Plain English Meaning
A small amount of cloud at that altitude — covering up to a quarter of the sky, but not none.
Full Definition
In a METAR, FEW is a sky cover contraction indicating that clouds cover more than zero but no more than two-eighths (2/8) of the sky at the reported layer. It is reported with a three-digit height in hundreds of feet above the station (e.g., FEW040 means a few clouds at 4,000 feet AGL).
Context Anchor
Seen in METAR reports in the sky condition section, such as FEW030.
Derivation
FEW is the plain English word 'few,' kept as a three-letter contraction so it fits the standardized METAR format. The threshold (1/8 to 2/8 sky cover) is set by international weather reporting standards rather than the everyday sense of the word.
Why Pilots Care
FEW means the layer is not a ceiling, so it doesn't limit VFR operations the way BKN or OVC can. But knowing the height still matters for spotting building cumulus, planning cruise altitudes, and anticipating how a layer might thicken later in the day.
Grounding Statement
Picture dividing the sky into eight equal parts; FEW means clouds cover only one or two of those parts.
Intuition Check
FEW does not just mean “a small number” in a casual way. In a METAR, FEW has a specific meaning: 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky is covered by clouds.
Example Sentence 1
The METAR reported FEW035, so the pilot expected a thin layer of cloud bases around 3,500 feet but no ceiling.
Example Sentence 2
With FEW clouds reported, visibility remained good enough for a visual approach.