STL at 12,000 feet?

To determine the forecast wind at STL (St. Louis) at 12,000 feet, it’s essential to understand how wind information is typically presented in aviation weather reports. The wind is usually reported in terms of direction and speed, with direction given in true degrees.

The correct choice indicates a wind direction of 230° true at 39 knots. This aligns with the standard method of reporting winds in meteorology and aviation, where the indication of "true" means that the direction is referenced to true north as opposed to magnetic north. This is important because pilots need to navigate based on true headings when using instruments that reference true north, especially during the descent and approach phases of flight.

The speed of 39 knots is a reasonable value for winds at higher altitudes, as winds can significantly increase with altitude due to reduced friction with the Earth's surface. When flying at 12,000 feet, it is common to encounter stronger winds than those reported at lower altitudes.

The other choices either reference magnetic rather than true directions, which could lead to navigation errors, or state higher speeds on the order of 56 knots, which might be less typical for that specific forecast scenario, depending on the regional climatology and atmospheric conditions at that time of